GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING an international crime gang growing cannabis crops in the Republic have seized cannabis plants and cannabis herb valued at about €500,000 in three so-called “grow houses”.
The Irish Times has learned that gardaí have now fitted heat detecting equipment to the Garda helicopter to detect grow houses, which generate very significant heat, from the air. The move comes as detections of such houses show no signs of abating two years after their presence here first emerged.
“We believe they are now probably throughout the country,” said one Garda source.
The latest finds were made in three rented houses in Co Meath in an operation by the Garda National Drugs Unit and local gardaí that has been ongoing since the start of the week.
One man, a Vietnamese national, has been arrested. Gardaí believe he was working for an Asian crime gang that has been operating in the Republic in recent years.
Gardaí believe the gang has been growing cannabis in houses expertly fitted out with the heating, insulation and irrigation systems needed to grow large quantities of cannabis. The drug was being processed and sold to other criminals in Ireland and overseas.
The Garda operation into the latest finds began on Monday evening when a house on the Old Bog Road near Dunshaughlin was searched and 340 plants were found growing in a sophisticated operation.
On Tuesday gardaí carried out a follow-up operation at a house in Culmullen, Drumree, near Dunshaughlin where another growing operation was found, involving 450 plants. Some 10kg of processed cannabis ready for sale was also found at that location. In another search on Tuesday, 150 plants were found at a house in Hallstown, not far from Dunshaughlin.
Gardaí estimate the total value of the find is bout €500,000.
The 56-year-old Vietnamese man was arrested at the Hallstown address. Gardaí believe he was being used by the gang to tend to the plants and to ensure the lighting, heating and irrigation systems put in place in all three properties were functioning properly. The suspect has been in Ireland illegally for at least eight years. He is believed to have worked in fast food outlets before becoming involved with the criminal gang growing the plants.
He is being held at Kells Garda station and can be detained for up to seven days without charge.
The finds were part of Operation Nitrogen, which was put in place by the Garda National Drugs Unit to find grow houses since the trend first emerged about two years ago.
The gang involved in the houses in Co Meath is made up of Asian criminals with links to the UK. Gardaí believed they have been behind other growing operations found in the Republic and that they sell the processed cannabis to gangs in Ireland and the UK.
Tuesday 12 October 2010
Bali Nine are not guilty of exporting drugs because they were arrested before they boarded a plane
Bali Nine are not guilty of exporting drugs because they were arrested before they boarded a plane, a former Indonesian Supreme Court judge has told the ringleaders’ final appeal.
Yahya Harahap on Friday told the Denpasar District Court he believed that because the Australians’ eight kilograms of heroin never left Indonesia’s customs area, they should not have been found guilty under Indonesian law of drug exportation.
The Bali Nine couriers were arrested after going through immigration, but before boarding their flight to Australia.
“When someone wants to export drugs from a customs area, it must be determined where the customs area actually is,” Mr Harahap told the panel of three judges.
“Getting something through customs means a person has to have taken it out of the last post in the customs area.
“When it’s still in the customs area, it is said that the departure of the goods is not complete, the export has not yet taken place.”
Mr Harahap was giving evidence at the final appeal, known as a judicial review, of ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, who are on death row.
Mr Harahap said people who attempted but failed to carry out a crime, such as the Bali Nine, should not be punished as severely as those who actually completed a crime.
Siswanto, the head of Bali’s Kerobokan Prison where the nine Australians are imprisoned, also testified on Friday.
Yahya Harahap on Friday told the Denpasar District Court he believed that because the Australians’ eight kilograms of heroin never left Indonesia’s customs area, they should not have been found guilty under Indonesian law of drug exportation.
The Bali Nine couriers were arrested after going through immigration, but before boarding their flight to Australia.
“When someone wants to export drugs from a customs area, it must be determined where the customs area actually is,” Mr Harahap told the panel of three judges.
“Getting something through customs means a person has to have taken it out of the last post in the customs area.
“When it’s still in the customs area, it is said that the departure of the goods is not complete, the export has not yet taken place.”
Mr Harahap was giving evidence at the final appeal, known as a judicial review, of ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, who are on death row.
Mr Harahap said people who attempted but failed to carry out a crime, such as the Bali Nine, should not be punished as severely as those who actually completed a crime.
