B Atlantic captain Volodymyr Ustymenko and second officer Yuriy Datchenko have been detained in Venezuela since the August 2007 discovery of cocaine on the bulker’s hull in Lake Maracaibo. Attorney Aurelio Fernandez of Clyde & Co – who represented the owner in the case and has knowledge of the criminal proceedings – confirmed to Fairplay that the officers have now been sentenced.
Asserting their innocence, Fernandez called the convictions “purely political” and added that “in any other country in the world they would have been acquitted”.
Fernandez said the latest two convictions follow eight-year sentences for two Greek officers of the tanker Astro Saturn. Cocaine was found attached to the Astro Saturn in Puerto La Cruz in November 2008.
Venezuela continues to detain vessels used by drug smugglers. The tanker Aqua has been detained in Lake Maracaibo since February, and the Chinese bulker Jin Yao was arrested this month.
“Any owner that travels to Lake Maracaibo or Venezuela in general, and has the bad luck to have one of these criminal organisations attach a drug device underwater, is at risk of losing the vessel and crew,” warned Fernandez.
“We have to convince the Venezuelan government that the situation has to be reversed, or else we’ll have 10 vessels laid up in Lake Maracaibo and owners won’t want to travel to Venezuela,” he said
Wednesday, August 25
Saturday, August 14
Journal Online | Death awaits drug mules
Journal Online | Death awaits drug mules: "THE Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou again reminded Filipinos of stiffer penalties for foreign nationals convicted of drug-related offenses in China.
The Intermediate People’s Court of Guangzhou recently sentenced to death a Chinese-French citizen for manufacturing, transporting and dealing large amounts of shabu. The suspect is a member of the eight-man drug ring operating in Guangdong and Henan province.
Another member, a Chinese national, was sentenced to death. Two others were meted out the same sentence, but given a two-year reprieve.
Three others were sentenced to life imprisonment while another member was meted out a 20-year jail term.
Five foreign nationals — four Japanese and a British – were executed for smuggling illegal drugs into China.
Drug syndicates resort to offering high-paying jobs in China to recruit “drug mules” or drug couriers. Payment can range from $500 to $2000, depending on the amount of drugs involved. The most common job offer is to bring into or out of China some goods where drugs are hidden.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban B. Conejos said there is a continuing trend of Filipinos being arrested for carrying drugs even as he warned of stiff penalties."
The Intermediate People’s Court of Guangzhou recently sentenced to death a Chinese-French citizen for manufacturing, transporting and dealing large amounts of shabu. The suspect is a member of the eight-man drug ring operating in Guangdong and Henan province.
Another member, a Chinese national, was sentenced to death. Two others were meted out the same sentence, but given a two-year reprieve.
Three others were sentenced to life imprisonment while another member was meted out a 20-year jail term.
Five foreign nationals — four Japanese and a British – were executed for smuggling illegal drugs into China.
Drug syndicates resort to offering high-paying jobs in China to recruit “drug mules” or drug couriers. Payment can range from $500 to $2000, depending on the amount of drugs involved. The most common job offer is to bring into or out of China some goods where drugs are hidden.
Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban B. Conejos said there is a continuing trend of Filipinos being arrested for carrying drugs even as he warned of stiff penalties."
Drug ring busted - CNA ENGLISH NEWS
Drug ring busted - CNA ENGLISH NEWS: "Police said they arrested the mastermind of the ring, a 64-year-old surnamed Yang, along with four of his subordinates, in the departure lounge at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport the previous afternoon, as well as three drug mules, including a 29-year-old disabled woman.
Police also seized 559.5 grams of amphetamine the mules had hidden inside their body cavities.
Yang had previously been sentenced to 15 years in prison for heroin smuggling by Taipei Shihlin District Court in 2007, police said. However, he fled into a mountainous area in Shihting, Taipei County, and was put on the wanted list."
Police also seized 559.5 grams of amphetamine the mules had hidden inside their body cavities.
