USA: Probe Into New Jersey Street Gang Ends With 71 Arrests
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Archives quotidiennes : 20 Mai 2015
USA (U.S. government had an arrangement with Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel): the DEA Struck A Deal With Mexico’s Most Notorious Drug Cartel
Here’s what DEA agent Manuel Castanon told the Chicago court:« On March 17, 2009, I met for approximately 30 minutes in a hotel room in Mexico City with Vincente Zambada-Niebla and two other individuals — DEA agent David Herrod and a cooperating source [Sinaloa lawyer Loya Castro] with whom I had worked since 2005. … I did all of the talking on behalf of [the] DEA. »
REUTERS/Daniel Aguilar « El Vicentillo » being presented to the media in Mexico City on March 19, 2009.
An investigation by El Universal found that between the years 2000 and 2012, the U.S. government had an arrangement with Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel that allowed the organization to smuggle billions of dollars of drugs while Sinaloa provided information on rival cartels.
Sinaloa, led by Joaquin « El Chapo » Guzman, supplies 80% of the drugs entering the Chicago area and has a presence in cities across the U.S.
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-us-government-and-the-sinaloa-cartel-2014-1#ixzz3ahAzdjNV
USA (Chicago): twin brothers may have smuggled more than 6 tons of cocaine into the US on the DEA’s watch
AP/Ted S. WarrenA cocaine seizure from Chicago in 2002, while the Flores brothers operated there.
From 1998 to 2008, twin brothers Pedro and Margarito Flores ran a nearly $2 billion drug ring that operated in Chicago and other major US cities. They were finally sent to prison in January of this year.
Toward the end of the operation, however, the DEA may have allowed the twins to keep trafficking their drugs, according to thousands of federal court records, police reports, and court testimony analyzed by Chicago Reader’s Jason McGahan in 2013.
While it might seem shocking that a government agency would let crimes continue, had the twins been arrested immediately, officials never would have nailed two even larger criminals.
On the other hand, it probably would have prevented tons of cocaine from entering US streets.
The twins’ organization grew in Chicago in the early 2000s and at some point began operating within the largest drug trafficking group in the world, the Sinaloa cartel.
Apparently fearing prison time, the Flores twins eventually surrendered themselves on Nov. 30, 2008. Even before that, however, they had teamed up with the DEA to give information on high-ranking Sinaloa leaders in hopes of obtaining more lenient sentences.
While the twins’ cooperation officially began in October 2008, the their lawyer initially made contact with the DEA in April 2008, according to court documents analyzed by McGahan. Between April and the time of their arrest, the brothers’ reportedly trafficked six to eight tons of cocaine into the US.
During his trial, for example, Jorge Llamas, a Chicago drug pusher for the Flores brothers, gave the following testimony under cross-examination:
Q: Let me ask you this: How many times did you pick up drugs or deliver drugs for the Flores brothers from April ’08 through December ’08?
A: Ooh. I don’t know.
Q: Lots of times?
A: Not as much, because … I wasn’t on the day-to-day. So it wasn’t as much as prior ’04.
Q: But it was still going strong, wasn’t it, from April ’08 to December of ’08?
A: Yeah.
The DEA withheld the exact details of an arrangement, if any, it had with the Flores twins prior to their official cooperation. The DEA didn’t immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
During the trial of one of the brothers’ alleged customers, special agent Matthew McCarthy was asked directly about this issue, according to McGahan. The customer’s lawyer asked him whether the twins provided such worthwhile information that the government would allow them to keep importing drugs during the first part of their cooperation.
« They weren’t in our control, » McCarthy told the court. « We couldn’t stop them. »
U.S. Department of Justice Margarito Flores
The government, however, would have benefitted from letting the twins continue their drug operation. That way, the DEA could gather information on other traffickers and file charges.
In October 2008, Margarito wore a wire during a meeting at a secret mountain compound with the heads of the Sinaloa cartel: Vicente Zambada-Niebla; his father, Ismael « El Mayo » Zambada, and the kingpin, « El Chapo » Guzman, one of the world’s most wanted drug lords.
On the recordings, Zambada-Niebla asked Margarito to obtain « big, powerful weapons » so the cartel could « blow up some buildings. » Based on these conversations, among other evidence, prosecutors built a case against him.
With the aid of the twins, the DEA also set up a sting operation in December 2008 that put 10 of the twins’ customers, mostly low-level dealers, behind bars, according to the McGahan. But they were small fish compared to the cartel bosses that were almost in the feds’ grasp.