Siswanto, the head of Bali’s Kerobokan Prison where the nine Australians are imprisoned, also testified on Friday.
400 smuggling gangs have been smashed over the first 6 months of the current Iranian year
Commander of Police Department for Campaign against Smuggling of Goods and Foreign Exchange announced on Sunday that 400 smuggling gangs have been smashed over the first 6 months of the current Iranian year (March 2010-March 2011).
Colonel Fathollah Zamanian said that 53,000 smugglers were also arrested in this period.
A series of operations have been carried out to stem the trafficking of alcoholic drinks and cigarettes, he noted.
The colonel added that two operations have also been carried out against trafficking of oil products.
He went on to say that police plan to perform operation against the smuggling of fireworks in the next 6 months.
In last year (March 2009-March 2010) police also confiscated goods worth over 650 million dollars, smashed 32 smuggling gangs, and arrested 87,000 smugglers, he explained
Colonel Fathollah Zamanian said that 53,000 smugglers were also arrested in this period.
A series of operations have been carried out to stem the trafficking of alcoholic drinks and cigarettes, he noted.
The colonel added that two operations have also been carried out against trafficking of oil products.
He went on to say that police plan to perform operation against the smuggling of fireworks in the next 6 months.
In last year (March 2009-March 2010) police also confiscated goods worth over 650 million dollars, smashed 32 smuggling gangs, and arrested 87,000 smugglers, he explained
Police said they seized 4.9 kilograms of heroin on Monday on the Rudnica checkpoint near the town of Raška.
Police said they seized 4.9 kilograms of heroin on Monday on the Rudnica checkpoint near the town of Raška.
The drugs were found in a car driven by 36-year-old Dejan P. from the town of Leposavić.
Serbian police (MUP) in Kraljevo said that the heroin was being transported from Kosovo to central Serbia, likely to be sold in Novi Pazar.
Beside the drugs, the suspect also had his wife and child in the car with him when he was arrested.
The street value of the seized heroin is around EUR 80,000, said police.
The drugs were found in a car driven by 36-year-old Dejan P. from the town of Leposavić.
Serbian police (MUP) in Kraljevo said that the heroin was being transported from Kosovo to central Serbia, likely to be sold in Novi Pazar.
Beside the drugs, the suspect also had his wife and child in the car with him when he was arrested.
The street value of the seized heroin is around EUR 80,000, said police.
Bulgarian man living in Croydon has tried to smuggle 4kg of heroin into the UK through Dover’s Docks
Bulgarian man living in Croydon has tried to smuggle 4kg of heroin into the UK through Dover’s Docks.
Canterbury Crown Court heard that Nedko Nedev was arrested on March 27 at tourist control, when UK Border Agency officers searched his car.
The bonnet of the Mitsubishi Pajero he was driving had been stuffed with more than £200,000 of heroin.
When officers questioned him, Nedev said he had borrowed the car from a friend and travelled to Brussels to collect some tools.
Nedev pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court on October 6 and is due to be sentenced on November 22.
Malcolm Bragg, UK Border Agency’s Criminal and Financial Assistant Director said: “The UK Border Agency is at the forefront of the fight to stop illegal drugs entering the UK.
“We are determined to protect society from activity which can have such a destructive impact on local communities as well as individuals.
Canterbury Crown Court heard that Nedko Nedev was arrested on March 27 at tourist control, when UK Border Agency officers searched his car.
The bonnet of the Mitsubishi Pajero he was driving had been stuffed with more than £200,000 of heroin.
When officers questioned him, Nedev said he had borrowed the car from a friend and travelled to Brussels to collect some tools.
Nedev pleaded guilty at Canterbury Crown Court on October 6 and is due to be sentenced on November 22.
Malcolm Bragg, UK Border Agency’s Criminal and Financial Assistant Director said: “The UK Border Agency is at the forefront of the fight to stop illegal drugs entering the UK.
“We are determined to protect society from activity which can have such a destructive impact on local communities as well as individuals.
Authorities detained 39-year-old Floydrina Williams on drug charges after a screener spotted something suspicious on the whole body imager.
flight attendant was apparently carrying more than luggage when she showed up for work on Sunday at the Indianapolis airport.
