Crime Correspondent

Stephanie Thomas, 43, was said to have been a naive housewife flattered by the attentions of Matthew Wright, 38, who introduced her to cocaine

Stephanie Thomas, 43, was said to have been a naive housewife flattered by the attentions of Matthew Wright, 38, who introduced her to crime and cocaine soon after they met in January last year. woman was sweet-talked by her boyfriend into smuggling cocaine from Venezuela wrapped up in her bikini bottoms.Seven months later the pair were caught with cocaine worth £80,000 after landing at Manchester Airport after a trip to South America.At the time Wright -- of Alfred Street, Wigan -- was on bail after being caught with £2,000 of forged bank notes after trying to pass one of them off at a Chorley hardware store. He later admitted that he had smuggled the cocaine in a bid to make 'easy money' and had roped Thomas -- of Cameron Place, Wigan -- who has children aged from four to 22, into his scheme.One of the blocks of cocaine was found inside a sock inside a trolley the pair had brought back. The other was found inside a beach bag, concealed by bikini bottoms.Wright paid for the flights out to Venezuela, where Thomas took a 'bad dose' of cocaine and became sick -- meaning the pair missed their original flight home. Later, a dealer's list of customers was found at her address in Wigan, the court heard.The couple had also travelled to Colombia -- famous for its cocaine trade -- before jetting out to Venezuela.Wright admitted his offence but Thomas was found guilty at trial. Sentencing the pair for importing class A drugs, Judge David Hernandez said Wright had taken Thomas with him to give himself a 'veneer of respectability,' while she had 'knowledge' of what he was up to. Wright was sentenced to a total of eight years and eight months for importing cocaine and possessing the forged notes, while Thomas was given four years and six months in jail.Mike O'Grady, of Revenue and Customs said: "There is no excuse for any person to get involved in this illegal and harmful trade. Today, Wright and Thomas are paying the price for their parts in an international criminal network."Working with our law enforcement colleagues both in the UK and abroad sharing intelligence we will take every action to detect, seize and bring those smuggling drugs into the country before the courts. "This is an illegal trade which damages the lives of local people and finances wider criminal organizations."

Stephanie Thomas, 43, was said to have been a naive housewife flattered by the attentions of Matthew Wright, 38, who introduced her to cocaine

Stephanie Thomas, 43, was said to have been a naive housewife flattered by the attentions of Matthew Wright, 38, who introduced her to crime...

ringleader, Brian McCulloch, 39, from Paisley, who was caught on tape boasting that he made £20,000 a day selling the drug

ringleader, Brian McCulloch, 39, from Paisley, who was caught on tape boasting that he made £20,000 a day selling the drug, was jailed for 10 years. The court was told that he was caught when he bought a BMW jeep, which had a police listening device installed inside, from his co-accused Stephen Jamieson. Jamieson, 26, also from Paisley and who was jailed for eight years, used his profits to buy a £115,000 Lamborghini car, an £1,800 dog and three watches together costing £10,315. Steven Caddis, 30, and Gary Caddis were sentenced to six years and five years. The court was told that the men were overheard by police using codewords while discussing buying and selling cocaine, mentioning prices that ran into tens of thousands of pounds. Strathclyde Police searched 171 houses and questioned 146 people. Officers have so far seized drugs and drug-related material worth £8.8 million, £445,000 in cash, two Mac-10 machineguns and an assortment of sawn-off shotguns, rifles, handguns and ammunition. They also took three Range Rovers, one BMW X5, one BMW X3, one Lexus and one Porsche Cayenne, as well as five Rolex watches, two Cartier watches and one Breitling watch. At an earlier hearing all four men admitted dealing cocaine. Jamieson also pleaded guilty to money laundering. Judge Lord Pentland said the sentences reflected “society’s condemnation” of the activities of gangs such as McCulloch’s. He told him: “It is a trade which wreaks so much misery on its users and their families. It is clear that you were one of those particularly concerned with organising and running an extensive criminal scheme involving large amounts of cocaine. The quantities and values of the drugs involved were substantial.” The judge commended the police for their “skill and diligence” in bringing the gang to justice.

ringleader, Brian McCulloch, 39, from Paisley, who was caught on tape boasting that he made £20,000 a day selling the drug

ringleader, Brian McCulloch, 39, from Paisley, who was caught on tape boasting that he made £20,000 a day selling the drug, was jailed for 1...

indictment charging Eric McPeters, Dean Moya and Richard Vickery with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine

indictment charging Eric McPeters, Dean Moya and Richard Vickery with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. All three m...

