Crime Correspondent

Anthony Rollins earlier admitted trading a shotgun for cocaine

Anthony Rollins earlier admitted trading a shotgun for cocaine

Anthony Rollins earlier admitted trading a shotgun for cocaine.Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Seykora says that in the summer of 2005, convicte...

Jamie Blunder,Greensboro firefighter arrested for cocaine possession and trafficking

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBkShM-n4lirB0p5YGZwbnP-GYshLI3ZD29hpD0XsURCAzaMXaut7dL4C45WMwvx9Vwzr9J7FmzNTJ-Y1g71S8Du-iKyNJTjKKUHD87ehXG17vFMIpINwN9BHs8sZsnPEzFXSacv1WPc/s1600-h/james.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180321715025413506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBkShM-n4lirB0p5YGZwbnP-GYshLI3ZD29hpD0XsURCAzaMXaut7dL4C45WMwvx9Vwzr9J7FmzNTJ-Y1g71S8Du-iKyNJTjKKUHD87ehXG17vFMIpINwN9BHs8sZsnPEzFXSacv1WPc/s320/james.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> A Greensboro firefighter has been suspended without pay after being arrested for cocaine possession, according to police.Archdale police arrested Jamie Blunder on Monday for possession of cocaine with intent to sell. Officers said Blunder had almost six ounces of cocaine and $9,400 in his possession at the time of the arrest. Archdale Police arrested a Greensboro firefighter for cocaine possession and trafficking after getting a tip about a suspicious person at an apartment complex. Investigators tell us they stopped Jamie Blunder's car at the Westbrook Court Condominiums. They say they found 5.9 ounces of cocaine with a street value of $17,000 and $9,412 in cash. Blunder was booked into the Randolph County Jail on a $50,000 secured bond. He's facing charges of possession of cocaine with intent to sell and deliver and trafficking cocaine. Blunder lives in Jamestown. He worked at Station 53 on Willow Road. Blunder joined the Greensboro Fire Department in 1998 and was promoted in 2002. Fire Department adminstrators say they were unaware of the charges the media alerted them. They confirmed the arrest and charges early this morning. They immediately suspended Blunder with pay, pending an administrative investigation. Late Friday afternoon, they changed Blunder's status to suspended without pay.Blunder did report to work Friday morning. Department leaders say there is a possibility Blunder worked a shift after the arrest. He was scheduled to work on Tuesday.

Jamie Blunder,Greensboro firefighter arrested for cocaine possession and trafficking

A Greensboro firefighter has been suspended without pay after being arrested for cocaine possession, according to police.Archdale police arr...

David Wren, Gregory William Jones,John Michael Wilson have been charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug Heroin

Gregory William Jones, 48, of Balmain in Sydney's inner west, and John Michael Wilson, 54, of central Sydney, both appeared via videolink at Parramatta Bail Court. Both have been charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug and attempting to possess a commercial quantity of heroin.Neither man applied for bail and it was formally refused.Both are due to appear at Central Local Court on March 26.A third NSW man, 57-year-old David Wren from Dapto, appeared at Wollongong Magistrates Court on the same charges.He made no application for bail and was remanded in custody to appear at Central Local Court on March 25. A fourth man, from Adelaide, is due to face the same charges in Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday.It's the second major drug bust by the AFP, NSW Crime Commission and Customs in as many weeks.There have been about 200 separate heroin busts across Australia this year, netting 63kg of the drug.Australian authorities seized cash and drugs worth almost $10 million in raids across three states. Authorities allege the syndicate concealed 28 kilograms of heroin, with a potential street value of $8.4 million, in three wooden chests of drawers bound for Adelaide. The chests were intercepted in Sydney in February, then tracked to an address in Camden Park in Adelaide and back to Shellharbour, near Wollongong in NSW, by a joint-agency taskforce made up of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), NSW Police, NSW Crime Commission and Customs. The taskforce seized the heroin and more than $1.5 million in international currency in raids in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane on Thursday. Police said they believed the cash, found in various locations, including the glovebox of a car, was the "proceeds of previous (drug-related) activity".

David Wren, Gregory William Jones,John Michael Wilson have been charged with importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug Heroin

Gregory William Jones, 48, of Balmain in Sydney's inner west, and John Michael Wilson, 54, of central Sydney, both appeared via videolin...