Authorities detained 39-year-old Floydrina Williams on drug charges after a screener spotted something suspicious on the whole body imager.
Authorities found nine small bags of cocaine in her body cavity.
She now faces charges of cocaine possession and dealing cocaine.
Authorities detained 39-year-old Floydrina Williams on drug charges after a screener spotted something suspicious on the whole body imager.
Authorities found nine small bags of cocaine in her body cavity.
She now faces charges of cocaine possession and dealing cocaine.
checkpoint near Pine Valley in San Diego County.
Border patrol agents busted a suspected drug smuggler after discovering nearly $300,000 in cocaine and methamphetamine hidden in a car bumper at a checkpoint near Pine Valley in San Diego County.
The driver, a 29-year-old Mexican national, was traveling into the United States via Interstate 8 on Sunday morning. Agents became suspicious after he began behaving nervously at the checkpoint.
A K-9 team was brought in, and detected drugs in the white Ford Taurus. In a fuller inspection, agents discovered two secret compartments built into the front bumper, stuffed with nearly 18 pounds of cocaine and 6.5 pounds of methamphetamine.
The driver was placed under arrest and the drugs were confiscated.
The driver, a 29-year-old Mexican national, was traveling into the United States via Interstate 8 on Sunday morning. Agents became suspicious after he began behaving nervously at the checkpoint.
A K-9 team was brought in, and detected drugs in the white Ford Taurus. In a fuller inspection, agents discovered two secret compartments built into the front bumper, stuffed with nearly 18 pounds of cocaine and 6.5 pounds of methamphetamine.
The driver was placed under arrest and the drugs were confiscated.
Iran has executed five people convicted of smuggling drugs in the central city of Isfahan
Iran has executed five people convicted of smuggling drugs in the central city of Isfahan, the website of state-run television IRIB reported today.
Since authorities launched a clampdown on "immoral behaviour" in 2007, police have arrested dozens of drug addicts, smugglers, rapists and murderers.
"Five people were hanged in Isfahan's central prison for trafficking drugs," IRIB reported, without giving further details on when the executions had taken place.
Iran is a key transit route for narcotics smuggled from neighbouring Afghanistan, which produces more than 90 per cent of the world's supply of opium, to the West and elsewhere.
Iran is often criticised by human rights groups who say the Islamic republic has one of the highest execution rates in the world.
Iranian media often carry out similar reports of executions every month. In July, news agencies said four men convicted of drug smuggling were put to death in Isfahan.
Murder, adultery, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and apostasy -- the renouncing of Islam -- are all punishable by death under Iran's Islamic law practised since the 1979 revolution.
Reuters
Since authorities launched a clampdown on "immoral behaviour" in 2007, police have arrested dozens of drug addicts, smugglers, rapists and murderers.
"Five people were hanged in Isfahan's central prison for trafficking drugs," IRIB reported, without giving further details on when the executions had taken place.
Iran is a key transit route for narcotics smuggled from neighbouring Afghanistan, which produces more than 90 per cent of the world's supply of opium, to the West and elsewhere.
Iran is often criticised by human rights groups who say the Islamic republic has one of the highest execution rates in the world.
Iranian media often carry out similar reports of executions every month. In July, news agencies said four men convicted of drug smuggling were put to death in Isfahan.
Murder, adultery, rape, armed robbery, drug trafficking and apostasy -- the renouncing of Islam -- are all punishable by death under Iran's Islamic law practised since the 1979 revolution.
Reuters
Two bodies were found hanging from a bridge on the free road from Tijuana to Rosarito early Monday morning.
Two bodies were found hanging from a bridge on the free road from Tijuana to Rosarito early Monday morning. Tijuana authorities also report four young men dead in a separate case, in a working class neighborhood many miles from downtown Tijuana.
Baja Calfiornia's Attorney General's office says the bodies were hung by their feet and both men were decapitated. Investigators say the men were both 22 years-olds from Rosarito
Police found the heads in a pick-up truck parked on the bridge. One of the heads, authorities say, was covered with baby clothes. Police also found a message from the killers, often characteristic of drug cartel hits, on the truck's windshield.
Investigators say one of the men has a prior charge for property damage, the other for carrying a restricted firearm.
