drug smuggler swallowed 67 packages of cocaine in an attempt to get through British customs.

drug smuggler swallowed 67 packages of cocaine in an attempt to get through British customs. Student Fidelis Ozouli, 30, risked his life trying to hide the 1kg haul of the class A substance in his stomach. He later claimed he did not know the packets contained drugs. Officers at Manchester Airport became suspicious because Ozouli looked unnaturally bloated. They carried out X-rays on his stomach and discovered a quantity of cocaine equivalent to two bags of sugar. It is one of the largest amounts ever found internally by UK customs officers. The drug, hidden inside scores of condoms, was 78 per cent pure and had a street value of $375,000. Ozouli left officials and a court baffled by claiming: ‘I didn’t know they were drugs.’ He added: ‘I just did not know what they were. I thought I was swallowing something else to take into Britain as a favor for a pal.”

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Blow has been dealt to an international drug smuggling syndicate using South Africa to channel cocaine.

Six hours, 297 police officers, two provinces and 16 arrests - a mighty blow has been dealt to an international drug smuggling syndicate using South Africa to channel cocaine. And, aside from the haul of drugs, cash, cars, cellphones and pocket diamond scales, the pre-dawn raids netted an unexpected catch: a rogue police sergeant who allegedly used a state vehicle to hide narcotics worth half-a-million rands. Police revealed the spoils of Operation Dintwa (war) - which began at 3am on Friday and lasted six hours - at a press conference yesterday morning.Later in the day, some of those arrested, including the suspected kingpin of the syndicate, began making appearances at court and were due to continue their battle for bail this morning. The recently formed Hawks unit made the announcement, claiming that investigations into the syndicate began in 2007 in the wake of a flood of drugs in Klerksdorp, North West. The community grew impatient after the drugs began finding their way into the hands of local children. As the probe gained momentum, it emerged that the syndicate was using South Africa as a stop-over to move cocaine from South America to Europe and North America, with the overflow feeding the local market. The consignment of drugs had dagga added locally. In the past two years, police made at least 11 arrests at OR Tambo International Airport - through which the syndicate slipped shipments - and abroad. During these arrests, police said, R22 million worth of cocaine and dagga was kept off the streets. In most cases, drug mules were arrested trying to smuggle the cocaine through airports. The operation culminated in the early hours of Friday when groups of officers - ranging in size but no fewer than 10 - fanned out across Joburg, Sandton, Midrand, Soweto, Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom. The groups struck at 23 addresses, including the Buccleuch, Sandton, home of the syndicate's suspected kingpin.

Police have given his name as Pedro Odoemenem, a 34-year-old living in a poorly kept mansion in Joburg.

It's understood Odoemenem was overwhelmed by the number of officers and put up little resistance. Police have gathered intelligence on their suspect and have said it would emerge in court. They believe the syndicate is controlled by Nigerians. The officer arrested, whose name was given as Sergeant Riaan Newton, is stationed at Hillbrow and is accused of stashing R540 000 of cocaine in a state vehicle parked at the station. He, and a policewoman who is still on the run, are accused of assisting the syndicate. The officers involved in the raid were from the Directorate of Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks), Organised Crime Unit, National Intervention Unit, Dog Unit, Special Task Force and Crime Intelligence Unit, along with members of the Asset Forfeiture Unit, South African Revenue Service and National Prosecuting Authority.The raids, made with the help of Interpol, saw police recovering, among other things, R4 million worth of narcotics, 220 rounds of ammunition, three cars, 44 cellphones and R49 000 in cash.The countries targeted by the syndicate include South Africa, Angola, Senegal, Nigeria and the US, as well as Europe.
The syndicate reportedly uses specially modified submarines on some of its routes (so far this has not been the case in South Africa) and specialises in smuggling cocaine. According to a police source, the syndicate uses casinos to launder money.
"The drugs that are being recovered in South Africa and other African countries are just the overflow of what is going to Europe and the US," the source said, adding that the cartel was earning billions of dollars annually from its global operations.
"As well as operating in North West and Gauteng, the syndicate also has legs across the rest of South Africa," Hawks head Anwa Dramat said.

