Former Yaletown high-flyer now facing U.S. drug-smuggling charges: "Rick Bafaro and his ex-wife Jessica Ruth were hailed in 2002 as one of Yaletown’s “glam couples.”
They owned a pair of trendy stores and hairstylist Ruth had dyed the locks of three Vancouver Canucks platinum blond for the 2001 first-round Stanley Cup playoffs.
Today, 45-year-old Bafaro sits in jail in Washington state facing drug-smuggling charges. He’s been named in court documents as the ringleader in a plan to hike into the U.S. carrying backpacks stuffed with B.C. bud. He was arrested, along with four other men, on April 26."
Brand blames late fame on heroin | Celebrities | Entertainment | London Free Press
Brand blames late fame on heroin Celebrities Entertainment London Free Press: "Comic Russell Brand is convinced his rise to stardom was delayed because his addiction to heroin stopped him taking his career seriously.
The funnyman landed a series of major acting roles after appearing in 2007's St Trinian's, starring in films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Bedtime Stories.
And Brand is convinced he could have reached international fame earlier if he hadn't become hooked on drugs.
He tells Britain's The Sun, 'If you're addicted to heroin it takes up an awful lot of your time. You have to get the heroin, take the heroin, fall asleep because of the heroin, then more heroin. So I think I was unable to (become famous) because I was involved in a lot of other time-consuming things. I think that's the simple answer.
'I was a petty criminal and drug addict for a long while and if you're a drug addict it's very difficult to succeed in anything'."
The funnyman landed a series of major acting roles after appearing in 2007's St Trinian's, starring in films including Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Bedtime Stories.
And Brand is convinced he could have reached international fame earlier if he hadn't become hooked on drugs.
He tells Britain's The Sun, 'If you're addicted to heroin it takes up an awful lot of your time. You have to get the heroin, take the heroin, fall asleep because of the heroin, then more heroin. So I think I was unable to (become famous) because I was involved in a lot of other time-consuming things. I think that's the simple answer.
'I was a petty criminal and drug addict for a long while and if you're a drug addict it's very difficult to succeed in anything'."
Wave of cheap 'black tar' heroin that can kill instantly spreads across America | Mail Online
Wave of cheap 'black tar' heroin that can kill instantly spreads across America Mail Online: "potent wave of cheap heroin which can kill users before they pull the syringe from their veins is spreading across America.
Drug smugglers are selling the ‘black tar’ substance for as little as £7 ($10) a bag, raising concerns that its cost will widen its appeal with addicts.The heroin – named for its dark, gooey consistency – which is being grown in Mexico and Colombia and taken to the U.S., is so pure, it can kill unsuspecting users instantly."
Drug smugglers are selling the ‘black tar’ substance for as little as £7 ($10) a bag, raising concerns that its cost will widen its appeal with addicts.The heroin – named for its dark, gooey consistency – which is being grown in Mexico and Colombia and taken to the U.S., is so pure, it can kill unsuspecting users instantly."
Police: Cocaine cutting agent sending users to hospital - BostonHerald.com
Police: Cocaine cutting agent sending users to hospital - BostonHerald.com: "Police are warning that a chemical used to deworm animals is being added to cocaine and causing users to be hospitalized, reports the Portsmouth Herald.
City police were contacted by officials from a Boston-area hospital over the weekend and warned that multiple patients were showing up with adverse reactions to cocaine laced with levamisole, said Sgt. Mike Schwartz. The hospital reported patients were being treated “and they have a connection to Portsmouth,” he said.
“They called us for a reason,” said Schwartz, while declining to elaborate because an investigation is ongoing."
City police were contacted by officials from a Boston-area hospital over the weekend and warned that multiple patients were showing up with adverse reactions to cocaine laced with levamisole, said Sgt. Mike Schwartz. The hospital reported patients were being treated “and they have a connection to Portsmouth,” he said.
“They called us for a reason,” said Schwartz, while declining to elaborate because an investigation is ongoing."
The Associated Press: AP IMPACT: Deadly, ultra-pure heroin arrives in US
The Associated Press: AP IMPACT: Deadly, ultra-pure heroin arrives in US: "Mexican drug smugglers are increasingly peddling a form of ultra-potent heroin that sells for as little as $10 a bag and is so pure it can kill unsuspecting users instantly, sometimes before they even remove the syringe from their veins.
An Associated Press review of drug overdose data shows that so-called 'black tar' heroin — named for its dark, gooey consistency — and other forms of the drug are contributing to a spike in overdose deaths across the nation and attracting a new generation of users who are caught off guard by its potency."
An Associated Press review of drug overdose data shows that so-called 'black tar' heroin — named for its dark, gooey consistency — and other forms of the drug are contributing to a spike in overdose deaths across the nation and attracting a new generation of users who are caught off guard by its potency."
