In 63% of the cases, the victim is a woman, and three out of four victims are over 21 years old. In 60% of the cases, people are drinking alcohol. Perpetrators used illegal drugs such as marijuana, ecstasy, stimulants, or cocaine in about one-third of the cases, and prescription drugs, particularly ones for insomnia, anxiety and pain, were involved in 20% of the cases. The most life-threatening combination, alcohol mixed with drugs, occurred 46% of the time. Over 65% of the cases included mixtures of more than one drug. The SAMHSA research team used data collected by its Drug Abuse Warning Network, using statistics from hospital staffs of emergency rooms in the year 2009 only.

SAMHSA experts acknowledge that the number of people being treated for intentional poisoning is only a small fraction of the 4.6 million patients who are treated at ERs every year. However, they also believe that many more people are being intentionally poisoned and are being victimized, but they simply do not remember or report the incidents. Intentional poisonings have been implemented in an estimated three million rapes of American women, and the figure could be higher, according to SAMHSA officials.

"They are talking about a relatively small proportion of all the emergency room visits for intoxication of any kind," said Dr. Michael Brodsky, a psychiatrist at the University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, noting that 15,000 such visits a year amounts to five per day. "However, I wonder if these numbers are actually an underestimate, because younger people under the age of 21 –say, bystanders at a fraternity or dorm who come upon an underage student who passed out– are less likely to call for an ambulance or health care personnel in these kinds of situations because they do not want to be implicated, so there may be many more serious examples of this that do not end up in the ERs."

Dr. Peter Delany, director of SAMHSA’s Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, agreed that intentional poisonings were a serious situation, but not an epidemic. He said the key to stopping intentional poisonings is better public awareness of the problem.

"This is an educational issue," Dr. Delany said. "This is really a prevention issue. We are never going to stop it 100%. But we can help by really reaching out to the community to young adults to say, ‘Look, when you go into these situations, it can be dangerous."

Another expert said that the best advice is from Alcoholics Anonymous, where members are told, "If you do not want to slip, stay out of slippery places."

Dr. Robert DuPont, director of the Institute for Behavior and Health, a nonprofit drug policy organization in Maryland, said, "Intentional poisonings occur almost exclusively in very slippery places. The public health message from these disturbing new statistics is: ‘Stay out of slippery places.’"

At around 3pm, the detectives saw Kevin Smith arrive at Mail Plus driving a rented SUV, with co-defendant Daniel Shaw in the passenger seat. Smith parked the car and retrieved a dolly from the facility. After loading two large, heavily taped boxes onto the dolly, Smith wheeled them into Mail Plus. Shaw stayed in the car and Detective Beshai remained in his own car to watch the SUV.

The Postal inspector entered Mail Plus in her plain clothes and saw Smith near the counter with two large brown boxes with brown paper tape on the seams; the inspector knew that this was a common method narcotics traffickers employ to hide any odor coming from the package. Smith told the Mail Plus employee that one of the boxes contained a chair and the other contained an ottoman. He paid in cash and was given a receipt that showed Brooklyn, New York, as the delivery location. At trial, the Postal inspector testified that Brooklyn was a known destination for illegal narcotics, including marijuana, and that drug traffickers typically paid for shipping in cash.

Smith left Mail Plus after about 20 minutes and got back into his car. In the meantime, the Postal inspector approached the employee and identified herself. However, defendant Shaw then entered the store and asked for a certain type of box. When the employee went to the back to look for the box, Shaw peeked behind the counter and left without making a purchase. The men remained in the SUV for about 45 minutes and, when they drove away, the LAPD detectives radioed for a patrol car to stop them.

Around 4:30pm, a FedEx driver arrived at Mail Plus to pick up packages and was told by the Postal inspector that she was investigating the two boxes. A K-9 unit was dispatched to the scene and Robo entered from the rear of the store and scratched at one of the boxes. The boxes were seized. However, Detective Beshai testified that the FedEx driver was permitted to pick the boxes up and, after he left, the officers called him on his phone and recovered the boxes.

