Crime Rap Sheets

Friday 29 August 2008

seized more than 100 kg heroin from different places. The smugglers have been using new method to send the drug to India


Smuggling of narcotics from Pakistan along the international border has become a major concern for security agencies as drug lords are using new modus operandi to flood contrabands in Indian markets. If the peddlers are sending the drugs through human courier in one occasion, the next time they would send the contraband through the cross-border Samjhauta Express, the third time in a camel back while the forth time they would try to push drug packets through plastic pipes across the fencing.
"In the first half of the year, we have seized more than 100 kg heroin from different places. The smugglers have been using new method to send the drugs to India. It is the one of biggest challenges in the western sector," Additional Director General (west) of Border Security Force G S Gill told the media on the sideline of a in Delhi."They make good use of both Samjhauta Express and Thar Express trains to smuggle drugs into India," Gill said. The area opposite the international border with Pakistan in Punjab is always under threat of exploitation by narcotic smugglers. However, the alertness of border guarding troops has always been an impediment in the smugglers attempts, which are being made regularly by well placed drug syndicates on both side of the border.
"We are always alert to foil their attempts," he said.
Pumping of fake Indian currency notes (FICNs) into India through the international border with Pakistan is another area of concern for the security agencies as this is a method being used to cripple the country's economy.Last month, BSF seized FICN worth Rs 16 lakh in five packets of Rs 1,000 denomination notes and 22 packets of Rs 500 denomination notes in R S Pura sector in Jammu and Kashmir. The suspects fled towards Pakistan after being chased by the BSF.There have been also reports of smuggling of high-value contraband and FICNs from Pakistani side to finance terrorism in India. Security officials remained tight-lipped about the role of state agencies in Pakistan, like its border guarding force Pakistani Rangers, in aiding such smuggling. As part of its efforts for better coordination in manning the Indo-Pak border, the BSF has been holding regular meetings with its counterpart Pakistan Rangers from time to time. "However, such meetings lead to little results on the ground," another official said.

My Quy Dong is a “hot spot” for cigarette smuggling in the Mekong Delta


Vo Van Cuong, deputy police chief of Long An’s My Quy Dong Commune, Duc Hue District, said traffickers transported the contraband by boats at speeds of 50 kilometers per hour, which is too quick for the underequipped local constabulary.
Though My Quy Dong is a “hot spot” for cigarette smuggling in the Mekong Delta province, commune police have seized only 2,000 packs of cigarettes so far this year.
Most of the packs were collected after smugglers made hasty retreats from the police, Cuong said.The policeman said traffickers used runners to walk the Vietnam– Cambodia border and into Cambodia’s Svayrieng Province, before returning by boat to regroup at An Ninh Tay Commune’s Cay Xoai Wharf.In the span of 20 minutes, a Thanh Nien reporter witnessed 10 boats carrying illicit tobacco through My Binh Canal.Later that afternoon, three other boats full of contraband docked at Giong Noi Wharf.A resident said Giong Noi Wharf was a place where illegal tobacco was gathered and then distributed to motorcycles from boats.He said smugglers then transported tobacco to Ho Chi Minh City through Roads 8, 9, and 10.The central steering committee responsible for combating contraband, fake goods, and trade fraud have recently launched a new tobacco smuggling telephone hotline at 1800-58-58-55 to mobilize the public to report the crime.

Egyptian border policeman was shot dead by smugglers

Egyptian border policeman was shot dead by smugglers on Monday as he tried to stop a group of African migrants from crossing the border illegally into Israel, a security official said. Mohammed Ahmed Hassanein, 21, was shot in the chest by smugglers who were trying to sneak a group of African migrants into Israel from an area south of the border town of Rafah, the official told AFP. "He was taken to El-Arish hospital (in north Sinai) but died of his wounds," the official said, adding that the smugglers and migrants had escaped.In a similar incident, border policeman Mahmoud al-Esnawi Ahmed, 21, was shot in the leg as he tried to stop smugglers from helping another group of African migrants from reaching Israel, also south of Rafah, the official said.The 250-kilometre (155-mile) Egyptian-Israeli frontier has become a major transit route for migrants, asylum-seekers and drug smugglers. The Egyptian authorities have arrested 587 illegal immigrants since January trying to sneak across the border into Israel, a security official said earlier this month. At least 19 people have been shot dead by police on the border this year.