Zambada-Niebla, known as « El Vicentillo, » was eventually captured in 2013. Taking a deal, he pleaded guilty and cooperated with authorities in exchange for a minimum of 10 years in prison. Zambada-Niebla likely flipped on other Sinaloa cartel members, including El Chapo, the notorious drug lord who was subsequently captured in February 2014.
It’s unclear whether the DEA knew the extent of the Flores’ brothers actions during their cooperation. But this isn’t the first time the US government may have allowed illicit activities to happen on its watch.
Documents published by El Universal in early 2014 revealed that between 2000 and 2012, the DEA struck a deal with the Sinaloa cartel itself. While leaders provided information on rival cartels to the US, the organization smuggled billions of dollars of drugs.
El Universal also found that cooperation between the Sinaloa cartel and others peaked between 2006 and 2012 — a period when the Flores twins operated as well as when drug traffickers essentially conquered Mexico.
Read more: http://uk.businessinsider.com/pedro-and-margarito-flores-deal-with-the-dea-2015-2#ixzz3ahit1sdu
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ARGENTINE: l’Église s’inquiète de l’expansion du narcotrafic
Parmi les drogues les plus prisées : l’héroïne. – REUTERS
Jusqu’à présent relativement épargnée par le narcotrafic, un fléau continental, l’Argentine est passée de pays de transit vers l’Europe ou l’Afrique à zone d’élaboration de stupéfiants ou de repli et d’investissement pour narcotrafiquants. Avec 10 000 kilomètres de frontières et 5000 kilomètres de côtes, et avec des forces de l’ordre notoirement corrompues jusqu’aux plus hauts niveaux, le pays est devenu un terrain de jeu prisé par la pègre. Les découvertes de laboratoires se multiplient, et le nombre des usagers augmente dans les quartiers pauvres. L’impact sur les couches les plus faibles de la société est énorme. La plupart des personnes interrogées par les enquêteurs de l’université catholique affirment être au courant de la situation.
L’Église ne cache pas son inquiétude. Selon les évêques, la situation se dégrade rapidement ; le pouvoir économique des narcotrafiquants s’impose de plus en plus et fragilise les structures de l’État. Les gens ont peur et se taisent. L’Église demande des mesures urgentes et invite les autorités à considérer la lutte contre ce fléau comme une affaire d’État. Elle envisage elle-même des parcours pastoraux destinés plus spécialement aux jeunes et aux adolescents. (avec OR/AFP)
source:http://fr.radiovaticana.va/news/2015/05/20/argentine__le_narcotrafic_en_pleine_expansion/1145508
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DEA: saisie record d’héroïne à New York
Le Monde.fr avec AFP | 20.05.2015 à 10h25
Environ 70 kg d’héroïne venant du Mexique, estimés à 50 millions de dollars (44,7 millions d’euros), ont été saisis dans le Bronx, à New York, ont annoncé mardi 19 mai les autorités, précisant qu’il s’agissait d’une saisie record dans l’Etat de New York. C’est aussi la quatrième plus grosse saisie d’héroïne aux Etats-Unis, selon les mêmes sources.
« Cette cargaison était si importante qu’elle pouvait potentiellement procurer une dose d’héroïne à chaque homme, femme et enfant de la ville de New York », a déclaré la procureuse spéciale antidrogue, Bridget Brennan. Elle a précisé qu’il s’agit de la plus importante saisie par la DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration), à New York.
En savoir plus sur http://www.lemonde.fr/ameriques/article/2015/05/20/saisie-record-d-heroine-a-new-york_4636733_3222.html#044KsciVdTwY22E7.99
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May 19, 2015
Contact: Public Information Officer
Number: 
212-337-2906
Record-Breaking Seizure: Over 70 Kilograms of Heroin, $2 Million Cash and Firearm Recovered in the Fieldston Section of the Bronx
Largest DEA heroin seizure in New York State: Fourth largest in U.S.
MAY 19 (MANHATTAN, N.Y.) – James J. Hunt, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Division; Bridget G. Brennan, New York City’s Special Narcotics Prosecutor; Raymond R. Parmer, Jr., Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York; New York City Police Commissioner William J. Bratton; and Joseph A. D’Amico, Superintendent of the New York State Police, announced the arrest of four members of a narcotics trafficking network and the seizure of over 70 kilograms of heroin (154 lbs.) worth up to $50 million, plus $2 million in cash and a firearm. The massive load of narcotics and cash was recovered from a vehicle and an apartment in the Fieldston section of the Bronx, near Horace Mann School and adjacent to Van Cortlandt Park.
