Marine cops thwart bid to smuggle pangolins

Marine cops thwart bid to smuggle pangolins: "smuggling syndicate’s attempt to bring in 23 pangolins during a heavy storm here failed when a marine police team intercepted their car.
The syndicate was believed to have used a fast boat to bring the animals from Sumatra and landed near Parit Jamil Laut at about 3am yesterday.
Muar marine police base commanding officer Asst Supt Nordin Osman said a stake-out team headed by Insp Mohd Naser Marzuke spotted a blue Proton Iswara leaving Parit Jamil at about 9am and trailed the car."

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Crocodile smuggled into plane; how much more air security checks needed?

Crocodile smuggled into plane; how much more air security checks needed?: "live crocodile was smuggled in a passenger’s bag onto a plane departing from an airport in Congo.
While on the plane, the reptile escaped and imagine the chaos it caused in the small aircraft. The crew and passengers ran for the cockpit and this caused an imbalance which led to a crash near Bandundu. The incident killed 20 but there was a survivor. The crocodile survived only to be later, hacked to death by machete-wielding locals on the ground.
We had our own incident of reptiles springing out of a bag on a conveyor belt at KLIA while on transit to Indonesia not long ago. Till now, we wonder how the bag full of reptiles managed to board a flight from Penang to KLIA en route Indonesia."

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Sri Lankan caught smuggling over 2,000 diamonds in swallowed condoms

Channel 6 News » Sri Lankan caught smuggling over 2,000 diamonds in swallowed condoms: "Mohammed Shakif, 43, of Galle, Sri Lanka, was smuggling the precious stones in 42 condoms and had just arrived in Chennai, located in the southern region of India, when a team of suburban police acting on a tip off inquired him. According to the police the precious stones were worth between Rs. 1.5 crore ($337,357 dollars) and Rs. 3 crore ($674,715 dollars).
Shakif initially refused to answer, but he was taken to the police station and later to Chromepet Government Hospital at Guindy where an x-ray of his stomach was taken. The results forced Shakif to confess that he had been hired to smuggle the stones.
'Even during questioning, he could not sit comfortably and when questioned, he told the police that he was suffering from piles,' said Suburban Police commissioner, SR Jangid.
Security officials proceeded by giving Shakif bananas. The diamonds were then collected."

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Jailed drugs smuggler to miss birth of child - Hartlepool Mail

Jailed drugs smuggler to miss birth of child - Hartlepool Mail: "Glen Menzies, 32, was caught with 14 tablets of the heroin substitute Subutex and a wrap of heroin that he was trying to smuggle into Holme House Prison, Stockton.

He was jailed just four weeks before his partner is due to give birth to their child.

Teesside Crown Court was told Menzies was trying to smuggle the drugs by taping them to his body to give to a relative, who he claims had been bullied and threatened with being slashed.

Menzies claimed somebody else had packaged the drugs and he thought he was only carrying Subutex.

He insisted he knew nothing about the heroin, a claim that was accepted by the Crown Prosecution Service, said prosecutor Richard Parsell."

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Human Smuggling Raid Under Way In West Phoenix - Valley News Story - KPHO Phoenix

Human Smuggling Raid Under Way In West Phoenix - Valley News Story - KPHO Phoenix: "early morning traffic stop by Phoenix Police linvestigators to raid a West Valley mobile home Friday afternoon. Illegal Immigration Apprehension Co-op Team (IIMPACT) investigators swarmed the mobile home suspected to be involved in a human smuggling operation.
The raid led detectives to eight men they believe to be illegal immigrants. As officers continued to search the mobile home, they discovered several semi-automatic handguns and assault rifles with ammunition. They also found ballistic vests designed to stop assault rifle fire and other police type equipment."

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Truck driver found not guilty of smuggling millions worth of cocaine

Truck driver found not guilty of smuggling millions worth of cocaine: "Balwinder Biring wore a smile as he left New Westminster court Friday after being found not guilty of smuggling millions of dollars worth of cocaine into Canada.
Biring, a truck driver, was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking and importing cocaine after border officers found 137 kilograms of the drug in his tractor-trailer unit in February 2008.
The drugs, packaged in 138 bricks weighing approximately one kilogram each, were packed into duffel bags and suitcases and were hidden among boxes of celery. An RCMP expert estimated that at the time the drugs would have been worth between $3.3 million and $5.5 million."

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Former prison counselor guilty of smuggling - News - Progress-Index

Former prison counselor guilty of smuggling - News - Progress-Index: "Kevin John Erickson, 50, was found guilty by a federal jury of a single count of conspiracy to provide contraband to inmates, to accept bribes, and to commit assault and one count of soliciting a crime of violence, according to the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Erickson was a correctional counselor at the Federal Correctional Complex in Petersburg. The evidence at trial established that Erickson allowed select inmates to charge other inmates for cell and bed assignments. Erickson also smuggled contraband in to the prison for two of these inmates, including a cell phone. In return, the inmates would carry out assaults on other inmates at Erickson's direction. Erickson also solicited an assault on an inmate Erickson feared was cooperating with the investigation, according to authorities. He also provided a set of barber's shears to another inmate to carry out that assault, though that inmate did not commit the assault."