Mohamed El Ouazzani aka El Nene was allowed to stroll out of prison

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgnilYs_jZtFCTyTcnU6Iqz_1zhvem1XEdLs7kDrTP4Bg2522rP7ItwhGA7bcJicJF5oYysO06qCRtVhDGXfuTt5Bumlj60dLr0VEBKWyApdyEgq_g7mHf_5ycWlWzeifnQDek7oq10I/s1600-h/nene.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179858515687441650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvgnilYs_jZtFCTyTcnU6Iqz_1zhvem1XEdLs7kDrTP4Bg2522rP7ItwhGA7bcJicJF5oYysO06qCRtVhDGXfuTt5Bumlj60dLr0VEBKWyApdyEgq_g7mHf_5ycWlWzeifnQDek7oq10I/s320/nene.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a>Last year drug lord Mohamed El Ouazzani, known as El Nene, was allowed to stroll out of prison and probably fled to Spain to avoid serving the rest of an eight-year prison sentence. Six prison guards were jailed for allowing him to escapeMoroccan drug baron was jailed along with the former head of Tangier's judicial police after a lengthy trial that pitted the Rabat authorities against powerful interests in the kingdom's northern cannabis growing region.A Casablanca court jailed Mohamed Kharraz, better known as Cherif Bin Louidane, for eight years, the government said on Thursday. It ordered 5.2 million dirhams of his fortune to be seized and fined him 500,000 dirhams.Judicial police officers grabbed Kharraz in August 2006 at the Al Ghouroub (Sunset) cafe near the northern port city of Tangier, acting on a warrant issued after a separate drugs trial years earlier, newspapers said.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihX0E0d7fh3vZP1ISS2iVtU5tXog25ma-V5U_BB6vng_aqcdX55lSbMoLPabgO3VvPc0uSpO-WBYVcgUJW_SKMGceU9M3rHZHmQQo-qyuTsjbygV4jeFlzPh_C-tIrfz2OJsAsxJvQhZ8/s1600-h/al.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179859516414821634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihX0E0d7fh3vZP1ISS2iVtU5tXog25ma-V5U_BB6vng_aqcdX55lSbMoLPabgO3VvPc0uSpO-WBYVcgUJW_SKMGceU9M3rHZHmQQo-qyuTsjbygV4jeFlzPh_C-tIrfz2OJsAsxJvQhZ8/s200/al.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> The arrest surprised locals for whom Kharraz had seemed virtually immune from the law and benefited from a reputation for generosity among the poor of a region neglected for decades by the central government, the papers said. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLiEsb6Sua7_no4ZlEFKGMQb5IYYr9dp5p3wbMj6IsvbsSvT25HZtjFYyvFEeqtRcr5jdAvOFzdXOXnYQy5F0GrfEzJAmrI0V0ryn6kMCWrd8GZK9ClrCT7J7stDxRKFX20loGZj9pio/s1600-h/mo-map.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179858051830973666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrLiEsb6Sua7_no4ZlEFKGMQb5IYYr9dp5p3wbMj6IsvbsSvT25HZtjFYyvFEeqtRcr5jdAvOFzdXOXnYQy5F0GrfEzJAmrI0V0ryn6kMCWrd8GZK9ClrCT7J7stDxRKFX20loGZj9pio/s320/mo-map.gif" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> He named over 30 members of the security services as being implicated in the drugs trade including Abdelaziz Izzou, head of the Tangier judicial police from 1996 to 2003, who was suspended from his job as head of security at Morocco's royal palaces. Izzou was imprisoned for 18 months and had 700,000 dirhams seized by the state. Two others were jailed including Kharraz's brother while nine people were acquitted including another top former Tangier police official, the government said. Those imprisoned were found guilty of offences including international drug trafficking, abuse of power, incitement to illegal immigration and failing to report crimes.Morocco had aimed to erase its cannabis industry by this year, a campaign given added momentum by suspicions that hashish was used to partly pay for dynamite that blew up trains in Madrid in 2004, killing 191 people.But the north African country is still the world's biggest hashish producer.The dark green fern-like plant grows well in poor soil of the northern Rif mountains and has come to be known as "green gold" because it staves off grinding poverty for thousands of local families.Smugglers hide the drug in containers and trucks or use powerful speedboats to ship it to Barcelona in Spain or Marseille in France. Moroccan customs said drugs with a value of 30 million dirhams were seized at the port of Tetouan near Tangier last year, up six times from a year earlier.But catching the top criminals and keeping them behind bars is still proving difficult. .

Mohamed El Ouazzani aka El Nene was allowed to stroll out of prison

Last year drug lord Mohamed El Ouazzani, known as El Nene, was allowed to stroll out of prison and probably fled to Spain to avoid serving t...

Jere Karalahti guilty of helping finance the smuggling of amphetamines and cocaine from Estonia into Finland

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4H27avNw3DOx5aznjb-NZSBGcBLfReSxHR0sVCDBkfN154KwI73UNybbmgmhylkU876e2-3BLQQj5-2RtHy81Omw4iAD4A9sP_OuEKMiUEYUZdOub8jTDijPG8SMHengtKR2P3vQS1Wk/s1600-h/452337.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179855681009026258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4H27avNw3DOx5aznjb-NZSBGcBLfReSxHR0sVCDBkfN154KwI73UNybbmgmhylkU876e2-3BLQQj5-2RtHy81Omw4iAD4A9sP_OuEKMiUEYUZdOub8jTDijPG8SMHengtKR2P3vQS1Wk/s400/452337.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> NHL player Jere Karalahti a 20-month suspended sentence on Thursday for being an accessory in a drug smuggling operation.The Espoo District Court found Karalahti, 32, guilty of helping finance the smuggling of amphetamines and cocaine from Estonia into Finland last year, in a case involving 18 others. He was fined $16,000. Prosecutors say they will appeal, claiming that Karalahti was directly involved in the smuggling operation. Karalahti denied all charges in the case.Karalahti left the NHL in 2002 after being suspended for six months for his third violation of the league's substance abuse policy. He played 121 games from 2000-02 for the Los Angeles Kings and Nashville Predators.