A search of the SUV revealed a key to a storage space, along with some documents connected to a storage facility on S. La Cienega Boulevard. A K-9 dog was brought to the locked door of the storage unit and, when he indicated that narcotics were present, a search warrant for the unit was obtained. Inside the unit, officers found several duffel bags and tote bags of the type commonly used to transport drugs prior to packing them for shipment. They also found ammonia and foam peanuts.

At the police station, the three officers observed as the boxes were opened. Inside officers discovered peanuts, ammonia (used to mask the odor of drugs), and marijuana. The marijuana had been packed in a second box, surrounded by a “party ball” – plastic film and newspaper soaked in ammonia.

At trial, the defendants stipulated that the boxes were examined by an LAPD criminalist, who determined that one of the boxes contained 38 pounds of pot and the other contained 37 pounds of pot. The defense offered no witnesses.

The jury convicted Smith of two felonies – transporting marijuana (California Health & Safety Code, section 11360 (a)) and possession of marijuana for sale (California Health & Safety Code, section 11359). Shaw was acquitted of all charges. After reviewing the evidence and preplea probation report the judge denied probation, finding that the criminal sophistication of the scheme warranted prison time. Because Smith had little prior criminal history, however, the judge sentenced him to just two years in prison.

In 2009, President Obama launched the Southwest Border Initiative, a program designed to intensify efforts to secure the southern US border and step-up immigration enforcement throughout the country. At this point, CBP has more officers than ever, topping out at just over 20,000 men and women. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), responsible for apprehending and deporting people who are here without authorization, has also doubled its presence along the border.

During a recent week in February, the CBP stationed in Arizona caught more than twenty-five hundred aliens trying to cross the border between the US and Mexico illegally. They also collected just under $30 million worth of drugs, $75,000 in cash and about 10,000 rounds of ammunition. In the past two years, CBP has seized over 7 million pounds of illicit drugs.

CBP is always on the lookout for new tools to use in the never-ending battle against drug smuggling. The agency has announced plans to spend three-quarters of a billion dollars on technology for apprehensions at the southern border. The money will be spent on erecting towers, installing remote video surveillance equipment and mobile detection units. Because Arizona has the most illegal border crossings, the purchases will help cover the border between Arizona and Mexico, almost 400 miles long.

Here are a few examples of recent border drug busts.

Customs and Border Protection agents recently discovered close to 400 pounds of marijuana, separated into 250 bundles and hidden in the floorboards of an SUV driven by a twenty-two year old woman from Denver. The find was made at the Columbus, New Mexico port of entry when drug-sniffing dogs signaled their handlers that something was stashed under the floor. Both the driver and her passenger were arrested and will face federal truck trafficking charges. This bust was only one of fifteen that occurred in the El Paso area, which netted over fifteen hundred pounds of pot, worth $4 million USD.

In Nogales Arizona, CBP officers seized over $3 million in drugs over the Valentine’s Day weekend, including three thousand pounds of marijuana, eighteen pounds of cocaine and thirty pounds of methamphetamine. One traveler was caught with almost one hundred pounds of pot in the gas tank of his SUV.

One cruise line estimates that over 125 passengers were busted for possession of illegal substances on ships in the last year alone; the majority of those cases were related to marijuana. In addition, there were over 35 passengers who were caught trying to board the ship with contraband in their luggage; again, the majority of the cases involved marijuana.

Recently, US drug agents discovered a passenger’s stash of drugs on the Allure of the Seas, as it was docked in St. Thomas. The ship, currently the largest in the world, had been charted for a gay cruise.

When we think about US border patrol, we often picture the miles of desert separating the US and Mexico. However, our coastline is vastly larger than our land border, making effective patrolling nearly impossible.

In order to combat drug trafficking on cruise vessels, the CBP in Florida uses a combination of man-power, technology and drug-sniffing dogs. In addition, cruise lines conduct their own drug enforcement operations in an effort to keep their vessels drug-free. Royal Caribbean takes the matter seriously – its head of global security was a high-ranking officer at the FBI.

It is the cooperation of both government and corporate enforcement efforts that make the drug discoveries possible. For instance, one of Royal Caribbean’s drug teams discovered a drug import scheme on the Enchantment of the Seas and reported it to authorities. Three members of the ship’s crew were apprehended for possession of cocaine at a mid-Atlantic port and federal drug dogs discovered more drugs hidden in a crew member’s locker. The drugs had originated in the Dominican Republic and were on their way to Baltimore for sale on the street.

