Yemen sentences eight to death for drug smuggling | News by Country | Reuters

Yemen sentences eight to death for drug smuggling | News by Country | Reuters: "Yemeni court sentenced five Yemeni and three African men to death on Tuesday for smuggling 1.7 tonnes of drugs into the Arabian Peninsula country, the state news agency Saba reported.In a separate case, the court in the southeastern province of Hadramout handed jail terms of 12 years each against six Somalis convicted of piracy, the agency said.
The three Africans sentenced to death were from Kenya, Tanzania and Somalia, Saba added, without saying what kind of drugs they had smuggled."

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UK Border Agency | Hackney man admits drug smuggling

UK Border Agency | Hackney man admits drug smuggling: "UK Border Agency officers arrested Abdalla Abdulrahman Omar after he arrived on a flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Monday 21 June. Approximately four kg of the drug were discovered hidden in the false bottom of a suitcase he was travelling with.
Omar, of Amhurst Road in Hackney, was later charged with attempting to import a Class A drug, and admitted the offence during a hearing at Uxbridge Magistrates on Tuesday 22 June.
He was remanded in custody, and will be sentenced on Friday 6 August at Isleworth Crown Court."

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Police: man takes nephew to buy crack

Police: man takes nephew to buy crack: "man has been arrested after investigators said he took his 3-year-old nephew to buy crack cocaine.
Meliek Simmons was found with his uncle during a traffic stop on Old Winter Garden Road and Silverton Street.
Meliek hadn't been seen since Saturday afternoon after leaving home with an uncle.
'He's never pulled no stunt like this,' said Ciara Simmons, mother.
Investigators said Calvin Reed, Sr. told them he failed to return Meliek to his mother after he withdrew money from an ATM to buy lawn mower parts, but instead bought crack.
'He'd go over to my auntie house, use the computer and come right back. But he's never taken my son this long and it's been a whole day,' Simmons said."

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Heroin bust in bedroom leads to five arrests | heroin, arrests, leads - Local News - Gaston Gazette

Heroin bust in bedroom leads to five arrests | heroin, arrests, leads - Local News - Gaston Gazette: "Deputies also located a firearm in the residence and large amounts of drug paraphernalia, including spoons, syringes, scales and straws.
Five people who were at the house at the time were all arrested, and now face numerous charges related to trafficking, manufacturing and possession of heroin and other illegal narcotics. All five were held at the Lincoln County Jail, under the following bonds:
* Amber Brook Philyaw, 879 Acre Heights Road, $404,000 bond
* Lance Philyaw, 3156 E. Maiden Road, Maiden, $386,000 bond
* Barry Suttlemyre, 5805 Powder Loop Road, Granite Falls, $384,000 bond
* Kimberly Suttlemyre, 5805 Powder Loop Road, Granite Falls, $384,000 bond
* Natosha Milsap, 172 Optimist Ave., Hudson, $434,000 bond"

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What’s with the SAA crew and cocaine smuggling? | Common Dialogue

What’s with the SAA crew and cocaine smuggling? | Common Dialogue: "South African Airways crew member has been charged with trying to smuggle cocaine into Britain, after being arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport.
Now this chick called Elphia Dlamini, was arrested after three kilogrammes of the drug were found during routine checks on crew on the flight, which had landed from Johannesburg."

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RTÉ News: Cocaine worth €9.5m seized in Terenure

RTÉ News: Cocaine worth €9.5m seized in Terenure: "Gardaí in Dublin have seized 14kg of cocaine worth an estimated €9.5m.
The drugs were found yesterday evening in a house in Terenure, south Dublin, as part of an intelligence-led operation targeting one of the capital's criminal gangs.
Two semi-automatic handguns along with mixing agents were also found at the house."

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The Press Association: Three quizzed over £2m cocaine find

The Press Association: Three quizzed over £2m cocaine find: "Three people are being quizzed by detectives over the seizure of two million euro of cocaine.
The massive haul was made after a series of raids on residential properties in south Dublin on Thursday evening.
During searches in Tallaght, officers found a sophisticated cocaine factory and also recovered equipment and a substantial amount of cash."