Members of the missionary group Vision Beyond Borders attempted to take 300 Bibles into Yunnan, south west China, for distribution

Members of the missionary group Vision Beyond Borders attempted to take 300 Bibles into Yunnan, south west China, for distribution among the local population.However, they were stopped at Kunming airport, and the Bibles were confiscated.
After the confiscation, the group remained at the airport, refusing to leave until the Bibles were returned.The stand-off was called off 26 hours later when the missionary’s leader, Pat Klein, became concerned that he and his colleagues - including a 78 year old and a 15 year old - would be forcibly removed from the airport.Klein said he was disappointed by the confiscation of the Bibles and said that they weren’t bringing in drugs or anything evil, just Bibles. A US embassy official later informed the group that to import Bibles violates Chinese laws, which state that religious products can only be brought into the country for personal use.
Missionary activity is banned in China, and those who worship in churches, mosques or temples not sanctioned by the government are frequently harassed.
Many people in China are sent to prison or labour camps because of their beliefs.
Bibles are only allowed to be printed in China under state supervision, and can only be used in state-sanctioned churches and some hotels.Hundreds of Christian missionaries have managed to enter China recently by posing as regious mentors to their national Olympic teams. Many of them are handing out illegal religious booklets and DVDs, and have found the Chinese to be a receptive audience.Those caught proselytising are likely to face arrest and deportation.

police apprehended and arrested five African suspects aged between 26 and 42 years for smuggling drugs inside their bodies.

Public Prosecutions Office concluded its investigation into two cases of suspected drug smuggling, and has laid serious drug charges against six African suspects.
In May last year, the police apprehended and arrested five African suspects aged between 26 and 42 years for smuggling drugs inside their bodies.
Police were tipped off and arrested the suspects in a hotel located in the city centre. The suspects' bodies were still stashed with drugs, a statement from the Public Prosecutions Office released yesterday said.
In the second drug smuggling case, a 40-year-old Ugandan woman was arrested in October last year for smuggling drugs. She was also caught with heroin and other illegal substances when police apprehended the woman at Macau International Airport. The woman had travelled from Thailand to the SAR, the statement said, adding that she was later taken to hospital where it was found that she had large amounts of drugs packed inside her body.
The woman later confessed she intended to use Macau as a platform to take the drugs to the mainland where she intended to exchange them for money, the statement said.
After further investigating the two cases, the Public Prosecutions Office said it had enough evidence to charge the six suspects with serious drug crimes.
If the suspects are found guilty they can each face a sentence of up to 12 years in prison, according to the Macau Penal Code.
The cases have been sent to the judges to schedule a hearing and trial. The suspects are

Iran has hanged two convicted drug smugglers inside a Tehran prison

Iran has hanged two convicted drug smugglers inside a Tehran prison, Iran's state-run newspaper said on Wednesday, the latest in a series of executions that has been criticised by rights groups and European governments.Since authorities launched a clampdown on "immoral behaviour" in July 2007, police have arrested dozens of drug addicts, smugglers, rapists and murderers.Murder, adultery, rape, armed robbery, apostasy and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under Iran's sharia law, practised since the 1979 Islamic revolution."The two men were drug smugglers. They were hanged inside Tehran's Ghezel Hesar prison on Tuesday morning," the Iran newspaper said.It said a Tehran court last year sentenced one of them to life term in prison but after he tried to smuggle narcotics into the jail, this was upgraded to the death sentence."Police found out he was trying to smuggle heroin and opium he got from his friend when returning to the prison from the court," the daily said.
In July, 29 people were hanged in one day inside Tehran's Even prison. In September last year, 21 people were executed in one day in two different places.
Amnesty International in April said Iran executed at least 317 people last year, trailing only China which carried out 470 death sentences.

two Pakistani nationals convicted of smuggling heroin into the country have been executed in the eastern city of Dammam.

two Pakistani nationals convicted of smuggling heroin into the country have been executed in the eastern city of Dammam.A ministry statement carried Thursday by the official Saudi Press Agency says Shir-Zada Sahib-Zada Qul brought the drug into the country and Youssef-Khan Nour Mohammed received it. It did not say when.
Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which people convicted of murder, drug trafficking, rape and armed robbery can be executed, usually by sword.According to an Associated Press count, Thursday's executions bring to 63 the number of people beheaded this year in the kingdom. Last year, 137 people were beheaded, up sharply from 38 in 2006.

Johor Customs Department has scored big with four operations in three days, seizing frozen beef and contraband items worth nearly RM300,000.