Big rise in cocaine use in Victoria as the price drops to $20 | Herald Sun
Big rise in cocaine use in Victoria as the price drops to $20 Herald Sun: "VICTORIA is in the grip of a cocaine boom with a hit of the drug now cheaper at $20 than a footy ticket. Federal authorities are reporting increased seizures, but experts also believe more cocaine is arriving undetected as crime gangs use planes, mules and cargo ships to smuggle in the drug.
Cocaine is now one of the only illicit drugs rising in use, with an estimated 69,000 Victorians taking it in a recent 12-month period.
An estimated quarter of a million Victorians have tried the dangerous drug.
And according to the United Nations, Australia's cocaine use is rising at a greater rate than that of South America."
Cocaine is now one of the only illicit drugs rising in use, with an estimated 69,000 Victorians taking it in a recent 12-month period.
An estimated quarter of a million Victorians have tried the dangerous drug.
And according to the United Nations, Australia's cocaine use is rising at a greater rate than that of South America."
BBC News - Police seize contraband worth £3m
BBC News - Police seize contraband worth £3m: "Fake goods and illegally imported cigarettes and alcohol worth £3m have been recovered during a police raid in Glasgow.
Officers working with HM Revenue and Customs and trading standards officials made the find at business premises in Commerce Street on Thursday.
It included imported alcohol, tobacco and fake designer clothing and jewellery.
A large amount of cash was also seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Det Ch Insp John McDonald, of Strathclyde Police, said: 'As a result of an intelligence-led proactive operation, premises were identified and searched, resulting in the recovery of a substantial quantity of alcohol, cigarettes and counterfeit clothing and jewellery."
Officers working with HM Revenue and Customs and trading standards officials made the find at business premises in Commerce Street on Thursday.
It included imported alcohol, tobacco and fake designer clothing and jewellery.
A large amount of cash was also seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Det Ch Insp John McDonald, of Strathclyde Police, said: 'As a result of an intelligence-led proactive operation, premises were identified and searched, resulting in the recovery of a substantial quantity of alcohol, cigarettes and counterfeit clothing and jewellery."
thunderstorm raging over Jamaica
thunderstorm raging over Jamaica that threatens to capsize the island's already hobbled economy and put its government in a diplomatic quandary with the United States. Last August, the U.S. Department of Justice issued an extradition warrant for the arrest of Christopher "Dudus" Coke, reputed don of West Kingston's infamous Tivoli Gardens garrison. Coke, counted among the "world's most dangerous narcotics kingpins" by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), has been charged with conspiracy to traffic firearms and to distribute marijuana and cocaine.
To date, Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has ignored increasing local and U.S. pressure to sign the extradition warrant, citing breach of Jamaican law in obtaining the wiretapped evidence and the protection of its citizens to due process. But this is no ordinary citizen.
The tentacles of Coke's power and influence stretch across Jamaica and in to the upper echelons of the current government. The community Coke controls is a notorious stronghold of the ruling Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) and is Prime Minister Golding's constituency; his defense attorney, Senator Tom Tavares-Finson, is a member of Parliament.
More than a diplomatic stalemate, the David-and-Goliath showdown threatens to expose the corruption that for decades has been intrinsic to Jamaican politics. Moreover, it underscores the reality that politics and criminal gangs remain intricately linked in both political parties. The ongoing diplomatic stalemate has vast repercussions for the popular tourist destination, which relies heavily on U.S. support and magnanimity in the form of exports, tourism and remittances.
Then, a bombshell: A Washington Post article reported that last November, prominent U.S. law firm Manatt, Phelps and Phillips received nearly $50,000, an installment toward a $400,000 contract, to lobby on behalf of the government of Jamaica against Coke's extradition.
The agreement was signed by Manatt partner Susan Schmidt and Kingston lawyer Harold Brady, who claimed he was "authorized on behalf of the government of Jamaica" to make the deal and attended by Daryl Vaz, Jamaica's Minister of Information. The agreement violates the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA), because of the firm's failure to declare the purpose and extent of their lobbying efforts and because Coke financed the contract.
Though records filed by Manatt under FARA regulations state that only "treaty issues" were discussed, White House officials confirm that conversations were primarily focused on Jamaica's opposition to extraditing Coke. In the ensuing furor, Prime Minister Golding has denied that anyone was authorized to act on the government's behalf, and the law firm has since "ceased activities on behalf of the Government of Jamaica." But questions remain, foremost among them: Who has the power to broker and finance such a deal and why?
It is all anyone, cab drivers, businessmen, nurses, vendors, speaks of on the island. As testament to his power and reach, though, almost no one will speak on record -- not university professors, journalists, friends or the man on the street -- and inquiries are met with dead-eyed stares and disconnected phone lines. A palpable tension hovers over downtown Kingston and across the island, a restless disquiet.