Jere Karalahti guilty of helping finance the smuggling of amphetamines and cocaine from Estonia into Finland

NHL player Jere Karalahti a 20-month suspended sentence on Thursday for being an accessory in a drug smuggling operation.The Espoo District...

Keith Green jailed six years

Keith Green was stopped by customs officials who discovered two packets hidden behind the glove box of his car, Canterbury Crown Court heard...

Jonathan Fisher was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to sell

Jonathan Fisher, 26, of 240 Williams St. was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to sell, possession of heroin with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school, reckless driving and three counts of risk of injury to a minor.Police Capt. William D. Dittman said the arrest was part of a crackdown on drugs, prostitution and weapons in the city. At about 4:15 p.m., members of New London vice unit, the statewide narcotics task force and the police patrol division attempted to stop a suspect on Williams Street. Officers had information that the suspect was a large-scale heroin dealer in the city, Dittman said.Dittman said Fisher initially attempted to flee the scene, but was stopped by traffic congestion on Williams Street in the vicinity of Mohegan Avenue.Police said they found him in possession of the heroin and $400 in cash. Three juveniles, possibly relatives, ages 8, 11 and 15, were in the vehicle at the time of the arrest, police said. Police seized the vehicle.Fisher was held on a $250,000 bond and is scheduled to be arraigned in New London Superior Court today.

Jonathan Fisher was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to sell

Jonathan Fisher, 26, of 240 Williams St. was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to sell, possession of hero...

Lee O'Grady unlawful possession of drugs

Lee O'Grady from Kilbraney, Gusserane was ordered to make a €200 contribution to the New Ross Community Hospital at Tuesday's sittin...

Thomas Kearney considering the number of previous convictions in the case, I am sending this man to prison

Thomas Kearney of Avonmount, Sea Road, will serve two concurrent prison sentences by order of Bray District Court Judge Murrough Connellon, who ruled so having heard the defendants' previous convictions.A 32-year-old Arklow man will go to jail for 12 months for robbing a house in Wicklow to fund his drug habit.Kearney came before the court charged with the burglary of a house at Kilmacanogue in Wicklow, causing considerable damage to the property and trauma to the owner of the house who was on the premises at the time.Garda Damien Travers said Kearney fled the scene with a mobile phone and €37.83 in cash, but had ransacked' the house in his frantic search for loot.'Defence solicitor Conway O'Hara told the court Kearney was a young man with a serious drug problem.' He realises his burglary of this property must have been a traumatic experience for the owner of the house, but is appealing that you bear in mind his drug problem.'Is he making any attempt to deal with his drug problem?' asked the Judge.He says he is not on anything at present your honour and I have before the court a letter from his doctor detailing his addictions,' replied Mr. O'Hara.Considering the number of previous convictions in the case, I am sending this man to prison,' said Judge Connellan.

Thomas Kearney considering the number of previous convictions in the case, I am sending this man to prison

Thomas Kearney of Avonmount, Sea Road, will serve two concurrent prison sentences by order of Bray District Court Judge Murrough Connellon, ...

Raul Reveron,Alex Serrano,Elizabeth Serrano, just a family affair charged with seven drug distribution charges

Raul Reveron, 26, was charged with seven drug distribution charges and two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer. His brother, Alex Serrano, 24, and their mother, Elizabeth Serrano, 58, were charged with obstructing justice and three counts of aggravated assault on a police officer. Alex Serrano was also charged with hindering the arrest of another. Police suspected that Reveron, of Jersey City, was selling drugs and on March 14, at 12:45 p.m., Detectives Mark Mullins and Steven Aguiar tried to arrest Reveron on the corner of Second and Harrison streets, police said. Reveron pushed Aguiar away, a "short wrestling match" ensued, and Reveron ran into an apartment building on the 200 block of Harrison, police said. The cops chased him to an apartment, but Reveron repeatedly slammed the door on Aguiar's arm and leg, police said. Mullins and Sgt. Brian Brereton joined the pushing match as people inside the apartment pushed back, police said. Eventually the officers forced their way into the apartment, but the mother and brother continued to push, grab and scream at the officers as they tried to arrest Reveron. Four more officers arrived and cops arrested all three. In the apartment, cops saw three small bags of what they suspect was heroin discarded by Reveron and $304 that they believe came from a drug sale, police said. Aguiar was treated at police headquarters for bruises on his right arm. Elizabeth Serrano complained of heart pains and was treated at Hoboken University Medical Center.

Raul Reveron,Alex Serrano,Elizabeth Serrano, just a family affair charged with seven drug distribution charges

Raul Reveron, 26, was charged with seven drug distribution charges and two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer. His brother, Al...