Johor Customs Department director Mhd Subre Ishak (left) showing the frozen beef seized from a lorry at the causeway in Johor Baru.
Johor Customs Department has scored big with four operations in three days, seizing frozen beef and contraband items worth nearly RM300,000.Its director Mhd Subre Ishak said they had also picked up four people to assist investigations into the smuggling activities.He said a team from Tanjung Kupang preventive operation unit raided a house in Bandar Putra Kulai on Wednesday.“There, we recovered 3,467 cartons of cigarettes of various brands worth over RM104,000.“The undeclared cigarettes involve an unpaid duty of RM282,500,” he said, adding the unit detained a man to assist investigations but released him on Customs bail later.Then on Thursday, Customs officers flagged down a lorry which was supposed to have been carrying empty baskets at the Causeway about 4am.“After checking, we discovered boxes of frozen beef kept behind those empty baskets.“We arrested the driver and two assistants on the spot for investigations,” Mhd Subre said, added the detainees were aged between 25 and 40.
He said a permit from the Veterinary Services Department is required to import beef, and added that the imported beef, worth over RM121,600, would be destroyed.
In two operations on Friday, the department seized RM73,440 worth of contraband beer with an unpaid tax of nearly RM170,000.Mhd Subre said the first batch of beer was seized from a lorry parked by the roadside near Plaza Angsana here.The second batch was also seized from a trailer in Jalan Datin Halimah-Jalan Tampoi here at 3am.

Egyptian authorities on Sunday arrested 35 African migrants who were trying to cross the border illegally into Israel from the Sinai peninsula


Egyptian authorities on Sunday arrested 35 African migrants who were trying to cross the border illegally into Israel from the Sinai peninsula, a security official said.A first group of 25 Eritreans were detained as they tried to climb over barbed wire into Israel from the Sinai desert, the official told AFP.Another group of six Eritreans and four Comorans were arrested south of the Rafah border crossing, he said."During police questioning, the migrants said they were headed to Israel to look for jobs and had each paid smugglers 300 dollars to help them cross," the official said.The porous 250-kilometre (155-mile) Egypt-Israel border has become a major transit route for migrants, asylum-seekers and drug smugglers.So far this year, 20 migrants have been killed making the crossing and 608 have been arrested.
In a report published on Wednesday, Amnesty International urged the Egyptian government to launch an investigation into the killing by police of people crossing the border illegally.

110 illegal immigrants were intercepted and arrested throughout the weekend in nearly a half dozen instances in eastern Aegean waters


Total of 110 illegal immigrants were intercepted and arrested throughout the weekend in nearly a half dozen instances in eastern Aegean waters and on islands in the region, including 21 would-be migrants attempting to approach the island of Samos on Sunday, one of the favorite "targets" of foreign nationals attempting to illegally land on Greek islands via Turkey. Two alleged migrant smugglers were also arrested. All of the detained individuals were identified as Third World nationals, while authorities said the groups of would-be migrants had disembarked from the opposite Turkish coast by paying migrant smugglers a fee.Finally, port authorities in the city of Patras, western Greece, arrested a 24-year-old foreign driver on Saturday afternoon, as well as four other foreign nationals riding with him on charges of possessing forged travel documents with the intent of leaving the country illegally.

Kajol Baux and Enamul Haque, were arrested with 565 gm of heroine.

The eastern zonal unit of the Narcotic Control Bureau's (NCB) arrested four members of a drug smuggling racket on Saturday. The four were produced in the Alipore Court on Sunday. Acting on a tip-off, an NCB team raided a hotel in the Chandni area in the wee hours on Saturday. Two of the accused, Kajol Baux and Enamul Haque, were arrested with 565 gm of heroine. During interrogation, it was revealed that the contraband was supplied to them by Asadul Haque from Nadia to be delivered to Lara Shankar Giri of Howrah. Asadul and Giri were also arrested later, said NCB eastern zonal unit's director K Shankar.

agents assigned to the Tucson Sector seized two vehicles, two handguns and arrest three U.S. citizens.

agents assigned to the Tucson Sector seized two vehicles, two handguns and arrest three U.S. citizens.The first incident occurred last night at 9 p.m. near Marana, Ariz., when Tucson Station agents arrested a U.S. citizen and four illegal aliens, three of whom were concealed in the trunk of the vehicle. In this incident, as the driver exited the vehicle, a loaded 9mm pistol was discovered under the seat.
All individuals were taken into custody and transported to the Tucson Station for further processing. The U.S. citizen driver was arrested for alien smuggling and endangerment.Also last night, Border Patrol agents from the Douglas Station, stopped two female U.S. citizens on Highway 191 approximately 38 miles north of the border. While questioning the driver agents noticed a handgun lying by the side of the driver and movement under a pile of blankets in the rear seat area. Agents then discovered two illegal aliens hiding on the floor board under the pile blankets.
The two U.S. citizen females and the two illegal aliens were placed under arrest. Agents then searched the vehicle and people under custody, discovering drug paraphernalia and a small bottle containing marijuana.One of the U.S. citizens will be held pending prosecution for alien smuggling with endangerment.