Impenetrable to outsiders, the entrances to downtown garrisons are barricaded with cement boulders, tires and old iron. They're patrolled by steely eyed boy-men with automatic weapons hanging at their sides, fingers not far from the trigger. Ghetto passes do not suffice here, and curiosity is answered with a strident "Who you?" Coke's supporters - who are legion - insist he will not go without a fight, and rumors are rampant about his preparedness.
Garrison communities - Tivoli, Trench Town, Jungle, Fletcher's Land and others - are self-governing, politically protected enclaves striated according to party affiliation, dependent on and controlled by "dons" and their gangs, who are the liaison between the community and political parties. Dons receive the patronage and political protection of party leaders, which insulates them from law enforcement. In exchange, they finance political campaigns, deliver votes, wage wars to protect territories and maintain peace overall.
Despite their reputation for criminality and corruption, many dons benefit enormously from government contracts for construction, transportation and infrastructure, and, in turn, utilize these legal businesses to launder money. They fill a gap that successive governments seem unable and unwilling to tackle.
In point, Coke has been instrumental in resurrecting, restructuring and streamlining commerce and ensuring the safety and protection of both vendors and buyers in downtown Kingston. Now, business transactions and social interactions (such as the popular dancehall event, Passa Passa) are mutually beneficial, and money flows in to poverty-stricken communities that are unlikely to benefit from tourist dollars or government subsidies.
He's also managed to stem much of the violence and terror for which these areas are historically renowned. But this peace comes at a steep price: There is no business that operates without paying up to a don's henchmen--from established businesses and storefronts to produce sellers in the markets. Refusal means arson, intimidation and the threat of violence with no legal recourse.
Politicians have ceded their power to gangsters and appear unable or unwilling to mitigate the chaos they helped create since they began arming the gangs of inner city Kingston and beyond. As the deadlock tightens, Jamaicans are fearful of the return to and breakout of violence and what will flourish in the vacuum created by his extradition.
Jamaicans are a famously proud people who balk at the notion of bowing to anything and anyone, but many are bitterly angry at and exasperated by the putrid odor of decades-long corruption, which they feel sullies the island's image across the world. No matter the resolution, in the bitter aftermath, the unbearable price will be paid by regular Jamaicans struggling to eke out a living.
The U.S. Sharpens Its Tools
The flailing began with Jamaica's prominence in the 2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which lays bare the country's many transgressions. The report turns the spotlight on the "unusual handling of [Coke's] extradition request" and notes the "dramatic change in Jamaica's previous cooperation on extradition," including a temporary suspension in the processing of all other pending requests, which it says raises serious questions about the country's commitment to combating transnational crime.
Damningly, the report highlights the "guns for ganja" trade and labels the island "the Caribbean's largest source of marijuana" for the United States and "a transit point for cocaine trafficked from South America," and cites its "high murder rate per capita--1,672 in 2009, one of the highest in the world." It expresses concern over "the increasing activity of organized crime, which permeates the legitimate business sector as well as the political sector, and its impact on Jamaica's political and economic stability."
Despite assertions by the U.S. charge 'd'affaires to Jamaica, Isaiah Parnell, that ties remain strong between the countries, Washington is growing weary of waiting and skeptical of the government's political will. Despite Prime Minister Golding's assertions that efforts are being made to strengthen bilateral cooperation to stem the tide of illegal guns and drugs, anticorruption and anticrime legislation still languishes in Parliament.
To date, the United States has yet to appoint an ambassador to Jamaica, and recently, the visas of several prominent entertainers and businessmen have been revoked without warning. Many citizens are worried that U.S. visas will not be granted or renewed.
What options lay ahead for Coke, who resides in a storied mansion in the verdant suburbs of Kingston, miles away from the congested slums he purportedly commands? His father, feared JLP strongman Lloyd Lester "Jim Brown" Coke, JLP enforcer and leader of the Shower Posse -- that for over a decade funneled drugs and guns through the U.S. and Jamaica -- also found himself in the same predicament. Coke Sr. died in a mysterious fire in his cell at the General Penitentiary on the eve of his own extradition in February 1991.
Currently, the political foot dragging continues before the Jamaica Supreme Court. Jamaica Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne has filed a motion seeking a declaration on the handling of the extradition request for Coke. A hearing is set for May 5th.
As the high stakes game of chicken continues, a country waits: anxious, vigilant, hopeful.
To date, Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding has ignored increasing local and U.S. pressure to sign the extradition warrant, citing breach of Jamaican law in obtaining the wiretapped evidence and the protection of its citizens to due process. But this is no ordinary citizen.
The tentacles of Coke's power and influence stretch across Jamaica and in to the upper echelons of the current government. The community Coke controls is a notorious stronghold of the ruling Jamaica Labor Party (JLP) and is Prime Minister Golding's constituency; his defense attorney, Senator Tom Tavares-Finson, is a member of Parliament.
