Borders and Trafficking News
Archived News Stories
September 16, 2017 Eleven Charged in Multi-county Drug Trafficking Bust
Eleven Ohioans were arrested as a result of a multi-county drug bust in five central and southeast counties, authorized by the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission. The bust focused on the possession, distribution and transportation of large quantities of prescription pills and cocaine. The arrests took place as a result of search warrants executed in Athens, Franklin, Morgan, Muskingam and Washington Counties. Additional arrests are expected.
October 16, 2016 U.S. Watches Mexico, as Traffickers Slip In From Canada
The New York Times reports from Alburgh, Vermont about the other U.S. border from which illicit drugs reach addicts. Less arrests, less confiscation, and easier to cross. Compared to 3,000 apprehensions along our 5,500 mile nothern border, 100 times as many apprehensions were made along our 2,000 mile Southwestern border.
In January, Border Patrol agents arrestred Cedrik Bourgault Morin, 22, a Canadian from Quebec near the bord of North Troy, Vermont. He was pulling a sleigh with a 182 pound duffel bag full of Xanax, with a street value of $1.6 million. He was wearing white camouflage, trying to hide the bag in the snow when he was caught. He was sentenced in August to one year in prison.
November 30, 2011 DEA discovers another Smuggling Tunnel from Mexico
"Agencies with the San Diego Tunnel Task Force announced the arrest of six suspects and a record 32-ton marijuana seizure Wednesday in connection with the discovery of the most elaborate smuggling tunnel uncovered along the U.S.-Mexico border in recent years.
Investigators say the passageway found Tuesday following a six-month investigation by the multi-agency Task Force connects a warehouse in San Diego’s Otay Mesa industrial park with one in neighboring Tijuana, Mexico. The 612-yard long passageway is equipped with electric rail cars, lighting, reinforced walls and wooden floors." DEA.gov
October 30, 2010 Russians Join American Troops in Afghanistan Drug Raid
A joint raid to control heroin cultivation in the war-torn country of Afghanistan has created a new alliance between our nations.
Russia's head of Federal Service for Narcotics Control, Viktor Ivanov reported four laboratories were found and destroyed- three for heroin, one for morphine.
Trafficking from Afghanistan has inflamed a major heroin problem in Russia, and Ivanov has criticized US war strategy there, urging more aggressive eradication of poppy fields.
Ivanov further stated that his colleagues in the European Union also realize that their own problem with heroin has grown worse. According to his data, 10,000 EU citizens die from opiates every year.
Afghanistan produces about 90% of the world's opium that is used to make heroin.
April 27, 2009 Hollowed-out Books Used to Smuggle Heroin
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 17 pounds of heroin from shipments passing through the Wilmington, Ohio DHL hub on April 17 and 22nd. Worth $1 million dollars, the heroin was hidden inside hollowed-out books. The drugs were on their way from Tehran to Toronto. Customs spokesperson Brett Sturgeon said the books were seized from four separate shipments. Authorities have made no arrests in the case.
September 23, 2008 Legos "build" Cocaine Empire - It's a snap!
The DEA arrested 9 people in the Bronx and Manhattan after finding cocaine smuggled in children's Lego and K'nex toys. The ring used the US Postal Service to ship the cocaine-filled toys from Puerto Rico. After the investigation, charges of money laundering and possession of weapons were added. Recovered were 4 kilograms of cocaine (8.8 pounds)$86,400 and four (4) handguns.
November 30, 2008 Bloody Border Hurts Sister Cities
Sister cities Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Mexico residents have changed their ways. Arizona residents are refusing to head south. Friends and relatives must cross north for a visit.
American residents fear the rising violence from drug-trafficking organizations. Gun battles occur on public streets in broad daylight. Even Sonora's state police director was ambushed in Nogales this month.
In mid-October, the U.S. State department posted a travel alert warning citizens to be very wary of travelling south to Nogales, Mexico due to the increasing violence.
January 13, 2009 "Sudden Collapse" possible in Mexico
According to the El Paso Times, the US Joint Forces Command reported that Mexico is one of two countries that "bear consideration for a rapid and sudden collapse," due to internal security problems. The other country is Pakistan.
Mexico's internal security problems are primarily the result of drug violence and drug corruption. The report states, "The Mexican possibility may seem less likely, but the government, its politicians, police and judicial infrastructure are all under sustained assault and press by criminal gangs and drug cartels."
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