Christopher Pimblett and 17 people have now admitted their roles in the conspiracy to supply drugs of class A, B and C

Liverpool Crown Court heard from 12 deliveries alone, police managed to recover a total of £405,000.A total of 17 people have now admitted their roles in the conspiracy to supply drugs of class A, B and C between January 1, 2005 and April 17, 2007.The extent of the operation was confirmed by courier driver Thomas Green, who told police following his arrest he had been transporting in excess of £800,000 in cash and £1.3m worth of cocaine in about 30 trips over six months.On one occasion he recalled Pimblett counting out £125,000 in cash that he had brought back from Scotland.A telephone probe planted in the Pimbletts’ house recorded scores of conversations arranging deals. On one occasion Christopher Pimblett told an accomplice: “I don’t mind when I get sent £35,000 to £40,000 a week, but when it’s not sent for a week-and-a-half or two weeks it’s not on.”At a rate of £40,000 a week, Pimblett would have made more than £4m in two years.In another call Pimblett told a fellow gang member he had £100,000 in a safe, £170,000 in cash and was owed a further £250,000.Officers also overheard conversations between gang members as they arranged to buy properties in Spain and discussed importing drugs from Germany.Judge Brian Lewis warned the defendants they were facing lengthy stretches behind bars, but he suspended sentencing until April 4. Ringleader Christopher Pimblett, 34, of Newmarket Gardens, St Helens. Sharon Pimblett, 36, also of Newmarket Gardens. Darren Platt, 42, of Nutgrove Hall Drive, Nutgrove, St Helens. Thomas Green, 26, of Lilley Road, Kensington, was a courier of cocaine. Ian Moffatt, 37, of Falcondale, Winnick, Warrington. Carl Moffat, 25, of Taylor Road, Haydock. Fergus Smith, 26, of Fraser Street, Barrowfield, Glasgow. John Dunbar, 26, of Byers Road, Glasgow. Philip Browne, 63, of Appleby Lawn, Netherley, St Helens, was Christopher Pimblett’s step father-in-law. Barry Brownbill, 35, of Constance Street, St Helens. Peter Jones, 35, of Richard Grove, St Helens. Christopher Kay, 23, Snowberry Crescent, Warrington. John Johnson, 26, of Fairclough Road, St Helens. Kenneth Whitfield, 51, of Marina Avenue, Sutton, St Helens. John Carr, 47, of Elephant Lane, Thatto Heath, St Helens. Qamaruddin Munshi , 29, from Avondale Street, Bolton. Michael Peel, 22, Larkspur Road, Sankey Bridges, Warrington

Christopher Pimblett and 17 people have now admitted their roles in the conspiracy to supply drugs of class A, B and C

Liverpool Crown Court heard from 12 deliveries alone, police managed to recover a total of £405,000.A total of 17 people have now admitted t...

largest drug haul seized recently by Russian customs officers

Russian customs officers in the Urals have made their largest-ever drug bust seizing a total of 353 kg (780 lbs) of heroin, a spokesman for ...

29-year-old Nigerian and a 35-year-old Pakistani were arrested

29-year-old Nigerian and a 35-year-old Pakistani were arrested yesterday by Sharjah Police for smuggling a total of 1.5kg of heroin into the country.They had concealed the contraband in their stomachs.Both of them are in the country on visit visas. On a tip-off, the police arrested the Pakistani man in whose stomach 585 capsules of heroin were found during medical screening.He informed the police about the Nigerian man who arrived in the country recently with heroin capsules concealed in his stomach.The police arrested the Nigerian and the medical screening revealed 79 capsules of heroin in his stomach. With the help of the doctors, the capsules were removed from his stomach.Both suspects have confessed to their crimes and have been referred to Public Prosecution. Speaking to Khaleej Times, a top official of the Criminal Investigation Research at Sharjah Police said smuggling of narcotic substances by concealing them in the stomach and rectum had become a common phenomenon.The traffickers were using some individuals to smuggle the drugs into the country after paying them some money. In many cases, the carriers who used this method died after the capsules broke inside the stomach or rectum and the substances got into the blood stream, the official said. Of late, the police had acquired advanced technology to track down drug smuggling and trafficking

29-year-old Nigerian and a 35-year-old Pakistani were arrested

29-year-old Nigerian and a 35-year-old Pakistani were arrested yesterday by Sharjah Police for smuggling a total of 1.5kg of heroin into the...

Maxine Eland,had 68 offences on her record, including cocaine possession, prostitution and breaching an Asbo.

Maxine Eland, 41, evaded justice for months after absconding to Luton while facing allegations of involvement in drugs supply, a court heard. She was seen passing on £40 rocks of crack cocaine during a police operation targeting drug dealers in Middlesbrough twice in October 2006.Eland, of Lytton Street, Middlesbrough, admitted two charges of being concerned in the Class A drug’s supply and failing to surrender to bail. She had 68 offences on her record, including cocaine possession, prostitution and breaching an Asbo.Junior Bryan, 50, who lived with Eland on Norcliffe Street, North Ormesby at the time of the 2006 drugs supplies, was jailed for three years last May after admitting 17 crack cocaine supply charges. Paul Cleasby, defending, said Bryan supplied addicts to feed his own habit, Eland was also a user, it was not her enterprise and she did not profit. There had been no more loitering offences or trouble in Luton since the drug deals. Judge Michael Taylor jailed Eland for 18 months.