Royal Caribbean seems to have more than its fair share of drug problems. A waiter on the Explorer of the Seas was convicted of importing almost half a million dollars worth of cocaine onto the island of Bermuda; the scheme involved using crew and passengers to transport the product from the ship to shore.

Royal Caribbean’s passengers have also been active in the drug trade. CBP officers in San Juan discovered close to $325,000 worth of heroin hidden in 15 pairs of men’s shoes being carried off the Serenade of the Seas by a female passenger. These drugs are also believed to have originated in the Dominican Republic.

Those in the know, however, argue that it is not the incidents of drug trafficking that are on the rise; instead, the ability to detect drugs has improved dramatically over the years. The US government has increased incentives for operators to cooperate in enforcement actions. In 2010, President Obama signed the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act, which requires cruise operators to enhance their security measures and report any crimes to government authorities. Royal Caribbean has begun to put all baggage through X-ray machines prior to loading, and also hires private dog companies to sweep passenger areas of the ships.

In addition, many foreign jurisdictions have ramped up detection efforts for ships that moor at their docks. Bermuda has begun bringing drug-sniffing dogs onto ships and has uncovered multiple passenger marijuana stashes. Because the ship, and everyone on it, is subject to the laws of the country in which it is docked, passengers are hauled off the ship and thrown in jail.

Many vacationers who dabble in illegal substances while at sea may not realize just how much trouble they could be in. Bringing drugs into the US on board a cruise ship is considered drug trafficking; St. Thomas and San Juan are considered part of the US drug jurisdiction.

http://news.travel.aol.com/2011/02/17/are-drugs-on-cruise-ships-on-the-rise/
 

The sophisticated international tunnel contains rail cart transport, air circulation and lighting systems and is the second tunnel to be discovered in the same area this month. In fact, the two tunnels are within one half-block of each other. At the Mexican end, users dropped almost one hundred feet into a cinderblock entry vestibule and landed on a wooden floor. Upon exiting in the US, the user would climb a staircase into a room full of pot, almost fifty feet under ground.

Authorities have yet to determine how long this most recent tunnel has been in operation for. However, an investigation into surrounding warehouses began this summer as a result of a tip gleaned after a drug bust in San Bernardino. During the investigation, US law enforcement officials tracked a truck from one of the San Diego warehouses to a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) checkpoint in Temecula; they seized almost 30,000 pounds of marijuana that had been packed into the back of the trailer.

In addition to the tunnel, authorities discovered over twenty tons of marijuana (three in an underground room and in the tunnel, four at a Mexican ranch and the rest in the tractor trailer); they believe that the tunnel and drugs belong to the “Sinaloa” cartel, headed by “El Chapo” Guzman. However, each tunnel was run by an independent faction within the larger cartel. Although the tunnel was a major find, US officials were able to arrest just three individuals connected with the scheme; Mexican officials did a bit better and nabbed five.

The most recent discovery is likely the most advanced tunnel discovered by authorities to date, given the reinforced entry and rail line. US law enforcement has uncovered over one hundred drug tunnels under our border with Mexico over the past twenty years, although most were unfinished. The tunnel discovered at the beginning of November netted over thirty tons of pot.

Due to the overwhelming number of warehouses in the southern San Diego area and, thus, the overwhelming number of possible active tunnel outlets, law enforcement officials have little chance of discovering them all. As a result, ICE has begun meeting with the owners of the warehouses in the area to warn about the dangers of leasing space to unknown tenants. However, what liability property owners have with regard to the tunnels, if any, remains to be seen.

Police officers have arrested three individuals in connection with a suspected drug lab at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. Although Georgetown has been known to have its share of problems with binge drinking and casual drug use, this weekend’s drug lab incident is a first for the upscale university.

Early Saturday morning around 6 am approximately four hundred Georgetown freshmen had to be evacuated from the nine-story Harbin Hall dormitory after police found a secret drug lab in one of the dorm rooms of the top floor of the building; the displaced students huddled in their PJs in the cold morning air. A dorm resident had phoned the Georgetown campus police about an hour before to report a funny odor emanating from a dorm room on the top floor. The evacuation was carried out largely by word of mouth, with people pounding on other residents’ doors notifying them that they had to get out of the building.