The hanging bears the hallmarks of drug trafficking organizations. Though, Mexican authorities would not comment on this case.
About six hours earlier, on Sunday evening, police discovered four men between the ages of 18 and 22 shot to death on the patio of a home in a neighborhood called Infonavit Latinos. Baja California's Attorney General's office specualtes drug dealing may have motivated the killings. Though, they say only two of the men have criminal records and do not hypothesize as to why they were killed.
Authorities say 21 year-old Angel Cruz Valdobino, one of the dead, was arrested and deported two years ago for selling crystal in Los Angeles. They say he was also jailed for a year in the US, two or three years ago, after US police caught him smuggling cash from the US to Mexico.
Mexican investigators theorize gunmen could have killed the four men because Cruz failed to turn over drug money he'd smuggled from the US. Investigators also speculate Cruz may have been selling drugs out of the house where he and the others were killed, and that another of the men may have delivered the drugs to clients by taxi. Cruz allegedly had four taxis. Authorities say mobile drug sales using taxis is a recent trend in Tijuana.
A dozen bullet casings found at the scene are the kind of ammunition AK47's use. That's one of drug cartels' favored guns. Authorities tied a 9mm gun used in the murders to two previous murder scenes. Two of those three victims allegedly sold drugs.
Tijuana has made progress in controlling drug violence recently. Shootouts in public places and the public display of corpses have tapered off. Though drug murders grind on in the city's outskirts.
Just a few days ago, Mexico's President touted Tijuana as a success in his four year old drug war.
His remarks came as he kicked off a two week long, $5 million conference to try to regain respect for Tijuana and show off the city to the world.
Almost exactly a year ago, on October 9th, a Baja California employee, Rogelio Sanchez, who was in charge of drivers licenses, was found mutilated and hung from a bridge, also on the highway between Tijuana and Rosarito. He had been kidnapped a few days earlier. At the time, a spokeswoman with Baja California's Attorney General's office said Sanchez gave licenses to members of organized crime groups.
Baja Calfiornia's Attorney General's office says the bodies were hung by their feet and both men were decapitated. Investigators say the men were both 22 years-olds from Rosarito
Police found the heads in a pick-up truck parked on the bridge. One of the heads, authorities say, was covered with baby clothes. Police also found a message from the killers, often characteristic of drug cartel hits, on the truck's windshield.
Investigators say one of the men has a prior charge for property damage, the other for carrying a restricted firearm.
The hanging bears the hallmarks of drug trafficking organizations. Though, Mexican authorities would not comment on this case.
About six hours earlier, on Sunday evening, police discovered four men between the ages of 18 and 22 shot to death on the patio of a home in a neighborhood called Infonavit Latinos. Baja California's Attorney General's office specualtes drug dealing may have motivated the killings. Though, they say only two of the men have criminal records and do not hypothesize as to why they were killed.
Authorities say 21 year-old Angel Cruz Valdobino, one of the dead, was arrested and deported two years ago for selling crystal in Los Angeles. They say he was also jailed for a year in the US, two or three years ago, after US police caught him smuggling cash from the US to Mexico.
Mexican investigators theorize gunmen could have killed the four men because Cruz failed to turn over drug money he'd smuggled from the US. Investigators also speculate Cruz may have been selling drugs out of the house where he and the others were killed, and that another of the men may have delivered the drugs to clients by taxi. Cruz allegedly had four taxis. Authorities say mobile drug sales using taxis is a recent trend in Tijuana.
A dozen bullet casings found at the scene are the kind of ammunition AK47's use. That's one of drug cartels' favored guns. Authorities tied a 9mm gun used in the murders to two previous murder scenes. Two of those three victims allegedly sold drugs.
Tijuana has made progress in controlling drug violence recently. Shootouts in public places and the public display of corpses have tapered off. Though drug murders grind on in the city's outskirts.
Just a few days ago, Mexico's President touted Tijuana as a success in his four year old drug war.
His remarks came as he kicked off a two week long, $5 million conference to try to regain respect for Tijuana and show off the city to the world.
Almost exactly a year ago, on October 9th, a Baja California employee, Rogelio Sanchez, who was in charge of drivers licenses, was found mutilated and hung from a bridge, also on the highway between Tijuana and Rosarito. He had been kidnapped a few days earlier. At the time, a spokeswoman with Baja California's Attorney General's office said Sanchez gave licenses to members of organized crime groups.