More than a diplomatic stalemate, the David-and-Goliath showdown threatens to expose the corruption that for decades has been intrinsic to Jamaican politics. Moreover, it underscores the reality that politics and criminal gangs remain intricately linked in both political parties. The ongoing diplomatic stalemate has vast repercussions for the popular tourist destination, which relies heavily on U.S. support and magnanimity in the form of exports, tourism and remittances.
Then, a bombshell: A Washington Post article reported that last November, prominent U.S. law firm Manatt, Phelps and Phillips received nearly $50,000, an installment toward a $400,000 contract, to lobby on behalf of the government of Jamaica against Coke's extradition.
The agreement was signed by Manatt partner Susan Schmidt and Kingston lawyer Harold Brady, who claimed he was "authorized on behalf of the government of Jamaica" to make the deal and attended by Daryl Vaz, Jamaica's Minister of Information. The agreement violates the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA), because of the firm's failure to declare the purpose and extent of their lobbying efforts and because Coke financed the contract.
Though records filed by Manatt under FARA regulations state that only "treaty issues" were discussed, White House officials confirm that conversations were primarily focused on Jamaica's opposition to extraditing Coke. In the ensuing furor, Prime Minister Golding has denied that anyone was authorized to act on the government's behalf, and the law firm has since "ceased activities on behalf of the Government of Jamaica." But questions remain, foremost among them: Who has the power to broker and finance such a deal and why?
It is all anyone, cab drivers, businessmen, nurses, vendors, speaks of on the island. As testament to his power and reach, though, almost no one will speak on record -- not university professors, journalists, friends or the man on the street -- and inquiries are met with dead-eyed stares and disconnected phone lines. A palpable tension hovers over downtown Kingston and across the island, a restless disquiet.
Impenetrable to outsiders, the entrances to downtown garrisons are barricaded with cement boulders, tires and old iron. They're patrolled by steely eyed boy-men with automatic weapons hanging at their sides, fingers not far from the trigger. Ghetto passes do not suffice here, and curiosity is answered with a strident "Who you?" Coke's supporters - who are legion - insist he will not go without a fight, and rumors are rampant about his preparedness.
Garrison communities - Tivoli, Trench Town, Jungle, Fletcher's Land and others - are self-governing, politically protected enclaves striated according to party affiliation, dependent on and controlled by "dons" and their gangs, who are the liaison between the community and political parties. Dons receive the patronage and political protection of party leaders, which insulates them from law enforcement. In exchange, they finance political campaigns, deliver votes, wage wars to protect territories and maintain peace overall.
Despite their reputation for criminality and corruption, many dons benefit enormously from government contracts for construction, transportation and infrastructure, and, in turn, utilize these legal businesses to launder money. They fill a gap that successive governments seem unable and unwilling to tackle.
In point, Coke has been instrumental in resurrecting, restructuring and streamlining commerce and ensuring the safety and protection of both vendors and buyers in downtown Kingston. Now, business transactions and social interactions (such as the popular dancehall event, Passa Passa) are mutually beneficial, and money flows in to poverty-stricken communities that are unlikely to benefit from tourist dollars or government subsidies.
He's also managed to stem much of the violence and terror for which these areas are historically renowned. But this peace comes at a steep price: There is no business that operates without paying up to a don's henchmen--from established businesses and storefronts to produce sellers in the markets. Refusal means arson, intimidation and the threat of violence with no legal recourse.
Politicians have ceded their power to gangsters and appear unable or unwilling to mitigate the chaos they helped create since they began arming the gangs of inner city Kingston and beyond. As the deadlock tightens, Jamaicans are fearful of the return to and breakout of violence and what will flourish in the vacuum created by his extradition.
Jamaicans are a famously proud people who balk at the notion of bowing to anything and anyone, but many are bitterly angry at and exasperated by the putrid odor of decades-long corruption, which they feel sullies the island's image across the world. No matter the resolution, in the bitter aftermath, the unbearable price will be paid by regular Jamaicans struggling to eke out a living.
The U.S. Sharpens Its Tools
The flailing began with Jamaica's prominence in the 2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which lays bare the country's many transgressions. The report turns the spotlight on the "unusual handling of [Coke's] extradition request" and notes the "dramatic change in Jamaica's previous cooperation on extradition," including a temporary suspension in the processing of all other pending requests, which it says raises serious questions about the country's commitment to combating transnational crime.
Damningly, the report highlights the "guns for ganja" trade and labels the island "the Caribbean's largest source of marijuana" for the United States and "a transit point for cocaine trafficked from South America," and cites its "high murder rate per capita--1,672 in 2009, one of the highest in the world." It expresses concern over "the increasing activity of organized crime, which permeates the legitimate business sector as well as the political sector, and its impact on Jamaica's political and economic stability."