Initially police believed that they were dealing with a student-run meth lab. Police discovered several chemicals, heating equipment and a ventilation system. However, after a thorough investigation, officers revealed that the students had used the homemade laboratory facilities to produce DMT (dimethyltryptamine). DMT is a hallucinogenic, psychedelic drug.

The chemicals used to create the drug are dangerous if inhaled or exposed to skin; approximately seven students were treated for possible chemical exposure. Although students were allowed to re-enter the building approximately three hours after the evacuation, they were then ordered to evacuate again. Officials plan on decontaminating the dorm room that housed the DMT lab.

Like most hallucinogenic substances, DMT is made from naturally occurring elements in plants. Synthesized DMT is made using distilled water, sodium hydroxide, mimosa hostillis root bark and naphtha (paint thinner). Improper handling, mixing or processing of these substances can create toxic fumes or an explosion.

There are also trace elements of DMT in the human body; an enzyme synthesizes the drug during normal metabolism. DMT is similar to serotonin, a neurotransmitter found in the brain. DMT acts as an agonist at serotonin receptor sites and may also be a serotonin-releasing agent.

DMT is derived from Tryptamine and was first discovered in the 1930’s. DMT, by itself, cannot be ingested orally as the body metabolizes it too quickly for it to produce any desirable effect. However, it is popular among recreational drug users because, due to its low boiling point, it can be smoked in a glass pipe in a few breaths. Ingested DMT produces euphoria and hallucinations and sustains them for up to fifteen minutes; the peak effect is reached within one minute. However, taking an MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitor) can extend the hallucinogenic and euphoric effects. DMT is also a main ingredient in the ayahuasca, an herbal drink.

In the United States DMT is a Schedule I drug; however religious freedom now trumps drug regulations with regard to its use. Approximately five years ago the US Supreme Court lifted a ban to allow a church to consume DMT-laced tea in their religious services. Another religious group has been successful in obtaining authorization to import and distribute ayahuasca (“Daime tea”).
 

However, internal affairs officers who were recording and observing the arrest and booking procedures arising from the traffic stop determined that the pair were not on the up and up given what happened during the stop, arrest, discovery, safe keeping, and evidence receipting of the drugs and money. Determining that the couple had just jacked the undercover officer and intended to keep the money and redistribute the drugs, the pair was arrested.

Officials revealed that the pair may also be facing kidnapping and unlawful restraint charges, but were evasive as to the specific details except to say that the undercover officer was held or transported somewhere against his will; there were no allegations that he was injured in any way.

The bait, an undercover Philadelphia police officer, had been working for two weeks as part of a sting operation related to a tip the Bureau of Narcotics had received about Alivera and Luciano in another case.

While the incident is an example of egregious law enforcement corruption, it is also example of profound stupidity. Just two months ago, Alivera (a ten year veteran) and Luciano had the opportunity to observe as federal agents came in and arrested three of their fellow officers for allegedly conspiring to rob a drug dealer of his supply of heroin.

Officials allege that the three officers conspired with drug dealers and staged a traffic stop during which they were to seize $15,000 worth of heroin and resell it. One of the officer’s wives was also involved. Success of plot relied on the drug dealer’s boss believing the drugs had been forfeited to police and would be destroyed by drug enforcement agents; this allowed the drug dealer to not face allegations that he stole drugs from his boss.

However, plans went south when the group tried to resell the heroin through an undercover federal drug agent. The “victim”, the drug dealer’s boss, not only lost his drugs but is also wanted by the FBI for charges in connection with his drug-related activities.
 

Prosecutors charged Banton with conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine, as well as aiding others in possessing a firearm during cocaine distribution. In his defense, Banton claims that he asked the undercover cop about where he could buy cocaine just to impress him; the cop also enticed Banton with claims that he had connections in the extremely competitive music industry.