Honduran and a Nicaraguan are among seven suspected members of a Central American ring arrested on arms and drug smuggling charges in Colombia,
Honduran and a Nicaraguan are among seven suspected members of a Central American ring arrested on arms and drug smuggling charges in Colombia, the DAS security agency said.
The arrests were made during “Operation Oracle AE2,” which was carried out by Colombian, Central American and U.S. law enforcement agencies, the DAS said.
The Colombian navy, DAS and Attorney General’s Office, with the assistance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, as well as law enforcement agencies in Honduras and Panama, carried out the operation, the DAS said.
An 18-month investigation led to the arrests of the network’s seven members in Barranquilla, San Andres and the Caribbean resort city of Cartagena.
Franklin William McField Bent, a Nicaraguan national, was among those arrested.
McField was identified as the individual responsible for receiving the drugs being smuggled from Colombia’s Caribbean coast to Central America, the DAS said.
Edwin Leonardo Rodriguez Leon, a Colombian arrested in the operation, allegedly provided McField with the narcotics.
Miguel Villela, a Honduran citizen, and four other Colombians were also arrested in the operation.
The suspects all face criminal conspiracy, as well as arms and drug charges, the DAS said.
The ring smuggled arms from Central America to illegal armed groups in Colombia, receiving cocaine in exchange for the weapons, officials said
The arrests were made during “Operation Oracle AE2,” which was carried out by Colombian, Central American and U.S. law enforcement agencies, the DAS said.
The Colombian navy, DAS and Attorney General’s Office, with the assistance of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, as well as law enforcement agencies in Honduras and Panama, carried out the operation, the DAS said.
An 18-month investigation led to the arrests of the network’s seven members in Barranquilla, San Andres and the Caribbean resort city of Cartagena.
Franklin William McField Bent, a Nicaraguan national, was among those arrested.
McField was identified as the individual responsible for receiving the drugs being smuggled from Colombia’s Caribbean coast to Central America, the DAS said.
Edwin Leonardo Rodriguez Leon, a Colombian arrested in the operation, allegedly provided McField with the narcotics.
Miguel Villela, a Honduran citizen, and four other Colombians were also arrested in the operation.
The suspects all face criminal conspiracy, as well as arms and drug charges, the DAS said.
The ring smuggled arms from Central America to illegal armed groups in Colombia, receiving cocaine in exchange for the weapons, officials said
drug smuggling tunnel broke ground into a sewage line in Nogales
drug smuggling tunnel broke ground into a sewage line in Nogales, Arizona causing a sewer backup on the United States side of the border.
Agents with the U.S. Border Patrol found the tunnel around 11 a.m. Monday. Officials notified the public utility director shortly after because the crew digging the tunnel had hit a 30 inch sewage line.
Up to 9.9 million gallons of raw sewage flows through the line per day. Flavio Gonzales, Utility Director with the City of Nogales said Monday afternoon that they were on the Mexico side of the border attempting to plug the line so sewage doesn't flow through the streets of Nogales.
The break occurred near the international border with Mexico. At least 8-10 employees with heavy equipment are working to fix the break. Crews from the Mexico public utilities service are also assisting.
Repair crews have managed to lighten the flow but in order to assess the situation they need to stop the flow of sewage completely.
Officials from the International Boundary and Water Commission are monitoring the situation.
Agents with the U.S. Border Patrol found the tunnel around 11 a.m. Monday. Officials notified the public utility director shortly after because the crew digging the tunnel had hit a 30 inch sewage line.
Up to 9.9 million gallons of raw sewage flows through the line per day. Flavio Gonzales, Utility Director with the City of Nogales said Monday afternoon that they were on the Mexico side of the border attempting to plug the line so sewage doesn't flow through the streets of Nogales.
The break occurred near the international border with Mexico. At least 8-10 employees with heavy equipment are working to fix the break. Crews from the Mexico public utilities service are also assisting.
Repair crews have managed to lighten the flow but in order to assess the situation they need to stop the flow of sewage completely.
Officials from the International Boundary and Water Commission are monitoring the situation.
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