Yang had previously been sentenced to 15 years in prison for heroin smuggling by Taipei Shihlin District Court in 2007, police said. However, he fled into a mountainous area in Shihting, Taipei County, and was put on the wanted list."
Bali nine pair admit guilt in bid to avoid firing squad
Bali nine pair admit guilt in bid to avoid firing squad: "Sydneysiders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran have, for the first time, admitted their role in the Bali nine heroin smuggling syndicate, but asked to be handed a 20-year prison term as they launch their final judicial appeals to avoid the firing squad.
The admission of guilt, contained in documents submitted to a Denpasar court today, follows repeated pleas of not guilty at three previous trials.
The two were arrested with seven other Australians in 2005 for trying to smuggle eight kilograms of heroin from Bali to Australia"
The admission of guilt, contained in documents submitted to a Denpasar court today, follows repeated pleas of not guilty at three previous trials.
The two were arrested with seven other Australians in 2005 for trying to smuggle eight kilograms of heroin from Bali to Australia"
Deputies: Cocaine in baby's diaper bag lands couple in jail » Marco Eagle
Deputies: Cocaine in baby's diaper bag lands couple in jail » Marco Eagle: "Britney Daniel Andrews, 21, of the 2400 block of Ted Avenue, Lehigh Acres, was charged with possession of cocaine, tampering with evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia. She posted $4,000 in bonds and was released from Lee County Jail.
The driver of the car, Jerry Coleman, 21, of the same address, was charged with possession of cocaine. He posted $1,500 bond and was released.
According to Lee County Sheriff’s Office reports:"
The driver of the car, Jerry Coleman, 21, of the same address, was charged with possession of cocaine. He posted $1,500 bond and was released.
According to Lee County Sheriff’s Office reports:"
Border agents cut short cocaine-trafficking trip across border | kvue.com | KVUE Texas News | State headlines
Border agents cut short cocaine-trafficking trip across border | kvue.com | KVUE Texas News | State headlines: "She attempted to cross the bridge from Mexico to Eagle Pass, but one woman did not get very far.
The 42 year old female is behind bars in Eagle Pass after Border agents discovered cocaine inside her truck.
On Tuesday, custom agents discovered 82 pounds of cocaine in the truck's gas tank. The estimated value is set at $2.7 million.
That's the largest cocaine bust for border agents in Eagle Pass."
The 42 year old female is behind bars in Eagle Pass after Border agents discovered cocaine inside her truck.
On Tuesday, custom agents discovered 82 pounds of cocaine in the truck's gas tank. The estimated value is set at $2.7 million.
That's the largest cocaine bust for border agents in Eagle Pass."
Police: Woman Includes Cocaine In Bank Deposit - Courant.com
Police: Woman Includes Cocaine In Bank Deposit - Courant.com: "Contained in Kendl Murphy's deposit envelope was a small bag containing a white powder, police said. While a teller handled Murphy's transaction, other bank staff called police.
Responding officers used a chemical field test and the powder tested positive for cocaine, said Sgt. Scott Custer."
Responding officers used a chemical field test and the powder tested positive for cocaine, said Sgt. Scott Custer."
Senior housing resident accused of selling drugs - Times Union
Senior housing resident accused of selling drugs - Times Union: "Kermit B. Williams was arrested Wednesday after city police and sheriff's investigators staked out Williams' comings and goings at the South Mall Towers, said Inspector John F. Burke, of the Albany County Sheriff's Office.
Investigators had received complaints that people were coming and going from Williams' apartment at all hours and that sometimes he'd meet his customers outside, Burke said.
When the tipsters told investigators Williams' name, alarm bells went off in the sheriff's drug unit, Burke said."
Investigators had received complaints that people were coming and going from Williams' apartment at all hours and that sometimes he'd meet his customers outside, Burke said.
When the tipsters told investigators Williams' name, alarm bells went off in the sheriff's drug unit, Burke said."