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Anti-Narcotics Force nabs 8 in drug smuggling attempt – The Express Tribune

Anti-Narcotics Force nabs 8 in drug smuggling attempt – The Express Tribune: "Accoridng to Express 24/7 reporter Iftikhar Firdous, the passengers had heroin capsules stitched to their stomachs. Six of the passengers were arrested from a Jeddah bound flight, while two of their accomplices were arrested from the Hajji Camp. The arrested also confessed to running a drug smuggling operation.
All of the arrested have been shifted to the hospital for the removal of the tablets."

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Haj Pilgrims smuggling drugs are punishable by death in Saudi Arabia: Hamid Saeed | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online

Haj Pilgrims smuggling drugs are punishable by death in Saudi Arabia: Hamid Saeed | Pakistan | News | Newspaper | Daily | English | Online: "Hamid Saeed Kazmi, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs said Haj Pilgrims are instructed to be careful of drug smuggling as the offense is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.
Talking to private TV channel here on Saturday Hamid Saeed Kazmi said all Haj Pilgrims are instructed to be aware of drug smuggling as this offense is not only punishable by death in Saudi Arabia but also breaches the honor and prestige of Pakistan. However he added that our training of one week or 10 days bears no affect on those who are habitually involved in criminals activities
He said that drug smugglers arrested from Peshawar, who attempted to smuggle drug capsules were not deceived but they are professional criminals. He said that it is good that they have been arrested in Pakistan as if they would have been arrested in Saudi Arabia they would have been executed as per their law. He said such acts not only breach the country’s prestige, could have caused more hardships for Pakistani pilgrims and Saudi Arabia could have placed a ban on Pakistani pilgrims."

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The Press Association: Court officer admits smuggling drugs into prison

The Press Association: Court officer admits smuggling drugs into prison: "Alan Redmond, 25, passed contraband to prisoners over a four-year period while working at Inner London Crown Court, in Southwark, south London.
The former employee of private security firm Serco pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court, less than a mile from where he was responsible for escorting defendants to and from their hearings.
He was arrested on December 10 last year as he arrived for work, following a long-running investigation by the London Prison Anti-Corruption Team.
On Thursday, Redmond, of Trundleys Terrace, Deptford, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to smuggle prohibited items into prison and of misconduct while acting as a public officer.
Judge Michael Gledhill QC said: 'You have pleaded guilty to serious offences and the likely outcome of this is that the offences are so serious that they can only be dealt with by an immediate custodial sentence.'
The judge adjourned sentencing to a later hearing. Redmond was given bail on the condition that he surrendered his passport and would not attempt to leave the country"

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Human smuggling ship stopped in Thailand | Canada | News | Toronto Sun

Human smuggling ship stopped in Thailand | Canada | News | Toronto Sun: "More than 100 people were arrested Thursday in Thailand in a bust that local media and police in that country say is connected to human smuggling.
'We are aware that Thai authorities detained over 100 people who were apparently illegally in their country and who were apparently intending to come to Canada though a smuggling operation,' Immigration Minister Jason Kenney told QMI Agency.
In the summer, the government boosted its co-operation with Thailand and other countries in South Asia as the MV Sun Sea ship travelled toward Canada. The ship sailed to Canada from Thailand with nearly 500 ethnic Tamils from Sri Lanka seeking refugee status.
'Canada has increased its police and intelligence presence in the region,' Kenney said.
Just over two weeks ago, Thai police arrested 155 Sri Lankan nationals who were also believed to be headed for Canada aboard a human-smuggling ship.
The latest arrests come as Parliament debates Bill C-49, a piece of legislation unveiled last week that aims to crack down on human smuggling."

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Dixon woman faces drug smuggling charge in jail incident | News-Leader.com | Springfield News-Leader

Dixon woman faces drug smuggling charge in jail incident | News-Leader.com | Springfield News-Leader: "Lynn Paige Gann, 22, was arrested by St. Robert City Police and taken to the Pulaski County Jail.
While being booked into the Pulaski County Jail in April, a controlled substances was found on Gann, according to the Pulaski County Sheriff’s office."

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shot and killed late Monday night in his car west of Casa Grande in a case that the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office linked to drug smuggling.

TriValley Central: "man was shot and killed late Monday night in his car west of Casa Grande in a case that the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office linked to drug smuggling.

Robert Raya-Ortiz, 31, was found by deputies in a Dodge Stratus stopped in the middle of the road in the 26000 block of West Sherbundy Drive, near his home in a neighborhood south of the Francisco Grande Hotel & Golf Resort, a Sheriff’s Office report states"

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18-foot runabout was discovered abandoned, adrift and empty off the beach.

The Log.com News: "Helicopters flooded Coronado streets with bright searchlights one recent night after an 18-foot runabout was discovered abandoned, adrift and empty off the beach.

More to Come -- While law enforcement personnel are capturing thousands of pounds of contraband smuggled into U.S. waters aboard small boats, authorities believe that what they see is only the tip of the iceberg.