Maxine Eland,had 68 offences on her record, including cocaine possession, prostitution and breaching an Asbo.

Maxine Eland, 41, evaded justice for months after absconding to Luton while facing allegations of involvement in drugs supply, a court heard...

Helsinki brothers smuggled some 3,000 kilograms of hashish and 20 kilograms of cocaine

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2VjJr6rFz7brBumIGFxD_j77FJ4oB_3saNGsZ3KBRAj8bTtgwLU0BSrNKglLu4r2bKOEJzdUcB6n6KogsW-ePKAVlQz_SnNF4wKtt8HavKElNP1VWQnI-OUeJVE22queKfVOGLlv2Ec/s1600-h/id85723_1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179379849561547842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2VjJr6rFz7brBumIGFxD_j77FJ4oB_3saNGsZ3KBRAj8bTtgwLU0BSrNKglLu4r2bKOEJzdUcB6n6KogsW-ePKAVlQz_SnNF4wKtt8HavKElNP1VWQnI-OUeJVE22queKfVOGLlv2Ec/s400/id85723_1.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> Helsinki District Court is expected to hand down a decision Wednesday in one of the country's biggest drug cases.Preliminary investigations by police indicate that a gang led by Helsinki brothers smuggled some 3,000 kilograms of hashish and 20 kilograms of cocaine into the country between 2002 and 2006. Twenty-five gang members are being tried for aggravated drug crimes and money laundering.The men were caught after investigators found a stash of drugs in the capital region. During the investigation, police confiscated about 600,000 euros in cash, 36 kilograms of hashish and two kilograms of cocaine.

Helsinki brothers smuggled some 3,000 kilograms of hashish and 20 kilograms of cocaine

Helsinki District Court is expected to hand down a decision Wednesday in one of the country's biggest drug cases.Preliminary investigati...

Joseph W. Houseal was charged with drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joseph W. Houseal of 449 Campus Drive stopped breathing after taking heroin at his house on Feb. 25, according to a complaint filed at Distr...

Australian Vietnamese woman Jasmine Luong sentenced to death

An appeal court in Vietnam has sentenced an Vietnamese-Australian woman to death for heroin trafficking after prosecutors appealed against her original life sentence, a court clerk said Wednesday.Jasmine Luong, 34, was handed the death penalty on Tuesday by the court in Ho Chi Minh City, he said on condition of anonymity. Luong, who was born in Vietnam, was arrested at Tan Son Nhat airport outside Ho Chi Minh City in February last year as she preparing to fly to Sydney with nearly 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) of heroin, according to a police source. "She had been hired to transport those heroin packs, hidden in her luggage and shoes," the source said.Several Australians of Vietnamese origin have been arrested over the past few years for trafficking heroin from Ho Chi Minh City to Australia. Of those, some were given life imprisonment or the death penalty.However, foreigners are rarely executed in the communist state, usually after intense diplomatic pressure from Western governments.Vietnam has some of the world's toughest drug laws. Those caught with more than 600 grams of heroin or 20 kilograms of opium face the death penalty.At least 104 people were sentenced to death in Vietnam last year, and 12 since the beginning of the year, according to figures compiled by AFP from state media and Vietnamese officials. Vietnamese court of appeals has handed down death sentence to an Australian Vietnamese woman for drug smuggling, instead of life imprisonment one passed by the court of first instance, local newspaper Saigon Liberation reported Wednesday. The Supreme People's Court in southern Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday gave the penalty to the 34-year-old man named Luong Jasmine, who was hired to transport heroin from Vietnam to Australia to tune of 16,000 U.S. dollars. Jasmine was arrested in February in 2007 when completing procedures for her departure to Australia at the International TanSon Nhat Airport in the city. Under Vietnam's laws, anyone possessing, trading or trafficking heroin of 600 grams or above can be sentenced to death or life in prison. facing the firing squad in Vietnam says she became a drug mule to pay off her husband's gambling debts.Jasmine Luong, 34, from Sydney, was arrested at Ho Chi Minh City's airport in February last year with 1.5kg of heroin in her baggage and shoes. Fairfax newspapers say Luong claimed that an unidentified man offered her $US15,000 ($16,458) to take the drugs to Sydney. In December she was sentenced to life imprisonment, but on her appeal this week the sentence was upgraded to the death penalty. It is believed Luong has claimed she was deserted by her husband and was left with little choice when approached about becoming a drug mule, Fairfax reported.

Australian Vietnamese woman Jasmine Luong sentenced to death

An appeal court in Vietnam has sentenced an Vietnamese-Australian woman to death for heroin trafficking after prosecutors appealed against h...