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BBC News - Four held after cocaine and cash seized at Landkey farm

BBC News - Four held after cocaine and cash seized at Landkey farm: "Four people have been arrested after drugs and cash were seized from a farm in north Devon.
Police said the drugs, believed to be cocaine, and about £5,000 were seized in Landkey, near Barnstaple, on Tuesday.
The cash was hidden behind the panel of a vehicle.
Three men, aged 20, 37 and 60, and a 51-year-old woman, were arrested on suspicion of being involved in the supply of drugs.
The woman and two of the men are from Braunton, Devon and the 37-year-old man is from Staines, Middlesex.
All four have been released on police bail."

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WBFO: Assistant to Toronto doctor pleads guilty in Buffalo (2010-06-24)

WBFO: Assistant to Toronto doctor pleads guilty in Buffalo (2010-06-24): "32-year old Mary Anne Catalano accepted a plea deal admitting that she made false statements to border and immigration agents at the Peace Bridge last September as she attempted to enter Buffalo.
Catalano, also of Toronto, was the assistant to Dr. Anthony Galea. He faces criminal charges in Buffalo and Canada for drug smuggling and violating the food and drug act and conspiracy charges.
Galea is accused of allegedly smuggling and distributing steroids to prominent sports figures in major league baseball, such as New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez and and golf star Tiger Woods. The drugs included human growth hormones including Nutropin"

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The Associated Press: Jamaican gang leader arrives to face NY charges

The Associated Press: Jamaican gang leader arrives to face NY charges: "Jamaican gang leader Christopher 'Dudus' Coke has arrived in New York to face drug trafficking charges.
Federal agents brought Coke by plane on Thursday to an airport in White Plains, N.Y. He was to be taken a federal lockup in New York City, where he was expected to appear in court on Friday.
The 42-year-old Coke had waived his right to extradition in Jamaica earlier in the day.
U.S. prosecutors say the leader of the notorious Shower Posse gang has overseen large shipments of cocaine and marijuana to the eastern United States since the 1990s.
A violent clash last month between his supporters and security forces in Jamaica left 76 dead."

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Venezuela says it captures suspected drug smuggler wanted in US on cocaine trafficking charges | San Francisco Examiner

Venezuela says it captures suspected drug smuggler wanted in US on cocaine trafficking charges | San Francisco Examiner: "arrest of Luis Frank Tello Candelo, 47, better known as 'El Negro Frank,' as proof of Venezuela's determination to combat organized crime and drug trafficking.
Officials at the U.S. Embassy in Caracas did not immediately answer telephone calls seeking comment.
El Aissami did not provide details regarding Tello Candelo's purported ties to the Zetas, initially formed by an elite group of Mexican soldiers who deserted to become hit men for the Gulf Cartel. The Zetas have since turned to drug trafficking and are fighting their former allies"

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Christopher Coke wore a wig and hat in this mug shot after his arrest in Jamaica. Jamaican to Face Charges in New York - NYTimes.com

Jamaican to Face Charges in New York - NYTimes.com: "Christopher Coke, a reputed gang leader from Jamaica accused of running a major smuggling operation of drugs and guns in the United States, was scheduled to be flown to New York from Jamaica’s capital, Kingston, on Thursday after waiving his right to an extradition hearing in Jamaican courts, officials said.


Alleged gang leader Christopher Coke wore a wig and hat in this mug shot after his arrest in Jamaica.

Disguises May Have Helped Jamaican Drug Lord Elude Arrest (June 24, 2010) Appearing briefly before a Jamaican magistrate, Mr. Coke, dressed casually and speaking in a soft voice, agreed to forgo a legal challenge and to face trial in federal district court in Manhattan.
“We look forward to this process unfolding swiftly, we hope,” said Rebecca Park, a spokeswoman at the United States Embassy in Kingston.
In a statement released by his lawyers, Mr. Coke said he would vigorously fight the charges and expected to return to Jamaica a free man. He said he was not challenging his extradition because he wanted to put an end to the bloodshed the country has experienced since an arrest warrant was issued for him late last month."

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Heroin death leads to charges for suspected drug dealers | ksdk.com | St. Louis, MO

Heroin death leads to charges for suspected drug dealers | ksdk.com | St. Louis, MO: "U.S. Attorney's Office said Elsa McKnight and Dean Jordan manufactured and sold heroin out of a home on Greer Street in St. Louis in September 2009.
A federal grand jury indicted Jordan, 24, on distribution of heroin with a death resulting, conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin, possession with the intent to distribute heroin, and a felony count for being a convicted felon in possession of a gun.
McKnight, 34, was indicted on conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute heroin and maintaining a place for the unlawful manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs.
Each of the suspects face between 20 years up to life in prison for distributing heroin that resulted in a person's death and or fines up to $1,000,000."

