Drug Seizures from Saturday August 6th – Friday August 12th 2011
(Some attacks that fall outside the range of this sweep are included because they were part of a Journal or diary and weren’t put out until this week. )
Summery
August 4, 2011
Zulia Lara border, Venezuela: Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) seized 30 packages of cocaine weighing about 31.3 kg near the Zulia Lara border. Intelligence reports indicate that the cocaine was bound for Valles del Tuy, Miranda State and was seized from a secret compartment in a car at the Jacinto Lara toll station. The drug is said to have originated in Colombia and its ultimate destination was to have been the Caribbean islands for onward carriage elsewhere.
August 5, 2011
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Police arrested Lucio Mauro Carneiro dos Passos (aka Biscoito) described as one of the most dangerous drug lords in the Mangueira Hill area in the days preceding the installation of a Peacekeeping Police Unit (UPP) in the community. Passos was caught at his home in the Jacarezinho shantytown on the north side of Rio de Janeiro with four pistols, four sub-machine guns, ammunition, and 1 kg of cocaine.
Barra do Garcas, Brazil: Federal Police (PF) arrested an unidentified driver on Federal Highway BR-158 in Barra do Garcas, Mato Grosso, near the state's border with Goias, and seized 140 kg of marijuana. The narcotic was in an unspecified vehicle the suspect was driving.
August 6, 2011
Thailand/Malaysian Border: In a joint Thai-Malaysian drug suppression operation based on information from the interrogation of a prisoner. ONCB officials and Region 9 and border patrol police arrested 2 suspects, both from Narathiwat province, and seized 432,000 methamphetamine pills which were bound for Malaysia from them at Soi 5/1 on Thesapattana road in Hat Yai district of Songkhla province on Saturday.The drugs were destined for Malaysia. At about the same time, Malaysian police arrested nine suspects, including a major Malaysian drug trader known only as Bob, and seized 16kg of crystal methamphetamine, 22kg of heroin, and 2,000 speed pills
Bangkok, Thailand: 27-year-old Guinea national was arrested with 2,500 grammes of ice hidden in his suitcase at the Suvarnabhumi airport.
Bangkok, Thailand: Two Laotians were arrested with 2,000 speed pills at Mor Chit bus terminal.
Nakhon Sawan, Thailand: police arrested Phanom Kidsanong, 37, with an amount of marijuana at the Phayuha Khiri checkpoint.
Baja California, Mexico: military personnel searched buildings in San Antonio de los Buenos, and Tijuana,. They arrested three people and seized 5.81 metric tons of marijuana; a small arm; $4,900; and five vehicles.
Mexicali, Mexico: Authorities responded to a citizen report of illegal activity at a home in the 27 de septiembre neighborhood where they seized 1.58 metric tons of marijuana and two vehicles.
Rosarito, Mexico: Authorites conducting air recognizance in the Playas de Rosarito municipality located and incinerated marijuana crops spanning over 1 hectare, 450 meters squared.
Ras Al Khaimah, U.A.E. : Law enforcement officials seized around 1,000 narcotic pills that were hidden in a bottle of mineral water from a driver entering the country from Oman through the checkpoint of Ras Al Khaimah. According to law enforcement officials, the anti-narcotics department received confidential information about a GCC national intending to smuggle narcotics into the country.
Lukeville, Arizona: CBP agents operating a mobile surveillance system near Lukeville saw a vehicle acting suspiciously on State Route 85. A search of the truck revealed 134 bundles of marijuana, weighing about 2,960 pounds. Agents seized the truck and turned the narcotics over to the Drug Enforcement Agency. The suspects from the vehicle fled southward toward Mexico
California, USA:“Operation Full Court Press” a month long series of raids that targeted illegal farming operations in the heavily wooded mountain areas in Glenn, Colusa, Tehama, Mendocino, Lake and Trinity counties was concluded on Saturday August 6th. The operation resulted in the reported seizure of 632,058 marijuana plants, 1,986 pounds of processed marijuana, $28,031 of U.S. currency, 38 weapons, 20 vehicles and the arrest of 132 individuals, according to the latest figures from the state Department of Justice. Authorities would not comment on whether or not any of the suspects have links to the cartels.
Tijuana, Mexico :Soldiers raided three residences located on Padre Hidalgo Avenue and Los Altos Street in La Gloria neighborhood and on Fundadores Boulevard in the El Rubí neighborhood seizing 5.8 tons of marijuana, a pistol, 4 vehicles and nearly $5000.