Despite assertions by the U.S. charge 'd'affaires to Jamaica, Isaiah Parnell, that ties remain strong between the countries, Washington is growing weary of waiting and skeptical of the government's political will. Despite Prime Minister Golding's assertions that efforts are being made to strengthen bilateral cooperation to stem the tide of illegal guns and drugs, anticorruption and anticrime legislation still languishes in Parliament.
To date, the United States has yet to appoint an ambassador to Jamaica, and recently, the visas of several prominent entertainers and businessmen have been revoked without warning. Many citizens are worried that U.S. visas will not be granted or renewed.
What options lay ahead for Coke, who resides in a storied mansion in the verdant suburbs of Kingston, miles away from the congested slums he purportedly commands? His father, feared JLP strongman Lloyd Lester "Jim Brown" Coke, JLP enforcer and leader of the Shower Posse -- that for over a decade funneled drugs and guns through the U.S. and Jamaica -- also found himself in the same predicament. Coke Sr. died in a mysterious fire in his cell at the General Penitentiary on the eve of his own extradition in February 1991.
Currently, the political foot dragging continues before the Jamaica Supreme Court. Jamaica Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne has filed a motion seeking a declaration on the handling of the extradition request for Coke. A hearing is set for May 5th.
As the high stakes game of chicken continues, a country waits: anxious, vigilant, hopeful.
Jamaican government has agreed to extradite drug suspect, Christopher "Dudus" Coke and a manhunt is currently underway,
Jamaican government has agreed to extradite drug suspect, Christopher "Dudus" Coke and a manhunt is currently underway, which could result in a massive standoff, as police attempt to apprehend him in Jamaica. The case has caused turmoil in Jamaica, as the Jamaican government contends, the U.S. Department of Justice, headed by Obama's reckless Attorney General, Eric Holder, illegally wiretapped Coke's mobile phone, in a bid to gain evidence for an extradition.
Many Jamaicans have complained, when the extradition hit a snag, due to the illegal wiretaps being rejected as evidence, as retaliation, the U.S. government began arresting Jamaicans in America for the least little thing, such as traffic violations which were previously not considered arrest worthy offenses, canceling the visas of Jamaicans in America and denying Jamaican businesspeople entry into the United States for standard business trips.
Many Jamaicans have complained, when the extradition hit a snag, due to the illegal wiretaps being rejected as evidence, as retaliation, the U.S. government began arresting Jamaicans in America for the least little thing, such as traffic violations which were previously not considered arrest worthy offenses, canceling the visas of Jamaicans in America and denying Jamaican businesspeople entry into the United States for standard business trips.
Danish police seize large amount of heroin - Taiwan News Online
Danish police seize large amount of heroin - Taiwan News Online: "Danish police say they have made one of the largest heroin seizures in the country's history, estimating its value to be at least 5 million kroner ($800,000).
Police spokesman Brian Voss Olsen says Wednesday's heroin find consisted of 18.7 pounds (8.5 kilograms) of the drug. Police also found 8.75 ounces (250 grams) of cocaine in the raid.
Voss Olsen said Thursday the seizure was the biggest ever made in Aarhus, Denmark's second largest city.
Four people aged between 18 and 59, have been arrested."
Police spokesman Brian Voss Olsen says Wednesday's heroin find consisted of 18.7 pounds (8.5 kilograms) of the drug. Police also found 8.75 ounces (250 grams) of cocaine in the raid.
Voss Olsen said Thursday the seizure was the biggest ever made in Aarhus, Denmark's second largest city.
Four people aged between 18 and 59, have been arrested."
Couple allegedly shooting heroin in their car | - lehighvalleylive.com
Couple allegedly shooting heroin in their car - lehighvalleylive.com: "Bethlehem police said a pair of Whitehall Township residents were shooting heroin Wednesday afternoon in a car parked at the Perkins restaurant on the South Side. Jeffrey Buss, 25, and Adrienne Flores, 22, were in the process of using heroin at 4:43 p.m. in their car when spotted by police, according to Lt. Mark DiLuzio. Buss had a tourniquet on one of his arms and a needle and heroin were in plain sight inside the car, police allege"
Arrest warrant issued for Lindsay Lohan - People - MiamiHerald.com
Arrest warrant issued for Lindsay Lohan - People - MiamiHerald.com: "judge issued an arrest warrant for the beleaguered actress after she missed a mandatory Thursday morning court hearing in Beverly Hills.
Lohan is stuck in Cannes, France, where her lawyer says her passport was stolen.
Funny, TMZ reports French police say no report was filed, contradicting mom Dina.
True or not, it's a flimsy excuse.
``She should have made sure she either didn't go to Cannes or made sure to be back two days earlier,'' said Superior Court Judge"
Lohan is stuck in Cannes, France, where her lawyer says her passport was stolen.
Funny, TMZ reports French police say no report was filed, contradicting mom Dina.
True or not, it's a flimsy excuse.