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Leif Garrett Heroin: Leif Garrett Ordered to Stand Trial in Heroin Case - KTLA

Leif Garrett Heroin: Leif Garrett Ordered to Stand Trial in Heroin Case - KTLA: "Former 70s teen idol Leif Garrett has been ordered to stand trial on a felony count of heroin possession.

Garrett, 48, who is free on bail, is set to be arraigned on July 7th.

A trial was ordered after Garrett waived his right to a preliminary hearing."

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Attorney Accused of Smuggling Heroin Into Jail - Legal News

Attorney Accused of Smuggling Heroin Into Jail - Legal News: "Michael Inman, a criminal defense attorney at Inman & Associates in Beverly Hills, was charged on Friday. The Los Angeles County district attorney's office alleged that Inman intended to sell 14.25 grams of heroin when he entered a secure lockup to visit two clients in a burglary case. He was arrested on June 15 after drug-sniffing dogs found heroin in an area where he had been waiting.
Inman was charged with four felony counts, including possession of a controlled substance in a jail and sale or transport of a controlled substance. He is scheduled for arraignment on July 19. If convicted, Inman faces up to five years in prison.
Inman and his attorney, Albert DeBlanc of DeBlanc DeBlanc & Associates in Los Angeles, did not respond to requests for comment"

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Cocaine dealer Domingo Baez gets 15 years in prison

Cocaine dealer Domingo Baez gets 15 years in prison: "Baez, 40, of Billings, apologized Wednesday for “my involvement in all of this. I accept totally what I’ve done.’’ He asked for mercy, saying he had nobody to help him as youth and survived a rough upbringing in Chicago by dealing drugs.
“I want to do better,” he said. “I am a better person.”
Senior U.S. District Judge Jack Shanstrom acknowledged his tough life in Chicago but told Baez that he’d had numerous second chances. When Baez moved to Billings in about 2003 to start over, he brought his cocaine business with him, the judge said.
Shanstrom said Baez had a prior felony drug conviction. And he noted that Baez had been charged 33 times in criminal cases that were mostly dismissed because of an overworked justice system.
Shanstrom sentenced Baez near the top of the guideline range that spanned from about 12-1/2 years to about 15-1/2 years. The term is the longest sentence among about a dozen people convicted in the conspiracy. The term would be a deterrent to others and show that drug trafficking “will not be tolerated,” Shanstrom said."

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Brothers get 15 years in Ariz. drug smuggling case - KSWT: Local News, Weather, Sports Yuma, AZ El Centro Imperial Valley, CA |

Brothers get 15 years in Ariz. drug smuggling case - KSWT: Local News, Weather, Sports Yuma, AZ El Centro Imperial Valley, CA |: "Two brothers accused of being the leaders of a drug trafficking organization have been sentenced to 15 years in an Arizona prison.
Roberto and Rafael Mondragon were each found guilty of conspiracy to sell or transfer methamphetamine.
The Maricopa County Attorney's Office says the brothers led the Mondragon drug organization, which they say was responsible for the distribution of at least 30 pounds of meth a month in metro Phoenix.
The convictions came after a yearlong investigation by Tempe police and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency that netted the arrests of 130 people in the drug organization."

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The Death Penalty in Singapore: Silence on Yong's pending execution in S'pore

The Death Penalty in Singapore: Silence on Yong's pending execution in S'pore: "Malaysia appears to be painfully silent on the upcoming execution of 22-year-old Malaysian Yong Vui Kong, for trafficking 47g of heroin into Singaporethree years ago.

Yong's Singaporean lawyer, M Ravi, who was in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, told Malaysiakini he was in town to seek help from the public to show the Singapore government that Malaysians cannot tolerate Yong's execution or the death penalty."

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Alleged Jamaican Drug Kingpin Arrested | AHN

Alleged Jamaican Drug Kingpin Arrested | AHN: "Jamaican authorities say they have finally arrested suspected drug lord, Christopher ”Dudus” Coke. Police seized him Tuesday just outside the city of Kingston.