18-year-old Shea (shay) Fraser,Judge Fraser's daughter was taken into custody Tuesday

Judge Fraser's daughter was taken into custody Tuesday in Marysville in central Ohio and charged with two counts of trafficking in heroi...

Arrested Charles Edward Smith, 32, after a reverse purchase of drugs at a hotel

Arrested Charles Edward Smith, 32, after a reverse purchase of drugs at a hotel and brief foot pursuit in July 2008. Prosecutors said deputi...

Eight people have been arrested by the national police in Tenerife on charges of trafficking 800 grams of cocaine

Eight people have been arrested by the national police in Tenerife on charges of trafficking 800 grams of cocaine worth around 46,000 euros....

John W. Bradberry, 39, of York, York County; and Terrance D. Pemberton, 39, of Harrisburg; were stopped last Friday

John W. Bradberry, 39, of York, York County; and Terrance D. Pemberton, 39, of Harrisburg; were stopped last Friday around 12:20 a.m. around...

Kevin Thomas, 47, of Route 52, was convicted Thursday of criminal sale of a controlled substance

Kevin Thomas, 47, of Route 52, was convicted Thursday of criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony, following a jury trial in Ulster...

extradition request for Christopher "Dudus" Coke

extradition request for Christopher "Dudus" Coke in August, has so far only responded with requests for more information about the gun and drug trafficking charges against the reputed gang leader.Coke, identified by the U.S. Justice Department as one of the world's most dangerous drug kingpins, allegedly controls a band of gunmen inside Tivoli Gardens, a barricaded neighborhood of Kingston, the capital of Jamaica and a city with one of the highest homicide rates in the Western Hemisphere.U.S. authorities are voicing frustration that Jamaica is not moving more quickly to honor a mutual extradition treaty."The U.S. government is looking forward to the Jamaican government respecting their obligations under the treaty," Patricia Attkisson, spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Kingston, said Thursday.The political opposition has also criticized the government for putting Jamaica into what it calls a standoff over Coke, who is known for his loyalty to the Jamaica Labor Party. Island gangs have loose affiliations with both major parties — a legacy of the 1970s, when political factions provided the guns to intimidate rivals."The cascading effect of international reaction to the administration's inaction could lead ultimately to Jamaica being labeled and declared a 'rogue state,' with lasting adverse implications for our people," said Peter Bunting, a lawmaker with the opposition People's National Party.A government spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.

extradition request for Christopher "Dudus" Coke

extradition request for Christopher "Dudus" Coke in August, has so far only responded with requests for more information about the...

Adrian Mosley, 39, and Anissa Mosley, 41, appeared on Thursday in a Beaumont federal courtroom, where they were formally charged with drug possession

Adrian Mosley, 39, and Anissa Mosley, 41, appeared on Thursday in a Beaumont federal courtroom, where they were formally charged with drug p...

Michael Shawcross, 26, was stopped by officers from the UK Border Agency at Heathrow Airport as he stepped off a flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil

Michael Shawcross, 26, was stopped by officers from the UK Border Agency at Heathrow Airport as he stepped off a flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil, in September. He had been backpacking in South America before heading back to the UK.Shawcross, of Lower House Lane, Norris Green, was interviewed by officers from HM Revenue and Customs as investigators carried out tests on his rucksack and sleeping bag.Isleworth crown court heard the drugs had been washed with a liquid which was then impregnated into the lining of the bags.The 4kgs of 100% proof cocaine would be worth nearly £900,000 on the streets, HMRC said.On September 5, Shawcross pleaded guilty to trying to smuggle the drugs and he was sentenced to eight years behind bars, with a travel restriction order for three years after his release.Peter Avery, Assistant Director of HMRC Criminal Investigations, said: "We will continue to work closely with our UK Border Agency colleagues to detect and seize drugs smuggled into the UK and prosecute those involved."