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Bruneian man apprehended earlier this year while trying to smuggle nearly a kilogramme of heroin into China has been sentenced to life imprisonment

Bruneian man apprehended earlier this year while trying to smuggle nearly a kilogramme of heroin into China has been sentenced to life imprisonment, according to a statement issued by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) yesterdayThe man, whose name the NCB did not disclose, was tried by the Second Intermediate People’s Court of Tianjin.He was detained by Chinese authorities at Binhai International Airport on June 23 after being caught with 995.72 grammes of heroin hidden in the lining of his suitcase. He had arrived from Kuala Lumpur aboard AirAsia flight D72612.The Bruneian is believed to have been enticed into smuggling the drugs by an African man who heads an international drug syndicate, said the NCB.The African man reportedly lures people into becoming “drug mules” by chatting online and sets up meetings in Malaysia between his “contact” and the potential mules.The statement also said that the Australian authorities are continuing their investigation following the arrest of a Bruneian in Sydney. However, the statement did not clarify whether the investigation was related to drugs or related to the arrest of a Brunei woman at Sydney International Airport earlier this year for allegedly smuggling heroin.
The life sentence handed down to the man in Tianjin follows a Brunei woman being sentenced to life imprisonment in June, also for smuggling heroin.The NCB urged all people to be wary of overly lucrative deals from unknown persons to work or travel abroad, with a special note for parents to ensure their children are not tricked into such arrangements.

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Sandra Gregory, a convicted drug smuggler in Thailand, was arrested again

Sandra Gregory, a convicted drug smuggler in Thailand, was arrested again after attempting to enter the kingdom through Bangkok Airport. She was first arrested in 1993 when she was caught with 86.9 grammes over heroin inside of her body. She had swallowed a condom full of the drug, but was detected by eagle officials. Gregory was then sentenced later that year to death for drug trafficking, but this was quickly commuted to 25-years in prison because she had admitted the charge. She spent a grueling four and a half years inside a Thai jail before being allowed back to Britain to carry out the rest of her sentence. The king of Thailand then gave her a royal pardon and she was free.This time round Gregory was not arrested for drug smuggling, but for being persona non grata in Thailand. She had spent time in jail for attempting to import drugs into a country that still hands out the death penalty for drug dealers and was then released. She had told friends that she had a valid visa for Thailand, but was to be deported anyway. Friends of Ms Gregory had said she was coming out to the country she loves, despite all that has happened, to tie up some loose ends and see friends she had made while staying in the notorious Bangkok Hilton prison. If anyone is deported from Thailand after serving a prison sentence they are told they will never be welcome again.

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Carol Andrea Gilmore, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, pleaded guilty to importing more than 200 grams of cannabis resin on November 5.

Carol Andrea Gilmore, of Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, pleaded guilty to importing more than 200 grams of cannabis resin on November 5. She also admitted possessing the drug with intent to supply. "I would just like to apologise for my actions," the 41-year-old mother-of-two told Magistrates' Court. "I'm deeply sorry. For the sake of my children and my mom, have mercy on me please." According to Crown counsel Maria Sofianos, Gilmore entered the Island on a commercial flight from Toronto, Ontario around 12.10 p.m. She took one piece of luggage off the conveyor belt at LF Wade International Airport, and left. At 2.10 p.m. that day, the Police Drug Unit Office received information in relation to Gilmore, who was staying at the Clear View Suites & Villas in Hamilton Parish. Officers arrived at the guest cottages where they found the defendant at the front desk, asking for calling cards.
She proceeded to leave the front desk, at which time officers approached her for questioning. Gilmore asked: "Can we do this in private?" She was taken to an office area where she told Police: "I think I have been set up, I have something in my bag, I was sent here by someone." The court heard that inside Gilmore's purse was a grey plastic bag wrapped in white tissue paper containing what she called "little black gum stuff". At 3.32 p.m. the defendant was arrested and cautioned, to which she made no reply. She was then taken to the airport Police Station, where a further search of the plastic bag revealed there were eight small Ziploc bags with four cylindrical gum-like substances in each. A Government analysis of the substance showed it was 208.46 grams of resin and carried a street value in Bermuda of $20,850.
Gilmore was represented by lawyer Rick Woolridge. He said his client had acted "desperately" in a bid to save her sick mother. "In relation to Ms Gilmore, she was taken advantage of. Her circumstances regarding her personal finances is what led her to take this regrettable action. Those are such that her business was failing in this current economy and her mother, who is gravely and terminally ill, was in need of additional monies for her medical expenses. "Ms Gilmore realises what she has done is wrong from the very beginning and prior to receiving counsel has been very helpful towards the Police." Mr. Woolridge asked Senior Magistrate Archibald Warner to deal with Gilmore whose children are 19 and 20 in the most lenient way possible. "Ms Gilmore's paramount concern right now is her dying mother," he said. "We understand the court takes seriously drug importation in relation to this Island, but we are asking the court for as much leniency as possible. In these desperate times people are doing all sorts of desperate things."
The charges carry a maximum penalty of ten years in jail. Mr. Warner took into consideration Gilmore's personal circumstances, her cooperation with Police and her previously good character, before sentencing her to 18 months' imprisonment.