U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents discovered 62 suspected illegal immigrants Tuesday hiding in a suburban duplex.

U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents discovered 62 suspected illegal immigrants Tuesday hiding in a suburban duplex.Agents acting on a tip discovered the stash house about 10:30 a.m. and detained the group without incident, said Dan Doty, a local Border Patrol spokesman. Most of the detainees were from countries other than Mexico."This area is a very nice area," Doty said of the Edinburg apartment complex at 708 Jasper Road. "It's not the type you would generally associate with smuggling."Nina Pruneda, a Houston-based ICE spokeswoman, said the agency is pursuing leads to find the human smugglers, but ICE had no immediate suspects.Tuesday's discovery of the large group of illegal immigrants in a family-friendly area is a reflection of how human smugglers are stashing immigrants in quiet communities to avoid detection, Doty said."It's not your colonias that they're using anymore or old abandoned houses," he said.Mission police discovered an immigrant stash house July 1 in a newly developed subdivision. Authorities arrested five men at the house at 2113 Sierra Court after receiving a report that a Honduran woman who had been stashed there was sexually assaulted.Tuesday's raid netted illegal immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, Pruneda said.

The idyllic, pastoral setting of the Himalayan foothills that draws an increasing number of backpackers is now also becoming a base for drug smuggling