Mexicali, Mexico: soldiers responded to an anonymous citizen's tip regarding drugs being stored at a residence located in the 27 de September neighborhood. Once at the location, soldiers seized 159 packages of marijuana weighing 1.5 metric tons and 2 vehicles
Playas de Rosarito, Mexico:soldiers discovered a marijuana field that measured 450 square meters while conducing aerial and land reconnaissance in Playas de Rosarito, Baja California.
San Jose, Guatemala: authorities seized 3,000 barrels of chemical precursors from behind a gas station located on 8th Avenue in Zone 3 of San José Pinula. These barrels were being stored within four vehicles, two of which were reported as having Mexican license plates.
Tecate, Mexico: Soldiers seized 1.2 metric tons of marijuana from the interior of an abandoned vehicle that was located near El Centinela mountains.
Baja California, Mexico: Soldiers discovered eight marijuana fields that covered 4,722 square meters while conducting operations approximately 20 kilometers south of Tijuana.
Ensenada, Mexico: Soldiers located and destroyed two marijuana fields that covered 9,200 square meters
New Delhi, India : The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) announced that they had arrested 2 Afghanis and 4 Nigerians and seized 10.65 kg of high grade heroine. A series of interrogations revealed that the Afghanis were supplying the heroin in bulk, which was moved through Pakistan and across the border with India via land and air routes, where they often bribed passengers to carry the drugs with them when they come to India for medical treatment. From India, the heroin was smuggled to Canada, the US and Europe by the Nigerians.
Turkey: Turkish police uncovered a drug trafficking gang after surveilling local street dealers for seven months.Police then launched an operations against their operations in Ankara, Gaziantep, Mardin, Batman, Antalya, Diyarbakir and Sanliurfa; seizing 202.8 kilograms of hashish in the process.
Sinaloa, Mexico: Military personnel assigned to the 9th Military Zone conducted land recognizance in the Saca de Agua town, in the Badiraguato municipality. They seized one of the largest quantities of opium ever seized by Sedena: 200.3 kg of a dark liquid with a penetrating smell of opium; 99.86 kg of opium gum in a semi-solid paste; 7.9 kg of opium gum in a solid paste; 21.1 kg of heroin; 5.8 kg of carbonate (used to make heroin); 637.9 kg of marijuana; 22 kg of marijuana seeds; and 1.2 kg of poppy seeds. This seizure represents a considerable blow to organized crime, costing them 209,070,580 Mexican pesos in market value ($16,736,258.99)
August 7, 2011
Madanpur, India: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 2,075 kg of ganja Sunday night. The seizure occurred 25 km away from Aurangabad town, on the Grand Trunk road. The DRI officials said that ganja is mainly smuggled from north-eastern states, including Nagaland and Manipur to West Bengal where the narcotics are stored. After making sure that there is no police or customs activity, the narcotics handlers transport it to different destinations in Bihar and UP. The DRI officials said that this gang was mainly transporting ganja to Aurangabad, Varanasi and Burdwan.
Helmand Province, Afghanistan: Afghan and coalition forces destroyed close to 900 kg (2,000 pounds) of narcotics during operations in Helmand province Sunday. The combined forces identified a vehicle which has been known to be associated with a narcotics processing facility, observed two men dismount the vehicle and begin to unload a significant amount of narcotics, and initiated an operation that resulted in arrest of both men and the destruction of 600 kg of hashish and approximately 290 kg of opium, as well as an AK-47.
Tijuana, Mexico: A tractor-trailer containing 2 tons of marijuana was seized as it was preparing to cross through the Otay Mesa P.O.E. The bust occurred after an anonymous tip led soldiers to inspect the trailer, where they found the marijuana hidden inside a produce shipment.
Nimroz province, Afghanistan: A combined Afghan and coalition vehicle interdiction operation seized and destroyed a drug cache in Khash Rod district, Nimroz province, The operation seized 353 pounds of opium, as well as 88 pounds of precursor chemicals and drug making equipment.
Nangahar province, Afghanistan:A combined Afghan and coalition patrol seized and destroyed drug and weapons cache during an operation in Achin district, Nangahar province. The operation seized 331 pounds of opium, small arms ammunition and explosive components.
Tijuana, Mexico: Authorities responded to a citizen's tip that led to the arrests of four alleged La Familia Michoacana operators in the Azteca neighborhood. 6.3 kilograms of crystal meth and 3.2 kilograms of cocaine were seized during the arrests.
Tehran, Iran: In their biggest bust to date, Iranian authorities seized 26 kilograms of heroin, 140 kilograms of crack, 214 kilograms of opium, four Kalashnikov rifles, one Colt rifle and seven vehicles.According to the head of Iran's anti-drug police, the smugglers “..transported heroin from south of Sistan through the mountains via minor roads to Tehran, distributing a part of it in the capital and sending the remainder on to Orumiyeh".