Arsene K. and Kosom H two Bangladeshi men sentenced to death for smuggling heroin

The Crimi-nal Court Tuesday sentenced two Bangla-deshi men, identified as Arsene K. and Kosom H., to capital punishment for smuggling heroin into the country for trafficking. Case files indicate the arresting officer received information that Kosom was trafficking in heroin. Acting on this information and armed with a search and arrest warrant, he sent a bogus customer to buy some heroin from him. During the buy-bust operation, the officer arrested Kosom red-handed. During interrogations, he admitted that he possesses drugs and guided police to his house where the drugs were hidden. When asked about the source of the heroin, Kosom said his friend Arsene had brought it for him from a Gulf state by land. He guided police to Arsene’s place who arrested him. During interrogations, Arsene admitted to bringing heroin from a Gulf state in return for 20,000 Saudi riyals. He added he brought the drug twice for his friend. The session was presided by Judge Adel Al-Saqer.

Arsene K. and Kosom H two Bangladeshi men sentenced to death for smuggling heroin

The Crimi-nal Court Tuesday sentenced two Bangla-deshi men, identified as Arsene K. and Kosom H., to capital punishment for smuggling heroin...

Veronica Trevino, Ruben Diaz managed an armed criminal cell known as the Falcons

Mexican police on Tuesday arrested a woman on suspicion of overseeing a network of spies that tracked police for a powerful drug cartel in central Mexico, officials said.Veronica Trevino managed an armed criminal cell known as the Falcons whose job it was to monitor the movements of state and federal police and inform Gulf Cartel traffickers of their whereabouts, police told Reuters.It was the latest big arrest by President Felipe Calderon's government, which has waged an offensive on drug traffickers by deploying thousands of soldiers to hot spots around Mexico. Trevino was arrested with Ruben Diaz, thought to be the Falcons' second-in-command, in the small Mexican state of Aguascalientes. They were found with a gun, five cell phones and sophisticated radio equipment, police said.Trevino also had with her a list of other Falcon members and their expenses, complete with restaurant and bar receipts.The Falcons work under the armed enforcement wing of the Gulf Cartel, made up of former army officers known as Zetas. They are part of an intricate network of lookouts ranging from taxi drivers to street kids who keep tabs on authorities and rival gangs.Last week Mexico captured a suspected high-ranking hit man for the brutal Tijuana Cartel, five days after arresting another suspected senior operative in the same gang, also known as the Arellano Felix Organization. Last year Mexico extradited the suspected leader of the Gulf Cartel, Osiel Cardenas, to face trial in Texas. Other leaders of the group have been taken into custody since then.Cardenas, a former mechanic who rose up the cartel ranks by killing his superiors, set up the Zetas to fight the Sinaloa gang, which is run by Mexico's most wanted man, Joaquin "Shorty" Guzman.Analysts say a weakened Gulf Cartel could lead to more bloodshed as lower-rung operatives struggle for power and the Sinaloa alliance tries to muscle in on the Gulf's territory.

Veronica Trevino, Ruben Diaz managed an armed criminal cell known as the Falcons

Mexican police on Tuesday arrested a woman on suspicion of overseeing a network of spies that tracked police for a powerful drug cartel in c...

Daniel Patterson, Mark Baensch charged with heroin trafficking

Daniel Patterson, 36, and Mark Baensch, also 36, were arrested at their Autumn St unit on Monday.Magistrate William White adjourned proceedi...

Ruben Rochin-Gutierrez

Ruben Rochin-Gutierrez of Navojoa, Mexico pleaded guilty last year to conspiracy with the intent to distribute 6,489 pounds of marijuana. He...

Regina Ann Burke has been sentenced to 35 years in prison

Regina Ann Burke, 44, of Manor, pleaded guilty to two counts of delivery of a controlled substance after selling methamphetamine to an under...

Victoria Baptist,Alex Portocarrero,Jamie Fletcher admitted charges of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Victoria Baptist from Stroud soaked tent equipment in liquid forms of cocaine before boarding her flights back to the UK from South America. Bristol Crown Court heard the 36-year- old was part of a £3.5m drugs ring. Two accomplices, Alex Portocarrero, 36, from Ladywell, London, and Jamie Fletcher, 35, from Stroud, were jailed for eight years. Baptist took her 13-year-old daughter on drug deals to the Caribbean, South America and Holland between June 2004 and August 2005, the court heard. Judge Richard Smith said: "How much was brought into Britain is not known - however it is quite clear that amounts were on a large rather than small scale in terms of importation." Baptist and Fletcher were involved in as many as seven shipments of cocaine which would be extracted at the drug laboratories for sale in Britain. Baptist, of Paganhill Estate, Stroud, who had denied any involvement in the plot, had been convicted at Gloucester Crown Court on 1 February. Portocarrero, of Slagrove Place, and Fletcher, of Russell Street, Stroud, had both admitted charges of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Victoria Baptist,Alex Portocarrero,Jamie Fletcher admitted charges of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Victoria Baptist from Stroud soaked tent equipment in liquid forms of cocaine before boarding her flights back to the UK from South America....

