Mississippi Drug Ring Busted by DEA
November 23rd, 2006 by Alex
In Mississippi, a large and extremely sophisticated drug ring has been busted by the DEA. Spanning from Mexico to Texas to Mississippi, Operation Central Hub made some concrete headway in linking Mexican cartels to legitimate, local business leaders in the Hattiesburg and Jackson areas.
So, what’s the score on this bust? Try $15 million in drugs and another $2.9 million in cash / assets. Not exactly the neighborhood dealer sellings grams to all the college kids. Every arrest was a result of nearly 2 years of coordinated work between multiple government agencies.
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Stephen Luzinski had this to say about the operation:
Operation Central Hub targeted and successfully dismantled one of the largest drug trafficking operations ever known to operate in the State of Mississippi. It was especially significant in that agents were able to successfully trace the movement of both drugs and money from the hands of high level Mississippi traffickers into the hands of some of Mexico’s most powerful drug traffickers.
Not bad at all. The drugs were trafficked using either 18-wheelers or specially converted gooseneck trailers (pictured above). The trailers have a custom hydraulics system that lowers and raises the trailer bed, revealing thousands of pounds of narcotics.
Multiple indictments were handed out as a result of the investigation - criminal forfeiture of drug related assets, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. In other words, an all included, paid vacation at the nearest federal prison is in many guys’ futures.
Genius Calls 911 After DEA Confiscates Stash
November 21st, 2006 by Alex
It’s a well known fact that marijuana use is the most freely tolerated in San Francisco and its surrounding areas. They have a liberal mayor and supportive government. Well, those things can only take you so far when the big, bad federal watchdogs are around.
This one is almost too funny to be true, but some unlucky son of a bitch in San Francisco got a seriously raw deal. Walking near the Philip Burton Federal Building around 1PM, a 20 year old, un-identified man was carrying his baby - a box filled with 1.5 pounds of herb and 12 ounces of hash - to the local marijuana co-op. His plan was to sell the greenage for $4,000 a pound and use it to fund a snowboarding trip to Tahoe. Unfortunately, he never got that far.
DEA agents, also near the federal building, were going to lunch when they smelled the un-mistakable stank of buddha. Seeing this man carrying a box with a well known hydroponics logo on it, they asked him to show its contents. Figuring this was San Francisco, and everyone smoked, he showed them the greenery. Big mistake. The DEA agents flashed their badges and confiscated his crop. It wasn’t enough marijuana to prosecute under federal law, but the government still considers it contraband, so it was taken anyway.
Most people would curse their luck and go home, but not this dude. He followed the DEA agents back to the federal building and tried to go in through the employee entrance. When he finally got the picture that he wasn’t getting his herb back, he called 911 and tried to convince the police to come out and get it back for him. Which, of course, they didn’t do.
Sucks to be that guy. But, maybe this has taught him to be a little more low-profile with his crop in the future.
[via ContraCostaTimes]
Pot + Candy = Crazy Delicious
November 10th, 2006 by AlexI don’t think it’s possible to be more lame and un-interesting than this DEA agent. If I was playing show and tell with all those scrumptious looking candy bars you can bet I’d be putting some more emotion behind my presentation.
Oh, and I’ll take 1 KeefKat to go.
Sheriff Arrested for Re-Selling Drugs & Ammo
November 2nd, 2006 by Alex
How to get the public to distrust it’s law enforcement officers - a tutorial by tFS:
First, make sure you are in a position that requires voters to elect you. Try and make it one that’s high up on the totem pole - like a sheriff for instance. Next, round up a gang of like minded individuals who are motivated to make the extra buck. You want some variety on this, really spread your troops around. I suggest a postal service employee, a probation officer, and then some regular Joes out on the street.
Next, start seizing and storing everything you can find - guns, drugs, steroids, - you name it. Here comes the critical part, use your position, its influence and your newly formed gang to re-sell everything you’ve confiscated back into the community. A great way to do this is by paying off a sheriff’s seargent to use his house as a distribution base.
What’s the last step? Enjoy the benefits for as long as possible, because eventually you’re going to get cornholed by the FBI and DEA in a massive raid that brings down everyone around you. Still, this is only hypothetical. Right?
[via Newsvine]
Can I Place an Order for Delivery?
November 1st, 2006 by Tim
Here’s some undated handout photo goodness, courtesy of the DEA. If only I had the phone number…
This undated handout photo supplied by Drug Enforcement Administration shows plastic boxes full of marijuana with an attached greeting from the Cartoon Network. In court papers, the DEA said its agents found “more than 30 pounds of marijuana, in open and plain view, and already packaged for retail holiday delivery to Cartoon Network customers.” -AP
DEA - Marijuana Threat Assessment 2006
September 13th, 2006 by Alex
Released earlier this month, the DEA’s ‘National Drug Threat Assessment 2006′ paints a realistic picture of how unsuccessful the War on Drugs really is. The official document - found here - makes 3 points extremely clear:
More marijuana is being grown each year
Marijuana is increasingly available to the public
The DEA’s marijuana campaign is completely ineffective
To top it off, it’s also been revealed that 98% of all domestically erradicated marijuana is actually ditch weed. That’s right - ditch weed. Weed that can’t be smoked, is worth absolutely nothing and grows naturally in the US. I just can’t see any situation where a taxpayer would be pleased with their governmental contributions going to this worthless cause.
When you look closer at the DEA’s data, some interesting trends start to surface:
Marijuana is by far the most highly used drug
Marijuana is primarily used by young adults (18-25 years old)
Marijuana is the most highly seized drug
Marijuana is not the highest in drug-related arrests (Cocaine is)
Marijuana’s THC content has been steadily on the rise since 1985
Seniors in high school love weed (33.6% worth actually)
Not exactly the most reassuring news if you’re a criminilization supporter, eh? It’s pretty obvious that the mind-set of the American public is shifting. Constant failure, millions (even billions) of dollars in waste and complete ineffectiveness should be convincing arguments for the cause of responsible legalization.
[via NORML]
DEA Fights Colorado Pot Legalization
August 28th, 2006 by Alex
The DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) is now inserting its large nose into Denver’s legalization movement. One agent in particular, a Mr. Michael Moore (not to be confused with the documentary director), has sent numerous emails to political campaign heads asking for support in the fight against Safer Colorado’s initiative. This should raise the alarm on multiple levels, especially the right of state legislations to create their own laws without interference from the federal goverment.
The emails being sent by DEA Agent Michael Moore state that he has $10,000 ready to start the anti-legalization campaign and that all interested parties should contact him at this DEA office. Now, Colorado law prohibits state employees from using state resources to advocate any political point of view. Unfortunately, the DEA is regulated by federal law, not state law. The feds are regulated by something called The Hatch Act. Passed in 1939 and amended in 1993, it is aimed at stopping partisan politics. In other words, it prevents the majority party in the goverment from using tax payer money against the opposing political party and its political movements.
What this means to the average Joe, is that the DEA is side-stepping this act, slipping through the cracks if you will, to oppose a law that will basically render their jobs impotent. Of course a a government agency that makes its livelihood our of tracking, arresting, and prosecuting drug offenders is going to fight the Colorado ballot initiative.
The federal government needs to respect the constitution and the ideologies that it was built upon. Unfairly influencing state level ballots is highly unethical and, as far as I’m concerned, dirty tactics in their War on Drugs.
Leading up to this vote, tFS is going to keep a close eye on the happenings in Colorado. Also, expect to see some more amusing information on the DEA. I’m sure native Coloradans can’t wait to see some “fair and unbiased” facts in DEA sponsored commercials. Riiiiight.
[via Newsvine]