Quezon City, Philippines: Two cousins who claimed that they were fishermen from Samar province were arrested by anti-narcotics operatives of the Quezon City Police District at around 6:00 Monday night for carrying at least 1 kg of cocaine in a backpack. It is speculated that the seized contraband could be part of a shipment of cocaine dumped by drug dealers in the waters off Samar in 2009.The police had received information about a drug deal that was to take place between Timog and Tomas Morato, and conducted stakeout in the area, which culminated in the arrest of the cousins.
Nimroz District, Afghanistan: The counter-narcotics police seized 159 kg of opium, killed three drug smugglers and captured three others in the Khanjak area of Khashrod.
Farah Province, Afghanistan - 160 kg of opium and eight kg of heroin were discovered and seized
Nangarhar, Afghanistan - The statement says 100 kg of opium, 50 kg of morphine, one kilo of heroin and 5,000 kg of opium seed were seized in Ghani Khel District.
Parwan Province, Afghanistan - The police recovered 69 kg of hashish in a Corolla car and detained a person in connection with it in the Sakarga area of the Salang District.
Fariab Province, Afghanistan - 50 kg of opium was seized in Dawlatabad District.
Farah Province, Afghanistan - National security officials discovered and seized 52 kg of narcotics in a vehicle in the Anardara District. He added that two people were also arrested with two weapons in connection with it and are being interrogated.
Sao Paulo Hinterland, Brazil: Military Highway Police (BPRv) intercepted a truck with Altonia, Parana, license plates, at kilometer 644 of State Highway SP-294 in the Sao Paulo hinterland, arrested a suspect and seized 990 kg of marijuana hidden under the vehicle's false flooring. The truck was loaded in Deodapolis, Mato Grosso do Sul and was bound for Sorocaba, Sao Paulo.
Brazilian Amazon: Civil Police (PC) arrested five unidentified persons and seized close to 206 kg of marijuana on board a boat sailing on the Amazonas River. The narcotics came from Cuiaba, Mato Grosso, and Porto Velho, Rondonia. The PC also seized nine cell phones.
Cabrobo, Pernambuco Brazil: Police arrested a suspect and incinerated a crop of over 14,000 marijuana plants that he was growing. The marijuana farmer was stealing water from a local reservoir to irrigate his illegal crop.
August 8, 2011
Sweida, Syria: Security and Customs' authorities foiled a huge smuggling operation that sought to bring nearly 2 million narcotic Captagon tablets, of 300 KG weight, to Syria through the Jordanian-Syrian border. Authorties also seized the transport vehicle and a number of guns.
Candelaria, Columbia: A cocaine laboratory was seized by agents of the Special Task Force to Combat Narcotraffic (FELCN) in the early hours morning hours. The 11-room complex was estimated to have been operational for 2 months, and have had the capacity to produce 400 kg of cocaine per week.
Bukit Aman, Malaysia: 10 people were arrested by the Bukit Aman police for their involvement in an international drug syndicate with suspected links with the Thai underworld. The police suspect the syndicate had been operating for 10 months, smuggling drugs hidden inside modified back seat compartments of vehicles when travelling via the Bukit Kayu Hitam immigration and customs quarantine complex (ICQ). In a joint operation between Thai and Malaysian law enforcement, the two forces mounted a roadblock at the 1.3km stretch along the north-south expressway near Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQ and Sungai Petani South toll exit, as well as raids on two houses in Taman Berlian and Sungai Kob, Kulim. The operation resulted in the seizure of 88 slabs of heroin worth RM3.08 million, 16.1kg of syabu (RM3.22 million), a kilogramme of heroin (RM26,400), 30kg of ganja (RM60,000) and 1,999 WY pills worth RM59,970. Six Mercedes Benz cars and a Perodua Kenari were also seized
Esfahan Province, Iran :Iranian Police Seize 35 Kg Opium in Esfahan Province
Khujand, Tajikistan: Tajikistan’s Drug Control Agency announced the seizure of over 31.4 kilograms of heroin and the arrest of 3 men, including a Kunjand airport official. An investigation revealed that the suspects had met earlier in Moscow, where they entered into a criminal conspiracy with the aim to smuggle drugs to the Russian Federation. The seized heroine was about to be flown to a Russian city
The Judicial and Investigative Police Directorate (Di jin) and Interpol agents in Santa Marta (Magdalena) and Uribia (La Guajira) have arrested two key leaders of the Alta Guajira gang. Investigations show that alias Cobra was in charge of storing, transporting, and shipping narcotics to the United States through the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica and that alias Pantera was in charge of narcotics until they set sail. Authorities seized eight rifles, 12 IM-22 fragmentation grenades, seven 60 mm mortars, 4,807 cartridges, 162 magazines of ammunition, and 3.2 tons of marijuana.
