Results for: Drug Trafficking

Calgary police have charged eight people with 64 criminal offenses related to drug trafficking, possession of weapons, and the proceeds of crime. The operation, which ran from April 16 to April 25, was launched in response to an increase in localized overdoses and behavior consistent with drug trafficking at CTrain stations in northwest Calgary. Police said they partnered with investigative units and Calgary Transit peace officers to address the ongoing safety concerns and disrupt drug trafficking.

Officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Treasury Department have raised concerns about the escalating threat of Chinese money laundering operations that are aiding Mexican drug cartels to finance illicit activities, including the trafficking of deadly opioids like fentanyl.

Roorkee taluka in Uttarakhand has emerged as a major source of heroin distribution across India, with Mumbai serving as a significant hotspot. The Mumbai Anti Narcotics Cell has apprehended over seven individuals linked to drug-related activities from this region in the past two years, including a recent seizure of 3.1 kilograms of heroin worth Rs 1.25 crore. The accused, who hail from the Haridwar district, are believed to have been involved in this illegal activity for several years, with their operations extending to Shukrunda Village in Uttarakhand.

Habys Omar Meran, a 38-year-old Dominican Republic native, was sentenced to 6 1/2 years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy. In January 2016, Meran was found with over $2 million worth of heroin hidden in his van during a traffic stop in Pennsylvania. He and his passenger, Juan Wilquin Hernandez-Bourdier, were charged with various drug-related offenses. Hernandez-Bourdier was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2018. Meran, however, managed to flee the country before his trial but was eventually arrested in the Dominican Republic in 2023 and extradited back to the United States. The investigation and extradition involved the U.S. Marshals Service, the Department of Homeland Security, state police, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The Punnichy RCMP conducted two separate drug trafficking investigations, resulting in the seizure of significant quantities of drugs, weapons, and cash. In the first incident, police received a report of potentially armed individuals in a vehicle on the George Gordon First Nation. Officers located the vehicle and seized approximately 14 grams of methamphetamine, four grams of fentanyl, a machete, drug trafficking paraphernalia, and a sum of cash. Two men and a woman were arrested. In the second incident, RCMP executed a search warrant at a residence in Punnichy, seizing approximately 114 grams of methamphetamine, 25 grams of cocaine, 17 grams of fentanyl, over 100 grams of cannabis, drug trafficking paraphernalia, a crossbow, a throwing star, numerous knives, and a sum of cash. Two individuals were arrested.

Karim Bouyakhrichan, one of Europe’s most wanted criminals and alleged leader of the Mocro Maffia, was inadvertently released from a Spanish prison owing to a judicial mix-up. After a five-year money laundering investigation, Bouyakhrichan was detained by police in January. Despite a request from the Dutch government, the 46-year-old known as “Taxi” was released due to confusion and has since vanished. The Mocro Maffia is one of Europe’s largest cocaine trafficking syndicates, thought to have smuggled billions of euros worth of drugs in the last 15 years. They are also accused of money laundering operations across Europe, the Middle East, and Morocco. Authorities arrested Bouyakhrichan and five other individuals, accusing him of purchasing 172 properties in Spain worth over €50 million ($53.4 million). Although the Dutch authorities requested Bouyakhrichan’s extradition to face drug trafficking charges, the Málaga court denied it, claiming jurisdiction over his arrest location. They maintained that he must first face money laundering charges in Spain. Bouyakhrichan’s release has prompted concern and efforts to apprehend him for his alleged involvement in a drug war that has claimed numerous lives across Europe and North Africa.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Mumbai has successfully busted an international drug conspiracy, resulting in the seizure of a substantial quantity of MDMA (ecstasy) and the arrest of an African national.

Customs officials intercepted a passenger from Jaipur, Rajasthan, who arrived from Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday. Upon inspection, they discovered a hidden cache containing one kilogram of cocaine, with an estimated street value of Rs 10 crore. The substance was confirmed to be cocaine through chemical analysis. The passenger, Bharat Vasita, was detained for questioning and later remanded in judicial custody. Preliminary investigations suggest the drugs were sourced from Africa and were intended for distribution in Delhi. The investigation is ongoing to determine the possible involvement of an international drug racket.

In a major drug raid last week, Swedish customs officials seized around 1.4 tons of cocaine at the port of Nynashamn, marking one of the largest busts in the country’s history. This significant haul places Sweden among countries experiencing an increase in drug trafficking activities. The confiscated cocaine, believed to be destined for distribution across Europe, highlights the growing involvement of criminal networks in the legitimate business sector.

Antony Abreu, a convicted drug trafficker, has been found guilty of the 2019 murder of Xin “Chris” Gu in Queens. Abreu acted as a paid assassin for Gu’s former boss, Qing Ming “Allen” Yu, who ordered the hit after Gu quit his company and took clients with him. Abreu was recruited by accomplice Zhe Zhang to carry out the killing for a payment of a Richard Mille wristwatch worth over $100,000. Abreu faces mandatory life in prison when sentenced. The verdict was the result of a week-and-a-half long trial, during which Abreu testified in his own defense. The jury deliberated for several days before reaching a guilty verdict.