``She should have made sure she either didn't go to Cannes or made sure to be back two days earlier,'' said Superior Court Judge"
Chocolate truffles stuffed with cocaine seized at New York airport
Chocolate truffles stuffed with $500,000 of cocaine seized at New York airport "stash of Ferrero Rocher chocolate truffles was seized at a New York airport - because they were stuffed with $500,000 worth of cocaine.
Officials at JFK Airport arrested U.S. citizen Robert Lopera when he arrived on a flight from Colombia with the drugs concealed inside chocolates and nuts.
Lopera was arrested after a total of 15lbs of cocaine was seized by customs on 11 May. Haul: A stash of chocolate truffles was seized at a New York airport because they were stuffed with $500,000 worth of cocaineThe U.S. citizen was first stopped when the bag of candies he was carrying seemed heavy, according to officials.Balls of cocaine were discovered covered with chocolate and nut-sized cubes of the drug were found inside pistachio shells, police said.'CBP officers remain vigilant when conducting enforcement exams,' Robert E Perez of Customs and Border Protection's New York office told NBC.Lopera is expected to be be arraigned in Brooklyn federal court on drug trafficking charges.Ferrero Rocher chocolates became popular in the UK during the 1990s thanks to a series of TV adverts set at a party in a European ambassador's official residence.The lines 'Eccellente' and 'Monsieur, with these Rocher, you're really spoiling us' quickly passed into popular culture."
Officials at JFK Airport arrested U.S. citizen Robert Lopera when he arrived on a flight from Colombia with the drugs concealed inside chocolates and nuts.
Lopera was arrested after a total of 15lbs of cocaine was seized by customs on 11 May. Haul: A stash of chocolate truffles was seized at a New York airport because they were stuffed with $500,000 worth of cocaineThe U.S. citizen was first stopped when the bag of candies he was carrying seemed heavy, according to officials.Balls of cocaine were discovered covered with chocolate and nut-sized cubes of the drug were found inside pistachio shells, police said.'CBP officers remain vigilant when conducting enforcement exams,' Robert E Perez of Customs and Border Protection's New York office told NBC.Lopera is expected to be be arraigned in Brooklyn federal court on drug trafficking charges.Ferrero Rocher chocolates became popular in the UK during the 1990s thanks to a series of TV adverts set at a party in a European ambassador's official residence.The lines 'Eccellente' and 'Monsieur, with these Rocher, you're really spoiling us' quickly passed into popular culture."
Family disappointed by appeal delays | National | BigPond News
Family disappointed by appeal delays National BigPond News: "family of Bali nine drug mule Martin Stephens has been disappointed by further delay to his final appeal against his life sentence.
The key evidence that underpins the 33-year-old Wollongong man's final appeal a letter from former Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty that describes stephens as a minor player in the
heroin smuggling plot was formally submitted to the Denpasar District Court today."
The key evidence that underpins the 33-year-old Wollongong man's final appeal a letter from former Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty that describes stephens as a minor player in the
heroin smuggling plot was formally submitted to the Denpasar District Court today."
WBFO: Toronto doctor charged in Buffalo for alleged role in drug smuggling incident (2010-05-18)
WBFO: Toronto doctor charged in Buffalo for alleged role in drug smuggling incident (2010-05-18): "Toronto doctor was charged by the US Attorney's office in Buffalo Tuesday for his alleged role in a drug smuggling incident at the Peace Bridge.
Dr. Anthony Galea, 51, faces several felony counts, including aiding and abetting smuggling and making a false statement.
His former assistant was arrested at the Peace Bridge last September after several banned substances were found in her car.
Galea is a prominent sports physician who has treated such athletes as Alex Rodriguez and Tiger Woods. He's charged with providing human growth hormone (HGH) to one ex-NFL player.
The complaint also charges the doctor with introducing the unapproved drug actovegin into interstate commerce."
Dr. Anthony Galea, 51, faces several felony counts, including aiding and abetting smuggling and making a false statement.
His former assistant was arrested at the Peace Bridge last September after several banned substances were found in her car.
Galea is a prominent sports physician who has treated such athletes as Alex Rodriguez and Tiger Woods. He's charged with providing human growth hormone (HGH) to one ex-NFL player.
The complaint also charges the doctor with introducing the unapproved drug actovegin into interstate commerce."
Channing Tatum to Star in What's Left of Us as Heroin Addict
Channing Tatum to Star in What's Left of Us as Heroin Addict: "seems that hard-earned physique that made Channing Tatum famous in movies like G.I. Joe and Step Up may be a thing of the past for his new movie role. In What's Left of Us, Tatum will star as a heroin addict on a seven-day detox.
Tatum only gets to show off his acting skills pretty sparingly these days (that crying scene in Dear John being an exception), so it'll be nice to see the beefy, love-him-or-hate-him actor attempting a challenge."