Michael Shawcross, 26, was stopped by officers from the UK Border Agency at Heathrow Airport as he stepped off a flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil

Michael Shawcross, 26, was stopped by officers from the UK Border Agency at Heathrow Airport as he stepped off a flight from Sao Paulo, Braz...

Charged 30-year-old Eric Wayne McPeters, 40-year-old Dean Bryan Moya and 31-year-old Richard Allen Vickery of Hemet, Calif

Charged 30-year-old Eric Wayne McPeters, 40-year-old Dean Bryan Moya and 31-year-old Richard Allen Vickery of Hemet, Calif., with one count ...

33-year-old Bum Gu Kim and other members of his ring would buy cocaine from a source in Arizona and drive it up to Buffalo, N.Y.,

33-year-old Bum Gu Kim and other members of his ring would buy cocaine from a source in Arizona and drive it up to Buffalo, N.Y., where they crossed the border into Canada, Kim admitted. While in Canada, they would exchange the cocaine for Ecstasy and bring it back to Maryland, where they sold it wholesale to area drug dealers. The cocaine was allegedly purchased from Leonardo Aldana, an Arizona man who is currently awaiting sentencing after being convicted of distributing cocaine and methamphetamine. After listening to a phone conversation between Kim and a co-conspirator in June 2007, federal agents followed Kim to a parking lot near Arundel Mills Mall, where they watched him sell drugs to another person, court documents said. When agents attempted to pull the customer over, the customer fled and tossed 4,800 Ecstasy pills out his window. When the pills were tested in a federal lab, authorities say they found MDMA -- the chemical compound in Ecstasy -- and methamphetamine, more commonly known as speed. Prosecutors said they believed Kim distributed more than 400 pounds of Ecstasy because of the number of deals they overheard him arranging from taps on his cell phone. Kim was eventually arrested after the Internal Revenue Service linked him to the money-laundering scheme, court documents said. Kim would take the cash proceeds of from selling the Ecstasy and use it to pay off credit advances taken out at casinos in Buffalo and Ontario, Canada. He pleaded guilty to the drug distribution charge and money laundering in October 2008, court records show, nearly a year after federal authorities brought his drug-trafficking scheme to a halt. "Money laundering is not a victimless crime, said IRS Special Agent C. Andre Martin. "The underground, untaxed economy harms the nation's economic strength."

33-year-old Bum Gu Kim and other members of his ring would buy cocaine from a source in Arizona and drive it up to Buffalo, N.Y.,

33-year-old Bum Gu Kim and other members of his ring would buy cocaine from a source in Arizona and drive it up to Buffalo, N.Y., where they...

Yacub Koger, 36, of Chicago, formerly of Mattoon, was sentenced on the charge of delivery of a controlled substance

Yacub Koger, 36, of Chicago, formerly of Mattoon, was sentenced on the charge of delivery of a controlled substance to which he pleaded guil...

Stephen Hawken, aged 48, was jailed for 11 years at Plymouth Crown Court yesterday after being described as "high up the tree" of dealing Class A drug