How the actual bust transpired is the stuff of fiction. Alexander Johnson, a former drug transporter for Colombian drug cartels, had been turned and was cooperating with law enforcement officers with efforts to disrupt drug trafficking rings. According to Johnson, he was sitting in his seat on a flight from Spain to Miami when Banton randomly sat down next to him and struck up a conversation. The well-known singer was initially curious as to whether Johnson recognized him; Johnson claimed that he did not. Eventually the conversation turned to drugs, with Banton boasting to Johnson about his involvement in a Venezuela to St. Martin drug ring. Banton claimed that his job was to transport money out of England.

By the end of the flight, the pair was exchanging digits and names, promising to meet to discuss drug running the next day. And meet they did. The pair met up at a Ft. Lauderdale restaurant where, recordings reveal, Banton questioned Johnson about his cocaine sources. Although Johnson told Banton he wasn’t a supplier, just a transporter, Banton insisted that Johnson supply him with cocaine. Defense attorneys for the singer claim that he really didn’t want to get involved in the drug trade and that the conversation was recorded after the men had been drinking.

About four months later the pair met again, this time at a restaurant in Sarasota. Banton introduced Johnson to a friend, and the group discussed trafficking five kilos (11 pounds) of cocaine. After the conversation, Johnson took Banton to a wired warehouse where the bust occurred.

US District Judge James Moody declared the mistrial when he determined that the twelve members of the jury would not be able to reach a verdict; he had already sent them back to the jury room once after receiving reports that they were hung.

Banton has been in jail since his arrest in December 2009. After the judge declared a mistrial, Banton’s criminal defense attorney immediately requested that the singer be released on bond.

By all accounts, Banton is truly a remarkable artist, having collaborated with Bussta Rhymes, Fat Joe and Ice Cube. In a bizarre twist, the singer’s new album was released the day after the case ended. However, Banton has also been the subject of controversy. Banton has used anti-gay lyrics in his songs since he was a young boy. In fact, his hit song “Boom Bye Bye” incites murdering gay men. After his arrest on drug charges, supporters of Banton claim that he was set up by members of the gay community.
 

Man Steals Manhole Covers to Feed Drug Addiction

It is not uncommon for the standard citizen to think the acts of a drug addict are inexplicable. In the case of one man, however, his acts defy even the most cunning of addicts to determine his motive.

A recent Ottawa Citizen report focused on the activities of a 44-year-old man who stole more than two dozen city manhole covers. His intent was to sell the covers for scrap and use the funds to feed his addiction.

The man, Tim Argiropoulos, admitted to taking the 25 covers in 2008. His actions were reported by a citizen who witnessed him taking the covers and provided his license plate to the authorities. Of course his arrest was easy when he showed up at the local recycling plant with his find – more than one ton of cast iron.

The same man also pleaded guilty to stealing $1,000 worth of copper from a recycling yard a month earlier. The owner of the recycling yard had jumped in front of his vehicle in an attempt to stop the theft, but Argiropoulos kept driving. He was also charged with dangerous driving.

Missing Man Charged with Drug Crimes

If a man disappears and drug charges have been filed against him is it safe to assume that the drugs have something to do with his disappearance?

A recent Free Press report focused on a missing Mapleton man who recently had drug charges filed against him and the mother of his daughter. Now, the man’s family is concerned that the disappearance could involve foul play.

The man, Matthew Albrecht, is wanted for aiding and abetting a controlled substance crime in the third degree. Albrecht is accused of selling an undercover police officer 10 OxyContin pills for $300.

A similar charge has been filed against Angela Ahl, the mother of one of Albrecht’s two daughters. Ahl is accused of selling four OxyContin pills to an informant for$100. This incident occurred roughly two weeks before Albrecht was reported as missing.

According to Albrecht’s father, he and Matthew had just replaced a starter on the younger Albrecht’s car when Matthew walked away from the vehicle parked near a busy intersection. Friends reported seeing the younger Albrecht later that afternoon about a mile away from the intersection.

Albrecht’s mother is concerned that the disappearance is related to drugs, given the latest charges against her son. He had mentioned to his mother that Ahl may be in trouble or even in danger and he gave his mother the impression that he was afraid of what was going on.

Albrecht’s disappearance is troubling for his family as he never missed an occasion to visit his daughters or stay in close contact with all family members. His mother now wonders if her son is still alive or if he is in hiding. Other family members believe Albrecht’s absence means something has happened to him as they claim nothing would keep him away from his kids.
 