Tatum only gets to show off his acting skills pretty sparingly these days (that crying scene in Dear John being an exception), so it'll be nice to see the beefy, love-him-or-hate-him actor attempting a challenge."
Iceland Review Online: Daily News from Iceland, Current Affairs, Business, Politics, Sports, Culture
Iceland Review Online: Daily News from Iceland, Current Affairs, Business, Politics, Sports, Culture: "The investigation is taking place in cooperation with Dutch police authorities in relation to the confiscation of three tons of marijuana in the Netherlands, Fréttabladid reports.
Police dogs were used to search the sailboat and divers searched the harbor in Seydisfjördur. Samples of paint were taken from the sailboat to see whether it had rubbed against other vessels to deliver or receive smuggled goods.
The boat is damaged; the hinder mast is broken and one of the sides is scratched. It is unknown whether any substances were found onboard.
Karl Steinar Valsson, the senior officer at the capital region police’s drug department, would not comment on the investigation for the time being."
Police dogs were used to search the sailboat and divers searched the harbor in Seydisfjördur. Samples of paint were taken from the sailboat to see whether it had rubbed against other vessels to deliver or receive smuggled goods.
The boat is damaged; the hinder mast is broken and one of the sides is scratched. It is unknown whether any substances were found onboard.
Karl Steinar Valsson, the senior officer at the capital region police’s drug department, would not comment on the investigation for the time being."
Laws, Life, and Legal Matters - Court Cases and Legal Information at Leagle.com - All Federal and State Appeals Court Cases in One Search
Laws, Life, and Legal Matters - Court Cases and Legal Information at Leagle.com - All Federal and State Appeals Court Cases in One Search: "Pickett opined the crime would have benefitted both the Rollin' 60s gang and the individual Rollin' 60s member himself. The gang member would gain respect and stature in the gang hierarchy for his willingness to commit a violent crime for the gang. If the robbery had been successful, both the gang member and the gang would have benefitted monetarily. The gang would also benefit because this kind of crime helps to create 'fear and intimidation within the community. Gang members can't work without it.' It also helps in the recruitment of new gang members who want to be associated with a gang 'known as . . . the meanest, baddest, and ugliest one in the neighborhood . . . .'"
wgrz.com | Buffalo, NY | HGH Smuggling Investigation; Why Athletes Are Attracted To Substance
wgrz.com Buffalo, NY HGH Smuggling Investigation; Why Athletes Are Attracted To Substance: "Several professional athletes have been tied to a performance-enhancing drug smuggling investigation that originated in Western New York, according to multiple sources.
Multiple sources with knowledge of the investigation tell 2 On Your Side around a dozen NFL and MLB players have been interviewed by Federal authorities investigating HGH smuggling from Canada into the U.S.
Our sources were not certain if any of the NFL players currently play, or have ever played, for the Buffalo Bills. The players are witnesses in the case, not suspects, according to our sources."
Multiple sources with knowledge of the investigation tell 2 On Your Side around a dozen NFL and MLB players have been interviewed by Federal authorities investigating HGH smuggling from Canada into the U.S.
Our sources were not certain if any of the NFL players currently play, or have ever played, for the Buffalo Bills. The players are witnesses in the case, not suspects, according to our sources."
The TaxPayers' Alliance - Media Coverage: Daily Express: Police plan to give Heroin junkies free needles
The TaxPayers' Alliance - Media Coverage: Daily Express: Police plan to give Heroin junkies free needles: "PROPOSAL for police to give heroin addicts advice and free needles to inject the drug safely sparked outrage last night.
Under the scheme, junkies will receive so-called Harm Reduction Kits of clean needles, a clinical waste container and a manual about the most effective dose and the right veins to inject.
The drug users are to be given the packs when released from custody in a bid to stop them killing themselves.
The scheme will get underway in Cambridgeshire next month.But last night there was outrage that police appeared to be encouraging the use of the deadly class A drug.
Monmouth MP David Davies said: “I am astonished by this initiative. My understanding is that it is the police’s job to catch drug dealers and possession of drugs is also against the law. We should get drug users off the streets and if necessary force them to get medical help to combat their addiction.”
Matthew Elliott, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “This is sending out mixed messages about drug use. The authorities should make their mind up whether they think drugs should be banned or not.” Former Home Office minister and Daily Express columnist Ann Widdecombe said: “We should be preventing heroin use, not sanitising the use of the drug."
Under the scheme, junkies will receive so-called Harm Reduction Kits of clean needles, a clinical waste container and a manual about the most effective dose and the right veins to inject.
The drug users are to be given the packs when released from custody in a bid to stop them killing themselves.
The scheme will get underway in Cambridgeshire next month.But last night there was outrage that police appeared to be encouraging the use of the deadly class A drug.
Monmouth MP David Davies said: “I am astonished by this initiative. My understanding is that it is the police’s job to catch drug dealers and possession of drugs is also against the law. We should get drug users off the streets and if necessary force them to get medical help to combat their addiction.”