Stephen Hawken, aged 48, was jailed for 11 years at Plymouth Crown Court yesterday after being described as "high up the tree" of dealing Class A drugs in the city. Speaking after sentencing, detectives who uncovered Hawken's secret arsenal described him as "an extremely dangerous man" who was a key figure in supplying cocaine and amphetamine to Plymouth's streets.His arrest came after a dramatic three-hour siege involving armed police at Hawken's exclusive Derriford property last November, ending only when he was shot with a baton round and Taser. The court heard how shaven-headed Hawken had hidden parts of his guns everywhere from his coffee machine to behind the walls of his plush house in the private Delgany Drive.Thousands of pounds worth of drugs were found buried in next door's garden and a shotgun was found in a container on land near the house, the court heard.Prosecutor Jo Martin said Hawken's arrest was triggered by a separate drugs raid at a house in Warwick Avenue, Whitleigh.Officers seized amphetamines – but cocaine belonging to Hawken was not found, prompting he and another man to go to the address and recover it.Ms Martin told the court how they had gone back to Delgany Drive and buried the drugs, along with a cutting agent, in a garden belonging to Hawken's next door neighbour.The plastic container – covered in Hawken's fingerprints – was eventually found by a sniffer dog after the siege, she said. The court heard how, on November 12, police swooped on the property and found a Taurus 9mm handgun and a stun-gun inside, the handgun disassembled and stashed in parts all over the house.Behind a double oven was the body, while the spring was found in the bottom of a gas fire and the 9mm barrel in Hawken's bar. An empty pistol magazine was found behind plasterboard in his utility room, the court heard, and the top part – along with the stun-gun – were found in his wall-mounted coffee machine.There was ammunition behind the kitchen sink and 113 bullets soaking in oil – a process that maximises their performance – in Hawken's garage. He told police in interviews that he knew nothing about the weapons, Ms Martin said, claiming they belonged to the previous owner of the house. But the court heard how police widened their search after realising the extent of the haul and found a container on nearby land belonging to Hawken. Inside was a shotgun, complete with ammunition. Hawken's weapons were so well hidden, the court heard, that as recently as May a plumber working on a toilet in the house – which has since been repossessed – discovered another pistol magazine, this time containing seven live bullets. Ms Martin told Judge Francis Gilbert QC that the guns and drugs combined showed Hawken had "high involvement in the Plymouth drugs scene". She said: "They were all part of Stephen Hawken's armoury, to keep him high up the tree in the drugs scene. "He was some way up the chain of command." Hawken, wearing a shirt, jacket and jeans, appeared nervous as he sat in the dock fidgeting and making eye contact with the dozen or so family and friends there to support him. He had been due to face trial but entered last-minute guilty pleas to seven of the nine counts against him. They included possessing a class B drug – 345g of one per cent amphetamine – with intent to supply and a class A drug – 1,011g of nine per cent cocaine – also with intent, as well as possession of a stun gun, a handgun, a double-barrelled over-and-under shotgun, and ammunition without certificates. The court heard how he had collected a string of convictions for drugs and firearms offences over the last two decades, already serving prison sentences totalling nine and a half years. They date back to 1986 when, aged just 23, Hawken was caught in possession of a shotgun and ammunition without a certificate. Since 1995 he has been convicted of possessing more ammunition, cannabis, amphetamines, MDMA and £20,000 in counterfeit currency. Llewellyn Sellick, for Hawken, said his client deserved credit for his guilty plea, albeit last-minute. "It was somewhat courageous of him to face reality," he said. Mr Sellick told the court how, since last being released from prison, Hawken had built up a "thriving" company – Ace Plant Hire – and employed between six and eight people, subcontracting many more. He had purchased his luxury house and won a number of large contracts, including working on a city police station. But a developer Hawken was working with in Mannamead went bust in October last year, the court heard, owing him £100,000. Since his arrest, Mr Sellick told the court, Hawken had lost both his home and his company.He said: "It was in the autumn of 2008 that things went terribly wrong. "This is a man who had done considerably well – he's now gone right back to zero again."He added that the stun-gun found by police was missing a prong and a battery, meaning it would not have worked.Hawken was also charged with five fly-tipping offences between January 17 and February 23 last year.The court heard how building materials from a site in Stonehouse his firm was working at had been dumped in Dartmoor beauty spots. A wood in Bickleigh, a car park in Roborough Down and an area near Meavy were among those littered in rubble, which included large wooden doors. The mess cost more than £1,600 to clear up.

Stephen Hawken, aged 48, was jailed for 11 years at Plymouth Crown Court yesterday after being described as "high up the tree" of dealing Class A drug

Stephen Hawken, aged 48, was jailed for 11 years at Plymouth Crown Court yesterday after being described as "high up the tree" of ...

Chase Charles Inward, 25, is charged with escaping lawful custody and property damage.

Calgary police have recaptured a man who escaped custody by climbing through a bathroom ceiling after complaining of feeling ill.Police say ...

