Officers of the Narcotics Bureau (NB) arrested six men, aged between 21 to 43, and seized 12 kg of cocaine worth about $10.5 million at Tsim Sha Tsui

Officers of the Narcotics Bureau (NB) arrested six men, aged between 21 to 43, and seized 12 kg of cocaine worth about $10.5 million at Tsim Sha Tsui yesterday (February 16).Officers of the NB have closely monitored a transnational drug trafficking syndicate in January, in which the syndicate was actively involved in arranging cocaine from overseas to be shipped to Hong Kong for local distribution.Acting on intelligence, a consignment of cocaine would be collected from the airport and delivered to a premises in Tsim Sha Tsui yesterday. Officers of the NB mounted a joint operation with the Customs and Excise Department (C&E) at a premises at Granville Circuit in Tsim Sha Tsui and arrested two men who were unpacking the consignment of cocaine yesterday afternoon. Four other men who were suspected to be in connection with the case were also arrested in the vicinity.With the assistance of C&E officers, it was identified that the consignment of cocaine was packed inside 20 boxes of cocoa powder, with an estimated total weight of 12 kg and a retail value of about $10.5 million. Investigations revealed that the drugs were shipped to Hong Kong from Ecuador via Panama and Amsterdam. The six men were arrested for trafficking in dangerous drugs and were still being detained for further enquiries. Active investigations by the NB are underway.

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Spanish police have detained 10 people and shut down a cocaine processing lab in Madrid

Spanish police have detained 10 people and shut down a cocaine processing lab in Madrid, police said Tuesday. Police also seized 3.2 kg of drugs, authorities said. Those arrested were part of an alleged drug trafficking cartel from Dominican Republic, police said. Police said the cartel introduced drugs to Spain through the Dominican Republic and Central America. The group was headquartered in Santo Domingo and led by a man linked to Colombian drug traffickers. The ring operated in Spain in the Teutan district of Madrid, police said. The cartel also distributed cocaine in Scotland and Italy. Italian police have detained members of the cartel with another 0.8 kg of drugs, police said.

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Seized 423 kg of cocaine in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo.

Brazilian Federal Police announced on Wednesday the seizure of 423 kg of cocaine in the southeastern state of Sao Paulo. Two people were arrested in the operation on the SP-330 state road on the outskirts of Ribeirao Preto, the police said. Two rifles and four machine guns were also seized. The cocaine was found hidden in a truck carrying corn. The police said they started investigating the case two weeks ago and focused on one of the arrested who organized the shipment. The person was also suspected of smuggling weapons to one of the largest gangster groups in the country.

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South African Airways flight from Johannesburg to Heathrow Crew members arrested.

Second time in a fortnight that an airline crew has been detained at Heathrow. The 15 members of the flight crew, including the pilot, were being held by officers after five kilos of a substance thought to be cocaine with and estimated street value of £250,000 pounds was allegdly discovered in a bag. The crew was trying to clear customs at London's Heathrow Airport following a 12-hour flight from Johannesburg when they were stopped and searched. Bob Gaiger, spokesman for HM Revenue and Customs, said the alleged drugs were discovered after the crew were selected for a customs' check as they entered the UK on Monday. "Crew members are subject to the same customs checks as any other person when entering the UK," he said. "Those arrested are now being held in custody and will be interviewed by HMRC investigation officers." It was the second time in four weeks that an entire crew from a South African Airways flight from Johannesburg to Heathrow had been arrested. On January 21 10 women and five men from a Johannesburg to London flight were arrested after £310,000 pounds worth of cannabis and cocaine were seized. They were bailed to return to Heathrow Police Station on March 23.

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Nichanat Pussarangsi, aka Aoi , arrested, at her apartment unit in Soi Onnuj 17 and seized 190 grammes of cocaine.

Arrest of two Thai members of a drug gang that tricks Thai women into becoming drug couriers is just the first step in a clampdown on a West Africa-based drug trafficking network.Narcotics Suppression Bureau chief Wuthi Liptapanlop views the case in which he and his investigative team spent nine months as only a half measure of success.The team is taking further steps to bring the masterminds - the West African drug traffickers - to justice, he said.The arrest is just the first in a series of exciting scenes that will follow, said Pol Lt-Gen Wuthi, as his team works with foreign police to close in on the culprits.On Feb 5 officers nabbed Nichanat Pussarangsi, aka Aoi India, 37, at her apartment unit in Soi Onnuj 17 and seized 190 grammes of cocaine. They also swooped on Wanna Wiriyanon, 39, who possessed cocaine weighing 30 grammes, in front of Pata department store in the Pin Klao area.The two women helped the gang in its recruitment of female drug mules, mainly from restaurants and nightspots in the Nana, Patpong and Sukhumvit areas. They deceived them into carrying drugs mainly from India to sell in China.India is a hub where drugs smuggled from Pakistan or Afghanistan are transported to other countries such as China and the United States, police said.Gang members often trick people into becoming involved by offering them jobs abroad, typically as house maids and restaurant waitresses, police said.But when they arrive in India, they are intimidated into transporting drugs. "These ladies are tormented and forced to do the job," Pol Lt-Gen Wuthi said. "I would say the gang members are inhumane. The ladies have two options: to die there or to work for the gangs."
The women are ordered to hide drugs in bags, shoes and other belongings on their trips to China. Some women are forced to swallow drugs - they are told they are swallowing gold pieces to avoid tax charges.Most women obey their orders because they believe it is the only way they can return to Thailand. However, Pol Lt-Gen Wuthi said many of these women came to tragic ends. They were arrested either before leaving India or reaching China.Police said 58 Thai women have been arrested in China and 10 in India.Many have been sentenced to death because they are unable to provide evidence to prove they were deceived into trafficking drugs, Pol Lt-Gen Wuthi said.Thai officers now looking into the case hope to help Thai women who, he said, are victims, not criminals.The Narcotics Suppression Bureau is working with the Foreign Ministry to help women who are being prosecuted in the two countries. Many could face life in jail or the death sentence if urgent action is not taken."But at this point, I still have no idea how much we can help them," Pol Lt-Gen Wuthi said.His team needs to find evidence to back the argument that the women are in fact being manipulated by gangs.
Labelling it as an "astonishing case", Pol Lt-Gen Wuthi said the gang's activities were not easily monitored or traced in Thailand because the drugs are not kept here. As a result, many women have been lured to work with the gang without the police being aware.
"It's astonishing," Pol Lt-Gen Wuthi said. "The crime connects many countries. We have a lot of work to do to trace its network."