Matthew Elliott, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “This is sending out mixed messages about drug use. The authorities should make their mind up whether they think drugs should be banned or not.” Former Home Office minister and Daily Express columnist Ann Widdecombe said: “We should be preventing heroin use, not sanitising the use of the drug."
New therapy for cocaine toxicity: Enzyme break downs cocaine into inactive products nearly 1,000 times faster than human body does | New Science Magazine
New therapy for cocaine toxicity: Enzyme break downs cocaine into inactive products nearly 1,000 times faster than human body does New Science Magazine: "Researchers have developed and tested a modified enzyme that can break down cocaine into inactive products nearly 1,000 times faster than the human body does regularly. The engineered enzyme, called CocE, may be an excellent candidate for clinical use"
Recovering drug user faces prison - Hartlepool Mail
Recovering drug user faces prison - Hartlepool Mail: "RECOVERING drug user who was caught with cannabis and amphetamine will have his case heard before a judge after he breached a crown court order. Hartlepool man Jason Darren Cooper could be sent to prison for 44 weeks after being caught with the drugs in the street and breaching a suspended sentence.
Police stopped Cooper at 3pm in the town's Chester Road and he handed them a small wrap of cannabis.
A court heard officers became suspicious as the 37-year-old looked 'visibly shaken' and looked in his wallet, which contained a small wrap of white powder which was later identified as amphetamine"
Police stopped Cooper at 3pm in the town's Chester Road and he handed them a small wrap of cannabis.
A court heard officers became suspicious as the 37-year-old looked 'visibly shaken' and looked in his wallet, which contained a small wrap of white powder which was later identified as amphetamine"
Daily Herald | Oswego man traded fatal dose of heroin for guitar, police say
Daily Herald Oswego man traded fatal dose of heroin for guitar, police say: "traded the dead man heroin for a guitar.
Crystal Lake police arrested Mark S. Seranella, 21, at his Oswego home on a charge of drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony which, if he is convicted, could land him in prison for up to 30 years.
The charge stems from the Jan. 26, 2007 discovery of Ryan A. Maxwell, of the 1500 block of Birmingham Lane in Crystal Lake, dead from a heroin overdose in a friend's apartment."
Crystal Lake police arrested Mark S. Seranella, 21, at his Oswego home on a charge of drug-induced homicide, a Class X felony which, if he is convicted, could land him in prison for up to 30 years.
The charge stems from the Jan. 26, 2007 discovery of Ryan A. Maxwell, of the 1500 block of Birmingham Lane in Crystal Lake, dead from a heroin overdose in a friend's apartment."
Sheriff: Man had 68 balloons full of heroin | San Francisco Examiner
Sheriff: Man had 68 balloons full of heroin San Francisco Examiner: "Authorities say a man was found with 68 balloons full of heroin after he crashed his truck his Duarte.
Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Tom McNeal says 27-year-old Andrew Lalande had apparently fallen asleep Friday and crashed into a car that was stopped in front of him.
Witnesses say Lalande got out of the truck after the crash, walked down the street, appeared to drop something on the ground, then returned to his truck.
Deputies later found 68 balloons full of heroin at the spot witnesses pointed out. They also found 15 syringes, one of them full of heroin, inside Lalande's truck."
Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Tom McNeal says 27-year-old Andrew Lalande had apparently fallen asleep Friday and crashed into a car that was stopped in front of him.
Witnesses say Lalande got out of the truck after the crash, walked down the street, appeared to drop something on the ground, then returned to his truck.
Deputies later found 68 balloons full of heroin at the spot witnesses pointed out. They also found 15 syringes, one of them full of heroin, inside Lalande's truck."
Former Drug Kingpin Ike Atkinson Challenges "American Gangster" Frank Lucas with Release of "Sergeant Smack"
Former Drug Kingpin Ike Atkinson Challenges "American Gangster" Frank Lucas with Release of "Sergeant Smack": "Raleigh, North Carolina - In April of 2007, 84-year old Ike Atkinson was released from federal prison after serving a 32-year prison term. There were no cameras and little fanfare as the man deemed the biggest American drug kingpin ever to operate out of Asia was set free. Atkinson, who operated the largest drug smuggling enterprise in the 1970s"
Doing Coke With Jack Nicholson - The Daily Beast
Doing Coke With Jack Nicholson - The Daily Beast: "Robert Downey Jr. says his drug addiction started early, alleging in an upcoming issue of Rolling Stone that his father, Robert Downey Sr., began giving him drugs when he was 8 years old. Downey Jr. also recounts doing cocaine with his dad and Jack Nicholson, and talks about how he got involved with heroin. 'All those years of snorting coke, and then I accidentally get involved in heroin after smoking crack for the first time. It finally tied my shoelaces together,' he said. Downey has been sober for seven years, and says he plans to stay that way."
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