Wilfredo Rodriguez Rosado. American Airlines employees that were caught up in the drug bust

Just recently, nine workers from American Airlines were charged with participating in a drug smuggling ring. This scheme saw cocaine shipped from Puerto Rico to the United States mainland by way of airport flights.The American Airlines employees that were caught up in the drug bust, turned out to be a mix of baggage handlers and other members of the ground crew. Apparently they took part in sending at least 19,840 pounds of cocaine into parts of the United States. Some of the locations where drugs were shipped to include Miami, Orlando, and New Jersey.Officers from the United States Drug Enforcement Administrations, as well as members from the FBI, arrested 22 members of the alleged smuggling ring, which does include the nine American Airlines workers. The raids took place early Tuesday and were called Operation Heavy Cargo.One of the employees that agreed to surrender was the ringleader, Wilfredo Rodriguez Rosado. The other men that were arrested were found in other cities all across the United States Caribbean territory and in Miami. A spokeswoman for American Airlines did confirm the arrests but was not able to give out any other kinds of details on the matter.Puerto Rico is actually a favored transshipment point for South American cocaine and heroin. This is because, once the drugs are able to reach the Caribbean islands, they no longer have to make it past customs. The drugs are free to make their way to the American market. Although security at the airport is tight, some say that this proves that it could be better.

Wilfredo Rodriguez Rosado. American Airlines employees that were caught up in the drug bust

Just recently, nine workers from American Airlines were charged with participating in a drug smuggling ring. This scheme saw cocaine shipped...

Francisco Flores, 46, a former Brooklyn police sergeant, was arrested at his Staten Island home and ordered detained

Francisco Flores, 46, a former Brooklyn police sergeant, was arrested at his Staten Island home and ordered detained until a Friday bail hearing, according to a news release from the New Jersey District of the U.S. Attorney’s Office.The second suspect, Eduardo Baez, 36, of Brooklyn was arrested Wednesday afternoon and will likely appear in federal court today. Joseph James, 45, and Paul Nunez-Vargas, 32, both of Brooklyn were arrested August 27 and released on bail in connection with the alleged conspiracy, according to the news release.Federal authorities said the four men traveled from New York City to Elizabeth, N.J. August 12 in three separate cars -- snaking up and down dead end street to evade law enforcement surveillance -- as they scouted a neighborhood where they planned to buy drugs.The suspect’s driving didn’t fool federal agents who had been watching the group.“Based on my training and experience I recognize this driving pattern as counter-surveillance commonly used by narcotics traffickers to detect the presence of law enforcement,” one ICE Special Agent said in a criminal complaint.As agents watched, James exited a Mercedes carrying a plastic bag. He was confronted by authorities and said he was in the area to “do something that I know I shouldn’t be doing,” and to “buy three keys,” referring to cocaine, according to the complaint.Nunez-Vargas was in the same car and made similar statements to agents. Investigators reported they found $75,000 in the plastic bag and $22,500 in the Mercedes after the men consented to a search. Flores, the retired sergeant, and Baez were stopped in a nearby convenience store. Both men allowed agents to search their cars with $500 in cash was found in Flores’ and a hidden compartment was found in Beaz’s car, according to a news release.According to the criminal complaint, Flores told agents he had recently retired from the NYPD and claimed he was in the area to purchase a motorcycle with friends in the Mercedes. Agents said he later changed his story and denied knowing the other men arrested. All four men have been charged with “conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine,” and could face up to 40 years in prison if convicted, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Francisco Flores, 46, a former Brooklyn police sergeant, was arrested at his Staten Island home and ordered detained

Francisco Flores, 46, a former Brooklyn police sergeant, was arrested at his Staten Island home and ordered detained until a Friday bail hea...

Ravi David Singh of Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara was yesterday remanded to prison

Ravi David Singh of Atlantic Gardens, East Coast Demerara was yesterday remanded to prison when he appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate M...

Derek Archie, who also goes by the name "Diese (pronounced Dice) Game" was arrested at the Days Inn

Derek Archie, who also goes by the name "Diese (pronounced Dice) Game" was arrested at the Days Inn in Auburn on Feb. 8 by the Fin...

Richard Munro, 23, from East Kilbride, admitted being concerned in the supply of amphetamine and cocaine.

Richard Munro, 23, from East Kilbride, admitted being concerned in the supply of amphetamine and cocaine. He was granted bail, and will be s...