Major Haul -- On Oct. 19, Coast Guard personnel retrieved 25 large bales of black plastic-wrapped marijuana weighing nearly 100 pounds each, dumped in the water from a speedboat they were following. The vessel escaped into Mexican waters.


Photo by: U.S. Coast Guard
Sign of the Times? -- Empty pangas like this one are being found more frequently, abandoned along San Diego County beaches.



The fact that the helicopters hovered, Border Patrol vehicles prowled city streets and drug-sniffing dogs were brought aboard the runabout told knowledgeable Coronado residents that the vessel pulled onto shore by a helpful resident Oct. 3 was likely used in a successful drug smuggling attempt."

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Ex-Outlaws player pleads guilty in cocaine case | greatfallstribune.com | Great Falls Tribune

Ex-Outlaws player pleads guilty in cocaine case | greatfallstribune.com | Great Falls Tribune: "Nolan Fisher appeared in federal court Wednesday and pleaded guilty to one count of possession of cocaine for distribution. Two other counts will be dismissed as part of a plea deal when he is sentenced Feb. 2.Prosecutors say the former offensive lineman for the defunct indoor football team lived with teammate Robert Reed. Fisher was accused of letting an undercover detective into their room, where she would get cocaine from Reed, and of driving his roommate to three drug deals.
Reed was sentenced in September to 26 months in prison.
Five former Outlaws players have been convicted in the case."

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Man jailed for one million euro cocaine deal bid - Crime, UK - The Independent

Man jailed for one million euro cocaine deal bid - Crime, UK - The Independent: "middle-aged drug trafficker was jailed for 18 years today for masterminding an attempted one million euro (£873,700) cocaine deal.
Timothy Dale admitted trying to buy 37kg of the class A drug from a British gang based in Amsterdam.
It would have been worth more than £4.5 million once cut to street level purity, Britain's Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) said.
Dale, 47, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply a controlled drug after Dutch authorities passed evidence to the UK.
The case was a rare example of a prosecution based on such evidence, according to Soca.
Dale, who confessed to dealing drugs for more than 20 years, was caught after Dutch investigators busted the gang of middle-aged men he was trying to arrange the deal with in September 2007.
He was unaware that they were already being targeted by the Dutch National Crime Squad (NCS).
Phone calls between Dale and one of the men, Richard Wright, in the Netherlands, were intercepted by the NCS and when Wright arranged for a courier to transport the drugs concealed in the door panels of a Vauxhall Astra, police stopped the car as it approached the Belgian border."

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Black market cigarettes alert - Northern Ireland, Local & National - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Black market cigarettes alert - Northern Ireland, Local & National - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk: "Organised crime gangs are turning to illegally manufactured cigarettes — known as “cheap whites” — to boost their profits in the smuggling trade.
Cheap whites are cigarette brands which have been manufactured especially for the black market and, along with counterfeits, produce bigger profit margins for the gangsters."

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'Murder victim' was convicted drug smuggler (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

'Murder victim' was convicted drug smuggler (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette): "John Smith died after he was punched, kicked, stabbed and hit by a car in Broadway on July 11 last year.
The trial of four people accused of murdering him this week heard Mr Smith, 58, had received a sentence for smuggling class A drugs.
A jury at Chelmsford Crown Court was told he was jailed for seven years at Snaresbrook Crown Court in August 2000.
He escaped the following September and while still on the run was stopped in London by police who found CS gas cans in his car.
Mr Smith was returned to prison and received 12 months consecutive to the seven years for the CS gas charge.
But the court heard he escaped again in April 2007 and a day later harassed a former partner with abusive calls and texts.
He was caught and returned to prison in June 2007 and received a conditional discharge for the harassment matter."

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4 men face drug, immigrant smuggling charges - Florida AP - MiamiHerald.com

4 men face drug, immigrant smuggling charges - Florida AP - MiamiHerald.com: "Four men have been arrested in connection with a failed drug and illegal immigrant smuggling operation.
Authorities say a U.S. Customs and Border Protection vessel encountered a motor boat Sunday named 'Who Cares' in the St. Lucie Inlet. Officers say they boarded the vessel and found five Haitians and one Bahamian boat captain.
The officers say they found four padlocked small suitcases, which contained 78 bricks of a white substance that field tested positive for cocaine."

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Saudi Arabia holds 210 after 3-month drug crackdown

Saudi Arabia holds 210 after 3-month drug crackdown: "Saudi Arabia has rounded up 210 suspected drug smugglers in a series of raids since mid-June in which three security officers were killed, an Interior Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.
Security forces carried out 18 raids across the conservative Muslim country, killing two smugglers and seizing drugs with a street value of 330 million riyals ($88 million), said the spokesman, who was quoted by the official SPA news agency.
Drugs confiscated in the three-month raids included nearly ten million stimulant pills and 6.4 tonnes of hashish.
'Drugs are aimed at undermining the country's security in addition to the problem of terrorism,' Abdullah al Yousef, undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs, told state television.
The spokesman said 113 of those arrested for the smuggling or possession of drugs were Saudis while most of the rest were Pakistanis, Yemenis, Syrians and Filipinos."

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