Police officials say The idyllic, pastoral setting of the Himalayan foothills that draws an increasing number of backpackers is now also becoming a base for a multimillion dollar narcotics trade involving foreign settlers, local peddlers and international drug smugglers. Police officials say foreign smugglers, working in collusion with addicts, are virtually ruling the roost in Mandi, Kullu and Chamba districts that have a serious problem of drug cultivation, trafficking and use.
The conviction of two Italians - Anglo Falcone and Nobli Simone - along with two Indians under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act by a Mandi court last Friday is proof that an international drug mafia has gained a foothold in the hill state, senior police officials said here.
Jagat Ram, superintendent of police (Kullu), said: "Forty-eight people have beenbooked under the NDPS Act this year. Last year, 29 people had been booked." In the past 10 years, 208 foreigners have been arrested in the state and 757 cases registered under the NDPS Act. However, only 74 people have been convicted. Among the arrested foreigners are many Israelis, Italians, French and Japanese. According to a police officer who did not want to be identified, a large number of foreigners settled in various villages in these districts have been actively involved in smuggling narcotics in connivance with local peddlers. The foreigners were even providing high-yield variety cannabis seeds imported from Holland and Russia to farmers for planting in various high-altitude areas like Malana, Bhelang, Melandar, Magic and Kutlah in the Kullu valley as well as the Chauhar and Seraj valleys in Mandi district, the officer said. In Chamba district, the plantation of cannabis is confined to remote areas of Kehar, Tissa and Bharmour. Himachal Pradesh Director General of Police G.S. Gill said: "We are aware of the problem and it has to be curbed. "We're launching a special month-long drive from Sep 1 in Kullu, Mandi and Chamba districts. This is the time the poppy crop is ready for harvest." Gill said special police teams would be deployed to locate cannabis and opium plantations and destroy them before the crop is harvested. Additional Director General of Police D.S. Manhas said: "During the drive we're taking the help of 18 sniffer dogs to detect houses in villages where hashish and opium have been stored." According to estimates of India's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), more than 6,000 acres in the state is under cannabis cultivation. Easy availability of cheap drugs in McLeodganj - the abode of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama - and its surrounding areas of Dharamkot, Naddi and Bhagsunag has turned the area into an addicts' haven, say the police.
The idyllic, pastoral setting of the Himalayan foothills that draws an increasing number of backpackers is now also becoming a base for a multimillion dollar narcotics trade involving foreign settlers, local peddlers and international drug smugglers. Police officials say foreign smugglers, working in collusion with addicts, are virtually ruling the roost in Mandi, Kullu and Chamba districts that have a serious problem of drug cultivation, trafficking and use.
The conviction of two Italians - Anglo Falcone and Nobli Simone - along with two Indians under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act by a Mandi court last Friday is proof that an international drug mafia has gained a foothold in the hill state, senior police officials said here. Jagat Ram, superintendent of police (Kullu), said: "Forty-eight people have been booked under the NDPS Act this year. Last year, 29 people had been booked." In the past 10 years, 208 foreigners have been arrested in the state and 757 cases registered under the NDPS Act. However, only 74 people have been convicted. Among the arrested foreigners are many Israelis, Italians, French and Japanese. According to a police officer who did not want to be identified, a large number of foreigners settled in various villages in these districts have been actively involved in smuggling narcotics in connivance with local peddlers. The foreigners were even providing high-yield variety cannabis seeds imported from Holland and Russia to farmers for planting in various high-altitude areas like Malana, Bhelang, Melandar, Magic and Kutlah in the Kullu valley as well as the Chauhar and Seraj valleys in Mandi district, the officer said. In Chamba district, the plantation of cannabis is confined to remote areas of Kehar, Tissa and Bharmour. Himachal Pradesh Director General of Police G.S. Gill said: "We are aware of the problem and it has to be curbed. O.P. Sharma, a former superintendent of the NCB, said: "People involved in the clandestine trade are spreading their wings by luring more villagers into this multi-billion dollar trade. Alternative farming is the only way to control cannabis cultivation."
The demand for the cannabis cultivated in the Kullu valley has increased across the world, with Malana hashish adjudged the best at the Cannabis Cup organised in Amsterdam earlier this year. A.P. Singh,a former superintendent of police in Kullu district, said: The demand for the cannabis cultivated in the Kullu valley is high in Holland, where smoking hashish is legal." Malana, a village in the Kullu valley, has long been notorious for cultivation of high-quality cannabis there. O.P. Sharma, a former superintendent of the NCB, said: "People involved in this clandestine trade are spreading their wings by luring more villagers into this multi-billion dollar trade. Alternative farming is the only way to control cannabis cultivation."
The conviction of two Italians - Anglo Falcone and Nobli Simone - along with two Indians under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act by a Mandi court last Friday is proof that an international drug mafia has gained a foothold in the hill state, senior police officials said here. Jagat Ram, superintendent of police (Kullu), said: "Forty-eight people have been booked under the NDPS Act this year. Last year, 29 people had been booked." In the past 10 years, 208 foreigners have been arrested in the state and 757 cases registered under the NDPS Act. However, only 74 people have been convicted. Among the arrested foreigners are many Israelis, Italians, French and Japanese. According to a police officer who did not want to be identified, a large number of foreigners settled in various villages in these districts have been actively involved in smuggling narcotics in connivance with local peddlers. The foreigners were even providing high-yield variety cannabis seeds imported from Holland and Russia to farmers for planting in various high-altitude areas like Malana, Bhelang, Melandar, Magic and Kutlah in the Kullu valley as well as the Chauhar and Seraj valleys in Mandi district, the officer said. In Chamba district, the plantation of cannabis is confined to remote areas of Kehar, Tissa and Bharmour. Himachal Pradesh Director General of Police G.S. Gill said: "We are aware of the problem and it has to be curbed. "We're launching a special month-long drive from Sep 1 in Kullu, Mandi and Chamba districts. This is the time the poppy crop is ready for harvest." Gill said special police teams would be deployed to locate cannabis and opium plantations and destroy them before the crop is harvested. Additional Director General of Police D.S. Manhas said: "During the drive we're taking the help of 18 sniffer dogs to detect houses in villages where hashish and opium have been stored." According to estimates of India's Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), more than 6,000 acres in the state is under cannabis cultivation. Easy availability of cheap drugs in McLeodganj - the abode of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama - and its surrounding areas of Dharamkot, Naddi and Bhagsunag has turned the area into an addicts' haven, say the police. The demand for the cannabis cultivated in the Kullu valley has increased across the world, with Malana hashish adjudged the best at the Cannabis Cup organised in Amsterdam earlier this year. A.P. Singh,a former superintendent of police in Kullu district, said: The demand for the cannabis cultivated in the Kullu valley is high in Holland, where smoking hashish is legal." Malana, a village in the Kullu valley, has long been notorious for cultivation of high-quality cannabis there. O.P. Sharma, a former superintendent of the NCB, said: "People involved in this clandestine trade are spreading their wings by luring more villagers into this multi-billion dollar trade. Alternative farming is the only way to control cannabis cultivation."
Related Posts with Thumbnails