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| 70 kilograms of heroin hidden in a concealed compartment |
This is the largest heroin seizure in New York State in DEA history and the fourth largest heroin seizure in the U.S. It was the result of a yearlong investigation by the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor and the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force (NYDETF), Group T-31, which is comprised of DEA special agents, New York City Police Department (NYPD) detectives and New York State Police Investigators, and the ICE HSI-led El Dorado Task Force. The Yonkers Police Department and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey also assisted.
On Sunday, May 17, agents arrested the head of the multi-million dollar heroin organization, Jose A. Mercedes, aka “Hippie,” and a second defendant, Yenci Cruz Francisco. Both are charged with Operating as a Major Trafficker and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree. Two additional defendants were arrested in November.
A court authorized wiretap investigation revealed that Mercedes and his drug trafficking group received sizable shipments of heroin at least once a month from suppliers in Culican, Mexico, an area controlled by the Sinaloa Cartel. The organization is believed to have served as a main source of heroin for customers throughout the five boroughs, as well as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
In the days leading up to the seizure and arrests, intercepted phone conversations suggested the organization was expecting delivery of a large load of heroin over the weekend. Agents set up surveillance outside 210 West 251st St. in Fieldston, where the organization was suspected of maintaining a stash location in Apt. 5E.
Late Saturday, agents tracked a Chevrolet Suburban and a Honda Accord driven by Mercedes, Cruz Francisco and a third individual as they travelled from 210 West 251st St. to an industrial parking lot off of Interstate 287 in Montville, N.J. The vehicles entered a section of the industrial lot where tractor-trailers were parked. After more than an hour, the Chevrolet Suburban and Honda Accord headed back to the Bronx.
Upon reaching 210 West 251st St., the Chevrolet Suburban was parked in a gated parking lot behind the building. At the request of the NYDETF, the Yonkers Police Department dispatched a K-9 Unit and obtained a positive hit for narcotics on the Chevrolet Suburban. Agents maintained surveillance at the location.
On Sunday morning, agents observed Mercedes arrive in a Kia Sorrento and stopped him for questioning. Several large bags containing a tan powdery substance were recovered from the front seat of the car and from a hidden compartment in the center console. At least one of the bags tested positive for heroin.
Subsequently, agents observed Cruz Francisco leave 210 West 251st St., enter the Chevrolet Suburban and start the engine. Agents stopped him and obtained a court authorized search warrant for the vehicle. A hidden compartment under the floor of the vehicle contained 70 rectangular-shaped kilogram packages of heroin labeled with the identifying name of “Rolex.” Also inside the vehicle was $24,000 cash.
Agents conducted a series of court authorized searches at apartments associated with the group. Inside 210 West 251st St., Apt. 5E, agents recovered $2 million from underneath the floorboards. A search of 830 Magenta St., Apt. 2J, in the Bronx yielded a .380 caliber firearm.
Last night Jose A. Mercedes and Cruz Francisco were arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court and held without bail, with their next court date set for Friday, May 22.
Two additional members of the narcotics trafficking group were previously charged on November 17, 2014. Mercedes’ son Jose Mercedes, JR. and defendant Juan Infante were arrested at 2851 Webb Ave., Apt. 1D, in the Bronx, where members of the NYDETF and HSI seized another 10 kilograms of heroin (22 lbs.) that had been hidden in a compartment inside a wall. An indictment filed by the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office charges both with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and two counts each of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the Second Degree.
Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan thanked her office’s Special Investigations Bureau, the DEA’s New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, the ICE HSI-led El Dorado Task Force, the Yonkers Police Department and the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.
DEA Special Agent in Charge James J. Hunt stated, “Seventy kilograms of heroin was intended to be distributed throughout the Northeast, proving that NYC is the bull’s eye for drug traffickers and heroin is their weapon. Record breaking aside, this investigation and seizure are messages to our communities that DEA and our law enforcement partners are doing our part in fighting opioid addiction that is afflicting our nation, by seizing the heroin that drug traffickers are pushing into our city. »
Bridget G. Brennan said, “The $50 million street value of the heroin in this case is a conservative estimate. To put it in perspective, this load was so large it carried the potential of supplying a dose of heroin to every man, woman and child in New York City. While this important seizure stopped a huge amount of heroin from flooding our city, it also highlights the critical need to intercept heroin before it ever reaches our region.”
“These millions of doses of heroin and millions of dollars represent much more than just a seizure. They represent violence, overdoses, crime, death and the suffering of our communities,” said Raymond R. Parmer Jr., Special Agent in Charge of HSI New York. “HSI and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners are determined to put an end to the heroin epidemic plaguing our neighborhoods.”