Bernard King,Javon Kirk Louis Savage, Nicole Tamika Freeman charged with eight drug and conspiracy crimes

Anne Arundel County police seized $450,000 in cocaine in two packages sent to an Annapolis hotel, breaking up a drug-smuggling scheme run by three employees who made reservations in the made-up receipients' names, authorities said yesterday. Two Upper Marlboro men have been charged, but police are looking for a 28-year-old woman from District Heights.Police first tracked suspicious packages being sent to the SpringHill Suites Annapolis, 189 Admiral Cochrane Drive. Detectives there noticed that the names listed on shipping labels were false, according to a police statement. Early last month, police said, they seized a package containing 5 kilograms of cocaine. On Feb. 15, police said, they seized a second package containing 4.5 kilograms of cocaine. Detectives resealed the package and allowed it to be delivered to the hotel. Police arrested the two employees they said took possession of it: Bernard King, 48, and Javon Kirk Louis Savage, 22. Nicole Tamika Freeman remains at large. All three are charged with eight drug and conspiracy crimes. Police said Savage is on house arrest until trial, and King is being held at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center on $750,000 bail.

Bernard King,Javon Kirk Louis Savage, Nicole Tamika Freeman charged with eight drug and conspiracy crimes

Anne Arundel County police seized $450,000 in cocaine in two packages sent to an Annapolis hotel, breaking up a drug-smuggling scheme run by...

Nkemakonam Umenyi flew into Brisbane International Airport with almost 1kg of heroin in his suitcase.

Nkemakonam Umenyi, 22, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in the Supreme Court in Brisbane to one count of importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug.The court was told he was arrested on June 20 last year after arriving at Brisbane International Airport with almost 1kg of heroin in his suitcase.The drugs had a pure weight of 581.2g and were estimated to be worth $1,160,000.The court was told Umenyi, a microbiology student at one of Nigeria's most exclusive universities, had agreed to courier the drugs after running into financial difficulties. Commonwealth prosecutor Paul Huygens told the court Umenyi had travelled from the university to the city of Lagos to inquire about flights to Canada, where his cousin lived.The court was told when he arrived in Lagos he was approached by three men and agreed to become a mule.It is not known how much he was to be paid for his involvement.When questioned by police upon his arrival in Australia, Umenyi initially denied knowing anything about the heroin in his bag.Justice John Byrne sentenced Umenyi to nine-and-a-half years jail with a non-parole period of five years

Nkemakonam Umenyi flew into Brisbane International Airport with almost 1kg of heroin in his suitcase.

Nkemakonam Umenyi, 22, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in the Supreme Court in Brisbane to one count of importing a marketable quantity of a borde...

Teck Boon Ng had 91 packets of heroin in his stomach

Teck Boon Ng, 40, had 91 packets of heroin in his stomach when he was arrested at Brisbane International Airport on June 27 last year.He pleaded guilty on Tuesday to one count of importing a marketable quantity of a border controlled drug. Commonwealth prosecutor Paul Huygens told the court Ng had arrived on a flight from Hong Kong and was questioned by Customs officers after looking "nervous". Ng quickly admitted to having swallowed a large amount of heroin before boarding the flight.He was arrested by Australian Federal Police and spent two days in hospital while he passed all the packages.The court was told Ng had swallowed almost 500g of powder, and that the pure weight of the heroin was 286.1g.The drugs had an estimated street value of $572,000.Defence barrister Simon Lewis said Ng had agreed to courier the drugs to Australia out of desperation for money.Mr Lewis told the court his client had travelled to Hong Kong in search of work but had been lured into becoming a mule with the promise of a $US5,000 ($A5,430) payment.He was given just $US400 ($A434) and a mobile phone before leaving for Australia, and told immigration officials the purpose of his trip was for a holiday.Justice John Byrne sentenced Ng to nine years jail with a non-parole period of five years.

Teck Boon Ng had 91 packets of heroin in his stomach

Teck Boon Ng, 40, had 91 packets of heroin in his stomach when he was arrested at Brisbane International Airport on June 27 last year.He ple...

Michelle Tillman,Charles Nelson members of the Bloods crack cocaine operation

Arrests made in what police called a "major" crack cocaine operation in the Hilltop City are now being pursued in federal court.At least two members of the Bloods — a notoriously violent street gang known for running drug rackets in many major U.S. cities — were arrested recently for running a drug operation out of an apartment at 231 High St. Police seized more than $3,700 worth of crack split among 70 packets with a total weight of 23 grams. Police also found ammunition indicating those involved possessed guns at some point.Michelle Tillman, 35, resided at the High Street residence and was charged with one count of conspiracy to sell crack cocaine. She was released on $50,000 personal recognizance bail. Charles Nelson, 21 of 473 Pennsylvania Ave., Apt. 43, Brooklyn, N.Y., was charged with one count of conspiracy to sell crack cocaine and one count of possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell. Tyree Everson, 18, of 611 Blake Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y., was also charged with one count of conspiracy to sell crack cocaine, one count of possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell and one count of sale of crack cocaine. Both Nelson and Everson were discovered to be members of the Bloods, police say, after review of information gathered during the course of the investigation. Nelson and Everson were scheduled for probable cause hearings Friday, but before that date their cases were "nol prossed" and transferred to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Concord. U.S. Attorney Thomas Colantuono's office said until further notice no information about the case will be released as the case is under seal. "Nelson and Everson were in Somersworth with the intention of selling crack cocaine and possibly opening a chapter (of The Bloods) here," according to a press release from the Somersworth Police Department. Police Capt. David Kretschmar said the department has "no insight" about why these individuals chose Somersworth as a location to form a local chapter. Four days elapsed before police notified the press about the arrests, which Kretschmar said was due to "the way the investigation was going." He said there were elements of the investigation that had not been completed and to maintain the integrity of the investigation, information had to be withheld until a certain time. Kretschmar did say there will be "more arrests down the road" related to this case

Michelle Tillman,Charles Nelson members of the Bloods crack cocaine operation

Arrests made in what police called a "major" crack cocaine operation in the Hilltop City are now being pursued in federal court.At...