Atlantico, Columbia - Authorities at the Ernesto Cortissoz Airport have arrested Dominican citizen Carlos Antonio Ramirez Ogando, 36, with 10.9 kg of heroin worth about $16,713
Valle del Cauca, Columbia: The Cali Metropolitan Police Department responded to information that resulted in the seizure of 795 kg of marijuana (worth about $310,306) from a truck on the road between Yumbo and Vijes in Valle del Cauca Department en route to Cartagena.
Giron Columbia - Information provided by an informer made it possible for the authorities to seize 30 kg of marijuana.
Caranavi, La Paz, Bolivia - Counternarcotics officers have destroyed three cocaine laboratories. Authorities have seized 270 tons of marijuana in the last two months in the region.
La Libertad, Columbia - Authorities Seize 45 Kg of Marijuana
Ayacucho, Columbia- authorities have seized 9 kg of coca paste from a bus traveling from Huamanga-La Mar in Ayacuco Region.
Istanbul, Turkey -Turkish Police arrest 3 people and seize 153.6 Kg
Sistan, Iran -The police seized 26 kilograms of heroin, 140 kilograms of crack, 214 kilograms of opium, four Kalashnikov rifles, one Colt rifle and seven vehicles that were en route to Tehran and eventually Orumiyeh
Sinaloa, Mexico - Army personnel detected a clandestine heroin laboratory in the Emiliano Zapata town, in the Elota municipality. They seized 25 kg of opium gum; 1 kg of heroin; two long arms; 114 cartridges; and two metallic presses.
Opodepe, Sonora, Mexico: Military personnel assigned to the 4th Military Zone and working at the Querobabi checkpoint searched a tractor trailer and seized 47 kg of methamphetamines (crystal); 4.5 kg of cocaine; and 3.5 kg of opium gum. The driver of the vehicle was arrested.
Rosslare Harbor, Ireland:Officers from Revenue's Customs Service, on (08/08/2011), seized 7.5kg of herbal cannabis with a street value of €90,000, 1.38kg of amphetamine tablets, with a street value of €20,700 and a quantity of cocaine with a street value of €28,000. The drugs were concealed in a vehicle disembarking a ferry from France.
August 9, 2011
Nangrahar Province, Afghanistan - Kabul (BIA) Afghan police and coalition forces on a joint security mission in outskirts of Ghanikhil district. of Nangrahar discovered and seized 50 Kg morphine, 1Kg heroine, 100 Kg cocaine, 5000 Kg poppy seeds, 1 AK-47 rifle, 1 binoculars, 1 hand grenade, 20m electricity cable, 4 explosive fuse and other military munitions.
Vladikavkaz, Russia: A 22-year-old supplier of marijuana and spice (synthetic THC) was detained in North Ossetia in the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania on 9 August. The drug dealer ordered spice from St Petersburg on the Internet. He also ordered seeds of high quality hemp, which he intended to cultivate. Twenty-five parcels of spice and hemp seeds worth about 10,000 dollars were confiscated in a special operation at one of the post offices in Vladikavkaz. Marijuana was found during the search of his office.
Yarumal, Columbia: During Operation "Republica 317" the authorities in Yarumal in Antioquia Department destroyed a cocaine laboratory allegedly belonging to Los Urabenos gang with the capacity to produce 280 kg of cocaine on a monthly basis. During the operation the authorities eradicated 3 hectares of coca crops.
Laz Paz, Chile: Authorities in Chile have arrested 21 Bolivians charged with drug trafficking with alleged ties to drug traffickers operating from La Paz. During operations the authorities seized 72 kg of coca paste, 3 kg of cocaine hydrochloride, and 68 kg marijuana from Bolivia.
Huanuco Region , Peru: Authorities in Monzon District in Huamalies Province in Huanuco Region have destroyed two cocaine laboratories allegedly belonging to drug traffickers alias Hector, alias Grober, alias Alberto, and alias Negro. the authorities also seized 1 ton of sulfuric acid.
Brazilian/ Peruvian Boarder:a group of Peruvian drug traffickers allegedly attacked Brazilian indigenous persons near the border. The authorities discovered a bag with 20 kg of cocaine allegedly belonging to a drug trafficker.