Police Commissioner William J. Bratton said, “I want to thank the investigators of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force and the prosecutors of the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor whose work resulted in this significant heroin seizure. The NYPD will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to stop this dangerous and highly addictive drug from being sold in our neighborhoods and destroying lives.”
« This case will have a significant impact on the drug trade in New York State and throughout the Northeast, by keeping this large load of heroin out of our communities, » said New York State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico. « The State Police remain committed to working with our partners in law enforcement and using every resource available to shut these drug operations down. We continue to send a clear message to those dealing these dangerous and deadly drugs — you will be found, you will be prosecuted and you will go to prison. »
| DEFENDANTS | CHARGES |
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| Jose A. Mercedes 185 Bronx River Rd., Apt. 5G Yonkers, NY 5/22/1968 |
Operating as a Major Trafficker – 1 ct CPCS 1st – 1 ct |
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| Yenci Cruz Francisco 210 West 251st St., Apt. 5E Bronx, NY 9/17/1995 |
Operating as a Major Trafficker – 1 ct CPCS 1st – 1 ct |
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The charges and allegations are merely accusations and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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MARTINIQUE (Caraïbes): l’OCTRIS était à l’atterrissage d’un « Go fast » maritime
« Go fast » en mer: un important trafic de cannabis démantelé en Martinique
20/05/2015
DR
Grosse prise pour les forces de police martiniquaises: un important réseau de narcotrafiquants locaux présumés qui s’adonnait à des « go fast » en bateau a été démantelé ces derniers jours. D’habitude très méfiants, c’est au moment de décharger leur cargaison qu’ils ont été cueillis par les forces de l’ordre.
C’est le fruit d’une enquête longue de six mois. Et d’une opération extrêmement délicate. Un présumé réseau de trafiquants de drogue a été démantelé, ces derniers jours, au large de la Martinique, dans les Antilles françaises. Une belle prise pour les forces de l’ordre locales, et qui se démarque par certaines particularités.
Explications.
Les malfaiteurs ont littéralement été pris en flagrant délit. Un élément capital quand on parle d’un réseau actif par voie de mer: lorsque de tels suspects ont le moindre doute de se faire prendre ou sont pris en chasse, ils se débarrassent de leur cargaison en la jetant par le fond. Limitant ainsi considérablement les éventuelles sanctions judiciaires.
Ici, la donne a été bien différente. Les narcotrafiquants ont été cueillis lors de leur débarquement aux abords de la ville Schoelcher, non loin de Fort-de-France. C’est au moment de décharger leur cargaison de leur puissant hors-bord, doté de deux moteurs de 250 chevaux, que les hommes de l’Office central pour la répression du trafic illicite des stupéfiants (OCRTIS) sont intervenus, interpellant ainsi cinq personnes: quatre Martiniquais, et un Vénézuélien.
« Des armes de pro »
Quant à la cargaison, 77 kg de cannabis ont été interceptés pour une valeur à la revente estimée à près de 200.000 euros. Si on est loin des tonnes de cocaïne qui ont pu être saisies dans le passé, la police se félicite d’avoir saisi un produit directement destiné à la Martinique. « Nous parlons ici d’une petite population de 400.000 habitants », précise ainsi Simon Riondet, chef de l’antenne Caraïbes de l’OCRTIS pour la police nationale, pour BFMTV.com « C’est une grosse prise au niveau local », insiste-t-il.
Plus surprenant, les armes saisies. « Un revolver de calibre 38 » ainsi qu’un pistolet-mitrailleur de type Uzi, doté d’un silencieux. « Des armes de pro », commente encore Simon Riondet, précisant qu’elles tranchent singulièrement avec les fusils à pompe et les fusils à canon scié, plus courants dans la région.
Les cinq personnes interpellées ont été placées en détention provisoire et mises en examen.
Cannabis : Un « go fast » intercepté au large de la Martinique
Zinfos 974
Comme l’explique BFMTV, les narcotrafiquants ont été pris en flagrant délit lors du déchargement de leur marchandises aux abords de la ville de Schoelcher, non loin de Fort-de-France. Cinq personnes (quatre Martiniquais et un Vénézuélien) ont été …
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Saisie de cannabis et d’armes de guerre à Fort-de-France
Près 80kg de cannabis ont été saisis ainsi que des armes de guerre. La valeur de cette marchandise est estimée à près de 200 000 euros.
plus sur http://atv.mq/infos-2150-saisie-de-cannabis-et-darmes-de-guerre-a-fort-de-france.html
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