Kevin Lamar Nash, 35, was booked into the Sacramento County Jail Wednesday on charges of possession rock cocaine for sale

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISHLoM9OhyWZqwtLn1R3wZQh-igxX9KhOtuCimkwyE52-RcByKDfpbEkyXB7XKl1AaGaC5ukEHm_2WY9auAI7P1KI3xXdyNxKFMPeEUxxFpuGgRBlqpKTo0C0ZcR2Wh6wFr_lz_uFYWs/s1600-h/nash.bmp"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383095171146238626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISHLoM9OhyWZqwtLn1R3wZQh-igxX9KhOtuCimkwyE52-RcByKDfpbEkyXB7XKl1AaGaC5ukEHm_2WY9auAI7P1KI3xXdyNxKFMPeEUxxFpuGgRBlqpKTo0C0ZcR2Wh6wFr_lz_uFYWs/s400/nash.bmp" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 247px;" /></a> Kevin Lamar Nash, 35, was booked into the Sacramento County Jail Wednesday on charges of possession rock cocaine for sale, transportation of a controlled substance and manufacturing rock cocaine after the Folsom Police SWAT team searched a home in the 1800 block of Swinton Drive in Folsom. Nash was reportedly using the home to convert powder cocaine into the more valuable rock cocaine, officials said. “We located 20 ounces of rock cocaine,” said Jason Browning, spokesman for the Folsom Police Department. “Two more ounces were found in (Nash’s) possession at the time of his arrest.” Nash is being held on $300,000 bail. An enhancement was added requiring that he prove the source of his bail funds, officials said.

Kevin Lamar Nash, 35, was booked into the Sacramento County Jail Wednesday on charges of possession rock cocaine for sale

Kevin Lamar Nash, 35, was booked into the Sacramento County Jail Wednesday on charges of possession rock cocaine for sale, transportation of...

Luis Ramirez, 33, and David Guerrero, 29 arrested

arrested two men — Luis Ramirez, 33, and David Guerrero, 29 — and seized 10 kilograms of cocaine after stopping a vehicle near Interstate 37...

Theresa Duarte former Montgomery County English teacher was sentenced to six months in jail Thursday for distributing cocaine to a student

Theresa Duarte former Montgomery County English teacher was sentenced to six months in jail Thursday for distributing cocaine to a student, ...

Efrain Bonilla Cardona, 41 of Chaska, and Jaime Borja Gama, 32 of Shakopee, were arrested

Efrain Bonilla Cardona, 41 of Chaska, and Jaime Borja Gama, 32 of Shakopee, were arrested Aug. 24 during a separate investigation. Gama drov...

Manuel Fabian Hernandez, 29 of Belle Plaine, was arrested Sept. 3 after he sold one ounce of cocaine

Manuel Fabian Hernandez, 29 of Belle Plaine, was arrested Sept. 3 after he sold one ounce of cocaine to a SWMDTF agent, according to Sheriff...

Rahim Jaffer,to fight liquor, cocaine charges

Rahim Jaffer, a former Conservative MP, was driving in his wife's riding last Friday when he was pulled over for speeding by police in Palgrave, Ont., near Toronto. He was alone in the vehicle, a Ford Escape.A roadside screening device was used to get a breath sample from Mr. Jaffer, who was then arrested and taken to the Caledon OPP station, where he provided two more breath samples while being held in cells for about four hours. He was charged with impaired driving, possession of cocaine and speeding, before being released. His licence was also suspended for 90 days. "I intend to fight the serious accusations that have been made against me," Mr. Jaffer, 37, said in a written statement emailed yesterday to the Edmonton Journal. "I am innocent and am confident of full exoneration. I cannot express how grateful I am for the support of my family and friends and I ask that you respect their privacy as I strive to clear my name."He is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 19 in Orangeville."I take this very seriously," Ms. Guergis told reporters who thronged about her as she got out of her government limousine. "I love my husband very much and I don't really have enough information to give you a fuller comment. If you do [want to] talk about it, please call my husband."When a reporter asked if she was in the car when Mr. Jaffer was pulled over, she said firmly, "No, I was not, and we have a very important event today. Do not disrespect that."Ms. Guergis was surrounded by several Conservative MPs and ministers including Defence Minister Peter Mac-Kay, Heritage Minister James Moore, Trade Minister Stockwell Day and Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt.Mr. Jaffer was a four-term MP, first elected in 1997 at age 25. Last fall, he was the only Conservative to lose a riding in Alberta. The party selected a new candidate, Ryan Hastman, to challenge Edmonton-Strathcona MP Linda Duncan whenever another federal election is called.On Parliament Hill, politicians from all parties had little to say about Mr. Jaffer's arrest and what, if any, implications it might have for Ms. Guergis' political position."This is an unfortunate matter," Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff said. "This is a man who held public trust, and it's before the courts and I have no further comment to make about it." An advisor in Mr. Ignatieff's office said he has instructed his MPs not to discuss or attempt to make a political issue out of the matter.Said NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis: "I hope he gets the help he needs and I hope, you know, Helena is going to be strong in this relationship throughout all of this."