He was detained at a roadblock while reportedly traveling with Rev. Al Miller, a preacher who said Coke was going to the United States embassy to turn himself in"

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Young drug mule paying high price

Young drug mule paying high price: "Sadie Villars arrived at Lynden late Monday evening, declaring that she was returning home after having dinner with family in Canada,' said a bulletin from U.S. Customs and Border Protection after Villars' arrest in November. 'When questioned about the contents of her overnight bag, Villars became hesitant and changed her story.'
A body search turned up three baggies holding 1,285 ecstasy tablets.
Villars, the 20-year-old daughter of former B.C. Lions football player Kevin Villars, was charged with felony drug possession with intent to distribute and is now in SeaTac prison after pleading guilty. While she awaits her June 28 sentencing, she's locked down 24 hours a day, says her mother Theresa, 45, of Coquitlam."

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Russians seize 250kg of heroin from 2 Central Asians

Russians seize 250kg of heroin from 2 Central Asians: "Agents of the Russian Federal Security Service seized 250kg of heroin in raids on an apartment and a house construction site, media reported June 22.


Police made two arrests after finding the heroin in canisters. Authorities did not identify the suspects other than saying they had arrived from Central Asia. The heroin also came from Central Asia, police said."

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Heroin bust in Fountain Hills nets 10 arrests, drugs and $56K | Phoenix News | Arizona News | azfamily.com | Phoenix News

Heroin bust in Fountain Hills nets 10 arrests, drugs and $56K | Phoenix News | Arizona News | azfamily.com | Phoenix News: "arrests are a culmination of a three-month-long investigation in which deputies also busted about 56 grams of heroin with a street value of $56,000 as well as drug paraphernalia.

As of Friday, MCSO had arrested 10 suspects who now face charges ranging from possession of narcotic drugs to narcotic drugs for sale and conspiracy to possess narcotic drug for sale. Additional arrests are expected.

Among those in custody are David Ryan Leddy, 24, Marie Gonzales Secillia, 19, John Toland Hutchinson, 22, and Joseph Franklin Ahlgren, 18, from Fountain Hills. Also arrested were Angela Marie Farmer, 26, Baris Sendag, 35, and James McQueen, 29, from Scottsdale and Phoenix residents Francisco Nolasco Cruz, 21, and Luis Alonso Lopez Montes, 21. Nathaniel Freeman, 23, was arrested and then released pending drug analysis."

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Man Sentenced For Millions In Cocaine Sales

Man Sentenced For Millions In Cocaine Sales: "41-year old Tyrone L. Andrews was one of the leaders of a drug trafficking organization in Wichita. Andrews pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, 64 counts of using a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking, 19 counts of distributing cocaine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and one count of maintaining a residence for the purpose of storing and distributing cocaine.
In his plea, he admitted that from 2001 until he was arrested Sept. 22, 2007, he made his living buying cocaine and re-selling it. From 2005 through 2007, he purchased approximately five kilograms of cocaine per week, for which he paid from $15,000 to $17,000 per kilogram, and sold the cocaine for approximately $18,000 per kilogram.
His customers included members of the Crips street gang in Wichita.
In June 2007, the Wichita Police Department and Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office conducted surveillance on Andrews’ drug stash house at 1821 S. Ridgewood. During June and July 2007, the investigators worked undercover to arrange to purchase cocaine supplied by Andrews and other conspirators.
Andrews was arrested Sept. 22, 2007, after leading officers on a chase through neighborhood streets."

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Dr. Anthony Galea's former assistant, Mary Anne Catalano, to enter plea in drug smuggling case

Dr. Anthony Galea's former assistant, Mary Anne Catalano, to enter plea in drug smuggling case: "Dr. Anthony Galea's former assistant, Mary Anne Catalano, whose arrest last year sparked two investigations into whether the Toronto sports physician provided banned drugs to athletes, is expected to enter a plea in Buffalo federal court Thursday, marking the first appearance in a U.S. court by either party as the case begins to unfold.
Galea, who has treated Tiger Woods, Alex Rodriguez, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and other professional athletes, was arrested and his office was raided last year after American authorities stopped Catalano's car at a Buffalo border crossing and found illegal drugs and medical supplies. Catalano was charged with smuggling and has cooperated with investigators."

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Wichita Man Sentenced for Selling Cocaine - The Kansas CW |

Wichita Man Sentenced for Selling Cocaine - The Kansas CW |: "Tyrone Andrews pleaded guilty to one county of conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, 64 counts of using a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking, and 19 counts of distributing cocaine.
In his plea, he admitted that from 2001 until he was arrested in September of 2007, he made his living buying cocaine and re-selling it in the Wichita area."

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