Argiropoulos told the court that his addiction to OxyContin was the main reason for his so-called stupid acts. In addition to taking property, he also put lives at risk, which the judge took into consideration. He sought leniency, yet had failed to show up for a previous sentencing hearing and now 41 convictions stand against him.

Mexican Mayor Kidnapped from Home, Target of Drug Hitmen

Mexico has enough problems with drug running, violence and other illegal activities that it needs its leaders in place to try and fight the corruption. When a leader is nowhere to be found, suspicions arise. In the case of Monterrey’s mayor, it appears drug hitmen are to blame.

The TVNZ reported that gunmen invaded the home of Mayor Edelmiro Cavazos’ home in Santiago. Authorities say he was led out of the home by armed men, but wasn’t beaten, hand-cuffed or tied up. It is suspected that Cavazos was a target of the drug gangs as a result of his efforts to try and clean up the local police force.

And, while the family has not received any demands from the alleged hit men, the abduction comes on the heels of a spike in violence over the weekend in the area. It is unclear as to whether or not this kidnapping will result in violence or demands on the local government.

Rival drug gangs in this northern area of Mexico have been violently battling for control of what are considered to be lucrative drug smuggling routes into the United States. The escalating violence is a target of president Calderon’s efforts to clean up the drug problem in his country. Calderon calls the violence a natural consequence of imposing order where there had been none.

The challenge in the country is the cartels are showing few signs of backing down. As long as the demand for their drugs in the U.S. is strong, these groups have the money, force and power necessary to continue business as usual.

Gun Seizures Get Drug Criminals Off Streets

First impressions would be that the use of firearms and drugs do not mix, yet in the world of illegal drug use and trafficking, they appear to go hand in hand. A recent Sun Times report tells of 25 Chicago area men who have been charged with drug and weapons violations.

The incident began as an undercover investigation of the Two-Six street gang in the Southwest Side and ended with the seizure of more than 60 weapons, which included assault rifles, handguns and sawed-off shotguns. The operation was conducted jointly by the Chicago Police and the FBI.

This investigation is an interesting one as it shifted the focus from drugs to guns. The FBI is attempting to track street gangs and reduce their activity. As the Obama administration has downgraded the penalties for crack cocaine to more closely match the penalties for powder cocaine, law enforcement is facing new challenges.

In shifting the focus toward weapons, instead of drugs, law enforcement agencies have more power in going after the same criminals. This particular bust included a sting against four men who are accused of plotting to rob what they believed was a cocaine stash house.

One defendant was caught on tape telling an undercover officer that he and his gang members shoot people for free. If bricks of cocaine (kilos) are involved, they’ll shoot two times more.

Those arrested and facing federal gun charges could face up to 10 years in prison. For those charged with federal drug crimes, they face a maximum sentence of 10 years. While the number of arrests and seizures is small in comparison with the overall problem, it still puts a dent in the overall violent crime and drug scene in Chicago.
 

On June 15 of this year, the finance ministry in Mexico announced new anti-money laundering regulations designed to restrict the amount of U.S. dollars that banks in Mexico could legally receive.

An advisory from the Department of Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) notes that these new regulations are intended to mitigate the risks of laundering crime proceeds that may be tied to the trafficking or narcotics or organized crime.

The new regulations are meant to thwart the movement of bushels of cash between the United States and Mexico as a significant amount of the U.S. currency flowing through Mexico is derived from illegal activity, specifically drug sales in the United States.

As for the increased focus on Las Vegas, this is one city that is very cash-intensive, making it attractive for those drug cartels needing to get their cash into the banking system without being noticed. This will mean increased monitoring in Las Vegas will be needed.

While the IRS and other officials will pay close attention to cash-intensive establishments, including nightclubs, massage parlors, strip clubs and others, they will also rely on Currency Transaction Reports banks must file on their customers.

Their tasks will be difficult, given Nevada’s Limited Liability Corporation laws that are often used by shell corporations, drug traffickers, scam operations and money launderers in an effort to conceal identities and source finances outside of the watchful eye. It will be an ongoing battle to fight the surge that is sure to come.