The Dubai Court of First Instance rejected the 35-year-old Belgian visitor’s claim for leniency and sentenced him to four years in jail

A visitor, arrested on arrival at the airport for smuggling in a hashish-stuffed cigarette and some marijuana seeds, which he claimed is all...

Scott Furnish admitted possessing 21.5 grams of cocaine with intent to supply.

Police stopped Scott Furnish's car in Fakenham they found cocaine with a street value of between £967 and £1,290 inside.The discovery was described at Norwich Crown Court on Friday when Cornish (27), of Poppyfields, Fakenham, admitted possessing 21.5 grams of cocaine with intent to supply.Judge Paul Downes warned him that he came very close to going to prison. He adjourned sentence until April 11 for reports to see if the defendant is suitable for a drugs rehabilitation programme. Cornish was given conditional bail in the meantime. Lori Tucker, prosecuting, said that a police office who decided to stop Cornish's car found a rolled-up note, possibly for snorting cocaine, and also some packets of the drugs.Cornish said he was a heavy user and had paid £450 for the drugs. When he was interviewed he said he only supplied associates to fund his own habit. Henry Hughes, defending, said his client had never been in trouble before and was working in the building trade and is a loving father. He said that Cornish had accumulated large debts including £6,000 of debt to his bank. He told the court that Cornish bought drugs and shared them with three friends. He had domestic problems and had started taking drugs but had since had counselling and there was minimum risk of him re-offending. Judge Downes told Cornish: "You should understand people who deal in drugs, whether commercially or not, usually go to prison for a very long time. You were on a knife-edge today of being sent to prison but that may be counter-productive."

Scott Furnish admitted possessing 21.5 grams of cocaine with intent to supply.

Police stopped Scott Furnish's car in Fakenham they found cocaine with a street value of between £967 and £1,290 inside.The discovery wa...

Kirsty Mackay ,Cheryl Pattison ,Julian Tavernier all admitted being concerned in the importation of a prohibited drug

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9qbQlvGBXP_Rnl5zn34PMTSEZcrPO45yv84SHDa5Dz7MQs7jXYzhmD3QHs8BIXBxTfokxebTR2gfjW8W033LEZ_-rylI4OZaOBl7O4sec5yuTis4o82t5pRt4gxi5QjzOwJ41eFTMuw/s1600-h/kirsty.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5179190295474906146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9qbQlvGBXP_Rnl5zn34PMTSEZcrPO45yv84SHDa5Dz7MQs7jXYzhmD3QHs8BIXBxTfokxebTR2gfjW8W033LEZ_-rylI4OZaOBl7O4sec5yuTis4o82t5pRt4gxi5QjzOwJ41eFTMuw/s400/kirsty.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a> Kirsty Mackay and Cheryl Pattison were arrested at Mackay's home in Bethune Avenue, Seaham, by an undercover cop who delivered the package, disguised as a tin of biscuits. Pattison's boyfriend, Julian Tavernier, who divided his time between London and the Dominican Republic, was jailed for six years.Steven Orange, prosecuting, said: "Tavernier posted the package and it was intercepted at Gatwick airport. "It was disguised as a tin of biscuits and addressed to a Sharon Davis – a made-up name – at Mackay's home in Seaham."Under the biscuits was half a kilo of cocaine with a street value of around £200,000."The package was resealed and police decided to carry out what they call a controlled delivery at Seaham.The court heard Mackay signed for the package and police moved in immediately."Pattison was caught trying to run out of the back door," added Mr Orange. "The sisters eventually admitted they had agreed to take part in the scheme for £1,500 each. "Tavernier was later to say he was paid £5,000 by the people in the Dominican Republic to post the package."Mackay, 25, of Bethune Avenue, Seaham, and Pattison, 29, of Canterbury Terrace, north west London, and Tavernier, 29, of the same London address, all admitted being concerned in the importation of a prohibited drug between August 31 and September 8, last year.The sisters admitted a separate charge of defrauding the Zenith insurance company of £25,000 by reporting Pattinson's Porsche Boxter car as stolen, when it had been towed away for unpaid parking fines.

Kirsty Mackay ,Cheryl Pattison ,Julian Tavernier all admitted being concerned in the importation of a prohibited drug

Kirsty Mackay and Cheryl Pattison were arrested at Mackay's home in Bethune Avenue, Seaham, by an undercover cop who delivered the pack...