- Cocaine
- , Drug Rings
- , SOCA
- , UK
Cocaine Market in a Shift; Prices Climb
May 13th, 2009 by Rick
According to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA), the cocaine market has been shifting and bulk prices have risen on an international scale, due to successful operations and undercover work. Although prices on the street have relatively remained the same, the price per kilo of cocaine has gone up several thousand Euros in the past year.
New data collected by the Forensic Science Service, reveals that the purity level of the cocaine that has been seized is less than 9% pure. Drug rings are diluting the cocaine powder with chemical cutting agents like; phenacetin (which causes cancer), cockroach insecticide and pet worming powder in order to compensate for the price increase.
SOCA has been testing every seizure of cocaine for the impurities as part of Project Endorse. With this technology, SOCA was able to link 170 different seizures together that would have otherwise been left undetected. Although the chemicals used to cut the cocaine are legal, SOCA has put a bullseye on the importers and have even sent some warning letters to ones that are suspected in supplying drug rings.
Weekend Roundup: Drug Related Arrests
May 11th, 2009 by Rick
- 34-year-old, Joshua Lee Colvin of Kansas City, MO, was arrested and charged with possession and intent to distribute, after he accepted a package from California containing fourteen pounds of marijuana.
- 21-year-old Jervious O. Robinson and 22-year-old Antwoine M. Gilchrist of Fort Pierce, IN, were arrested and charged with felony drug charges when an undercover operation uncovered 70 small bags of pot in their home.
- 20-year-old, Cornell L. Benison from Canton, OH, was arrested and charged with endangering children, marijuana trafficking and possession when police found almost a dozen bags of pot and two infants in his motel room.
- 48-year-old, Ramon Pineda of Holyoke, MA, was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine and heroin with intent to distribute.
- A 37-year-old Afghan was sentenced to life, for his role in a major drug ring operating in Iran, Oman and the UAE.
Huge Indonesian Drug Busts
May 11th, 2009 by Rick
In the past few weeks, during Operation Metropermata 2009, police in Jakarta, Indonesia and several other regions, have seized a little over $14 billion dollars worth of drugs and raw materials used in making the drugs – including ammonia, methanol acetone and ephedrine, a key ingredient within crystal methamphetamine.
Police conducted a tour on Friday of a Depok Factory that had been raided, which alone had over 9.8 tons of raw material, enough to make 5 kilograms of Ecstasy and 15 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine per day. Apparently, if all the raw material from that factory had been used, 11.5 million Ecstasy pills and hundreds of kilograms of high-grade crystal methamphetamine would have been able to have been made.
National Police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said:
That’s enough to drug the whole population of Jakarta.
Via wikipedia:
population of 8,489,910
Damn. An increase of the amount of drugs discovered in Indonesia has risen since 2006 when only 466,000 recovered was reported. Last year, the Ministry’s report claims that 1,291,000 were recovered. Police are worried that Indonesia is not just a haven for drug dealers but now also a mass production site. Police claim that the drug ring in Indonesia began in January and allegedly had ties to Thailand and Hong Kong.
Fifteen suspects have been arrested, who had acted as distributors, suppliers and workers. Three suspects fled the country and are currently being sought after on an international scale.
Two Brothers Plead Guilty to Pot Distribution
May 7th, 2009 by Rick
Two brothers, Michael Danzi, 31, of Norwalk and Brian Danzi, 34, of Greenwich both pled guilty in a federal court on Tuesday, for their roles in a Canadian drug ring that netted $800,000 from the distribution of marijuana.
Brian Danzi admitted to actually distributing the marijuana for $4,000 a pound, while Michael Danzi was charged with conspiring to distribute marijuana — both carrying a sentence of a maximum of 20 years and a $1,000,000 fine. Michael Danzi also admitted to smuggling the cash out of the U.S., which carries a maximum of five years and up to $250,000 fine.
Michael Danzi’s sentencing is scheduled for June 23 and Brian Danzi’s sentencing is scheduled to be held on June 24.
- Arrests
- , Drug Rings
- , FBI
- , IRS
Tractor Traylor Charged with Aiding Drug Ring
December 13th, 2006 by Alex
When basketball players and cupcakes collide.
Things just aren’t going too well for basketball players these days. Robert ‘Tractor’ Traylor has been charged in association with a recently de-throned drug king.
Quasand Lewis, head of one of largest drug rings ever discovered in Michigan, was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Lewis’ drug cartel, which has shipped over 33 tons of weed to date, allowed him to compile millions of dollars in money and assets.
What’s gotten Tractor Traylor in trouble is letting Lewis fraudulently put choice assets under his name. Cars, property and other items were filed in Robert’s name, even though the items didn’t belong to him.
This doesn’t look good. Being Lewis’ cousin and all, I’m sure Tractor wanted to help the guy out, but associating with the head of a national drug ring is never a smart idea. At least on a business level.
Hopefully, Robert can cop a plea bargain and not have to spend any time behind bars, where cupcakes are much, much harder to get your hands on.
[via Detroit Free Press]