Rahim Jaffer,to fight liquor, cocaine charges

Rahim Jaffer, a former Conservative MP, was driving in his wife's riding last Friday when he was pulled over for speeding by police in P...

John Henry Sutton was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine

John Henry Sutton was sentenced to 10 years in prison for conspiring to distribute more than 50 grams of crack cocaine.John Henry Sutton ple...

Duc Vi Huynh, a Canadian citizen, was sentenced yesterday in federal court on charges that he distributed more than 200,000 Ecstasy pills

Duc Vi Huynh, a Canadian citizen, was sentenced yesterday in federal court on charges that he distributed more than 200,000 Ecstasy pills in the Houston area. Authorities believe Huynh took part in a ring that distributed Ecstasy all over the southern U. S. Huynh was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 3,4 Methylenedioxymethamphetamine, commonly called Ecstasy or MDMA, with a sentence of 240 months confinement in a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility without parole. Huynh pleaded guilty to the federal drug trafficking offense in November 2008. He has been in custody since his arrest by FBI agents and the Houston Police Department (HPD) officer who jointly investigated the case.In July 2007, acting on a tip from a cooperating witness, FBI agents and HPD officers of the FBI-HPD Asian Organized Crime Task Force stopped a car driven by Khoa Tuan Nguyen and Anh Biet Ngo and discovered approximately 22,000 Ecstasy/MDMA pills. After determining that additional contraband was likely to be hidden in a nearby associated townhouse, agents and officers established surveillance of the townhouse. Numerous people were seen entering and/or leaving the townhouse with suspicious packages. Each person departing the townhouse with a suspicious package was stopped by HPD patrol officers. Each stop resulted in additional arrests as additional amounts of Ecstasy/MDMA were discovered and seized. During that one month, agents recovered approximately 117,000 MDMA pills as part of their task force effort and Huynh was subsequently identified as the person who provided all of the Ecstasy/MDMA pills, which came from Canada, that were intercepted by law enforcement in July 2007. Shortly after the July 2007 enforcement action, through yet another source of information, Huynh was contacted by telephone to discuss the purchase of an additional 150,000 Ecstasy/MDMA pills for $375,000.00. Huynh agreed to the deal and traveled to Huntsville, Texas on Dec. 21, 2007 for the transaction with an undercover FBI agent. During the meeting, Huynh explained to the agent that the pills were being transported by third parties unknown to him and that he could communicate with them only by calling a telephone number in Canada that was answered by yet another person who acted as a "cutout" to protect the MDMA load and all concerned parties from law enforcement detection. The Ecstasy/MDMA pills never materialized for this deal. Huynh subsequently explained to the agent that the drivers were "sick," meaning had been arrested in another state. Through further investigation, the FBI later learned that Tennessee law enforcement officers had intercepted a vehicle bearing approximately 250,000 MDMA pills during the relevant time-frame. FBI agents believed the intercepted shipment was intended, in part, to fill the order placed by the undercover agent. Through his conversation with the agent, Huynh clearly implicated himself in the conspiracy to supply the MDMA pills intercepted by the FBI in July 2007 and was later arrested.To date, the following seven additional co-conspirators have been charged, convicted and sentenced as a result of the investigation leading to the arrest of Huynh: Dung Hoang Nguyen (156 months), Hoang-Nam Nguyen (68 months), An Biet Ngo (70 months), Toan Bao Nguyen (60 months), Khoa Tuan Nguyen (65 months), Son Anh Nguyen (46 months) and Toan Huu Pham (12 months). Thuc Tri Phan jumped bond after pleading guilty in connection with this conspiracy and remains a fugitive. A warrant remains outstanding for his arrest. All seven are U. S. citizens.The FBI-HPD Asian Organized Crime Task Force is part of an ongoing multi-agency approach to identifying, infiltrating and prosecuting organized crime in the Houston area. Assistant U. S. Attorneys Mark W. White III and Joseph Magliolo are handling the prosecution of these cases.