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Zanada Moses of Baltimore, Md., was indicted on charges of importation of and possession with the intent to distribute heroin

woman arrested at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on heroin smuggling charges has been indicted by a federal grand jury.U.S. Attorney David E. Nahmias said on Wednesday that 24-year-old Zanada Moses of Baltimore, Md., was indicted on charges of importation of and possession with the intent to distribute heroin with an estimated street value of $1 million.Nahmias said Moses arrived at the airport after a flight from Panama City, Panama, on Jan. 15.He said that during a customs inspection, officers recovered about two pounds of heroin, with some of it hidden inside the defendant's body and some taped to her stomach.Her attorney, Thomas Hawker, said he will enter a not guilty plea. Arraignment is expected later this week.

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Woman was arrested at Birmingham airport on suspicion of trying to smuggle cannabis with a street value of £60,000 into the country.

woman was arrested at the city’s airport on suspicion of trying to smuggle cannabis with a street value of £60,000 into the country.
The woman, in her 20s, was stopped by UK Border Agency officers on Wednesday after arriving on a flight from Jamaica.She was arrested after 21 kilos of cannabis was found in baggage. She was released on bail until April.Customs senior investigation officer, John Theobald, said: “This is another excellent result and sends out a clear message that regional airports like Birmingham are not a soft touch for drug smuggling.“This demonstrates our continuing efforts to reduce the devastating effects of drugs in our communities.”

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F.B.I. shoots suspect taking down drug ring

Special Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted raids in several locations in Bridgeport early Wednesday morning, taking down an apparent drug ring.Thirty-four individuals were arrested in the raids, according to the U.S. Attorney's office. Charges include possession and distribution of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin throughout Bridgeport and Fairfield County. It's the culmination of a year long investigation dubbed 'Operation G-Force' which included federal, state and local law enforcement.Court appointed lawyers were called down to the federal court house to represent the herd of defendants. "They had every one of the defendants in the jury selection room which is just one open room. And it was very crowded, " said Frank Riccio, an attorney for one of the defendants.During the raids an agent accidentally shot one of the suspects. He is being treated at St. Vincent's Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The FBI will conduct a separate investigation into the shooting.None of the 34 arrested made bail.Indictments of other suspects not arrested in the raids remain sealed.

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Four men are convicted of smuggling 2.9 million dollars worth of cocaine...and laundering millions of dollars.

Four men are convicted of smuggling 2.9 million dollars worth of cocaine...and laundering millions of dollars.U.S. Attorneys sentenced four Mexican nationals to lengthy prison terms for being part of a cocaine drug smuggling ring.Ice agents busted them during an investigation in March of 2008.The investigation identified a warehouse where drug money was being delivered and cocaine was being loaded and shipped to big cities.

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Police in Kingston, Jamaica on Tuesday busted MV Rothen that arrived in that country from Guyana with over sixty million Jamaican dollars in cocaine.

Police in Kingston, Jamaica on Tuesday busted a ship that arrived in that country from Guyana with over sixty million Jamaican dollars in cocaine.
Reports out of that country stated that the vessel, MV Rothen arrived at the Kingston Wharf on Tuesday from Guyana.Stabroek News confirmed that the ship docked at the John Fernandes Wharf on January 23 and sailed out the following day.
According to The Gleaner newspaper some 81.5 pounds of cocaine worth J$62 million was found on the boat which was scheduled to leave for Panama after picking up cargo.
The newspaper sad that the ship’s five-member crew, a German captain and four Filipinos, were arrested but not charged and was later returned to the ship, which is being held by that country’s customs department, where they continue to be detained.Sources say it was more than likely that the cocaine was loaded onto the Rothen from a boat which pulled up alongside it while it was moored at Port Georgetown. The source said this is something that occurs and necessitates the presence of the coast guard in the port area. The sources say the cocaine was found in bags in the hull of the vessel.

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