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"family" cross-country trip to visit a sick relative was really a cover for a million-dollar drug-trafficking operation

"family" cross-country trip to visit a sick relative was really a cover for a million-dollar drug-trafficking operation, deputies allege.When the group of four adults and three children were pulled over on I-15 about 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Iron County Sheriff's Deputy Wade Lee thought the driver was intoxicated or tired as he weaved back and forth across a lane. A noticeable smell of marijuana put Lee on alert, especially as all four adults started lighting cigarettes, possibly to mask the smell of drugs, he said."The woman in the passenger seat, she was acting pretty nervous," Lee said. "She mentioned her 2-year-old was sick. It didn't make sense she was lighting up."With consent to search, Lee checked the back of the Chevy sports utility vehicle where he found almost empty saran wrap and tin foil, but the real treasure trove was discovered in the center console.Lee pulled out a kilo of cocaine — more than 2 pounds worth — in the form of a solid brick of white powder. A thorough search revealed a total 9 pounds of cocaine, which deputies estimate would procure $2 million if mixed with other things and sold on the street.
"That's a large amount," said Iron County Sheriff's Sgt. Del Schlosser. "I can't think of one over that amount in the last year."The group claimed they were visiting one man's sick uncle, Lee said. When the deputy asked about what he was sick with, the man replied, "cancer.""I asked what kind of cancer does he have, and the man's face turned white," Lee said. "Another man blurted out 'throat cancer.' I knew something was up."Lee said the three men and woman had traveled from Ohio to California and were returning via Utah with three children, ages 2, 11 and 13, to smuggle illegal drugs back to their hometown of Warren, Ohio.According to deputies, the driver was questioned outside of the vehicle, and after multiple times being asked, he eventually admitted to the cocaine in the vehicle and a .38 caliber gun that deputies found with the drugs.Further searching turned up marijuana, some of which was hidden in the soles of shoes, and additional weapons, deputies said.
One man said his main job was to look after the two girls, ages 11 and 13, who were on the trip solely to make it seem like a "family outing," Lee said. Neither of the girls' parents were in the vehicle. The adults told deputies that one of the men is dating the girls' mother.The 28-year-old driver and 26-year-old female passenger, who are the parents of the 2-year-old, were arrested along with the other two men, ages 24 and 30, on suspicion of possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, which Lee said could be enhanced because of weapons in the vehicle and the children, possession of a firearm by a restricted person, violation of drug stamp tax act and child abuse and neglect.The children were taken into state custody and deputies said attempts will be made to reach one of the children's parents.

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Chauvin Dwight Bailey, 31, and Sandy Marie Ball, 28, both of Roanoke, are charged with possession of heroin with the intent to distribute

$30,000 worth of heroin from a vehicle en route to Roanoke from New York City, the Botetourt County Sheriff's Office said in a news release.A sheriff's deputy stopped the vehicle for speeding on Interstate 81 south near mile marker 160, the sheriff said in the release.A state police drug dog was called in and found the heroin stuffed in a spare tire.Chauvin Dwight Bailey, 31, and Sandy Marie Ball, 28, both of Roanoke, are charged with possession of heroin with the intent to distribute and transporting heroin into Virginia with intent to distribute. They are also charged with child endangerment because a 10-year-old was in the car, the news release said.
Sheriff's Office Maj. Delbert Dudding did not know what happened to the child in the vehicle, but said that the sheriff's office usually tries to get in touch with family. If family cannot be reached, or cannot take the child, social services is called.Bailey was arrested in Roanoke last month on a charge of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, according to court records. He was out of jail on bond when he was arrested Sunday.At the pair's arraignment Monday, Ball said that she is four months pregnant and takes about 30 hits of heroin a day, Commonwealth's Attorney Joel Branscom said.Bailey and Ball are being held at the Botetourt County Jail without bond

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29-year-old Malaysian woman has been charged with importing heroin into Australia

29-year-old Malaysian woman has been charged with importing heroin into Australia by concealing it within buttons.Customs and Border Protection officers stopped the woman at Perth International Airport on Tuesday.Officers became suspicious the woman may have been concealing drugs in her suitcase.They broke open a button from an item of clothing and found white powder, which was confirmed to be heroin.Police say the woman hid half a kilogram of the drug inside 574 buttons which were sewed onto dresses.The maximum penalty for importing this quantity of drugs is 25 year in jail or a $550,000 fine.

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