Duc Vi Huynh, a Canadian citizen, was sentenced yesterday in federal court on charges that he distributed more than 200,000 Ecstasy pills

Duc Vi Huynh, a Canadian citizen, was sentenced yesterday in federal court on charges that he distributed more than 200,000 Ecstasy pills in...

John Wallas the "controlling mind" at the heart of a planned and organised commercial enterprise in drugs

John Wallas the "controlling mind" at the heart of a planned and organised commercial enterprise in drugs.The 29-year-old, of Knebworth Court, Ingleby Barwick, was jailed for eight years at Teesside Crown Court.Officers found drugs worth between £71,000 and £299,000 when they raided a flat he rented on Hadleigh Walk, Ingleby Barwick.They discovered more than four kilos of amphetamine with a maximum street value of £260,000 and cocaine worth a maximum of £39,130.More than 25kg of bulking agents were found along with a cocaine-flecked mixing bowl and other evidence of cocaine production, such as gas masks.The judge told Teesside Crown Court yesterday how Wallas drew others into the drugs plot, including his younger brother Mark and cousin Craig Francis.Mark Wallas, 25, was sent to prison for three years. The judge said he played a limited but important and necessary role in drugs distribution.The police stopped him driving on the A689 towards Hartlepool on the afternoon of October 30 last year, said prosecutor Christopher Attwooll. A bag containing £38,260 cash was found in the passenger seat footwell of the Volkswagen Passat. Wallas had keys to the flat on Hadleigh Walk.The Wallas brothers, who had no previous convictions, both admitted conspiring to supply cocaine. Mark Wallas also admitted possessing criminal property - the cash.Francis, 26, was the only one of five men not to be sent away.At his home on Victoria Road, Thornaby on November 20, police found digital scales and a metal safe carrying cocaine traces, and almost half a kilo of mixing agents.He paid for an order for 50kg of cutting agents which were delivered to Mark Wallas' home on Trent Avenue, Thornaby. The judge said he played a very limited role and gave him a six-month prison sentence suspended for two years with 200 hours' unpaid work.David Breeze, 25, of The Birches, Middlesbrough, received a two-year prison term after he was "heavily involved" in amphetamine production.And Lee Cope, 24, of Marton Road, Middlesbrough, was locked up for 25 months. The judge said he was "lawless and feckless" and took a "depressingly casual" attitude to preparing the Class B drug.All five men admitted conspiracy to supply amphetamine in October and November last year. Francis also admitted cocaine possession.Police kept the men under observation and listened to telephone conversations in John Wallas' BMW with references to drugs supply and amphetamine production.The investigation was part of 'Operation Kiev', a long-running covert operation by the Cleveland Police Organised Crime Unit which led to another drugs gang being locked up for 22 years in April.Defence barristers tried to argue that the kilos of low-purity illegal narcotics were "very small quantities". They said the men acted out of character and showed regret and remorse for being involved in areas of the "despicable enterprise" for a short time, often due to personal and financial difficulties.Kevin Metzger, defending John Wallas, said: "This was an aberration in what was otherwise an exemplary life."John Hurlock, representing, Mark Wallas, said the educated ex-RAF man and charity worker ran an errand for his brother: "He's lost everything that mattered to him as a result of that temporary loss of sense."Francis' counsel Andrew Turton said the former care home worker innocently stored items at his home as a favour, thinking the chemicals were for body-building.Now the men face having cash and assets stripped from them as proceeds of crime.Detective Chief Inspector Rob Donaghy, head of serious and organised crime in Cleveland Police, said today: "This was a well-organised drug manufacturing and distribution outfit making significant amounts of money."The sentences passed send out a strong message to those involved in dealing drugs on the streets of Teesside that we will not tolerate it."A team of detectives worked over a significant period of time to painstakingly piece together the evidence."We are relentless in our pursuit of drug dealers. We will target these people and we will use any lawful tactics to bring them to justice."

John Wallas the "controlling mind" at the heart of a planned and organised commercial enterprise in drugs

John Wallas the "controlling mind" at the heart of a planned and organised commercial enterprise in drugs.The 29-year-old, of Kneb...