Seven KG of Cocaine Seized at Casablanca Airport

Austin man had $1.8 million in heroin at border, officials say

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION:

ROMA, TEXAS - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the Roma International Bridge seized approximately 22.3 pounds of Mexican brown heroin and 10.3 pounds of cocaine Tuesday afternoon. The estimated street value of the heroin is $1,781,316 million, while the cocaine is valued at $331,571.

On August 9, 2011, a CBP officer working at the Roma/Miguel Aleman International Bridge referred to secondary, a northbound 2007 Ford Edge sedan and its driver, a 53-year-old U.S. citizen from Austin, Texas. While in secondary, CBP officers seized nine packages of alleged Mexican brown heroin and four packages of alleged cocaine that were found in a secret compartment in the vehicle’s right and left front fenders. The Ford Edge was also seized by CBP.

The male driver was transferred to the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI) for further investigation.

Cris Cantu Jr., CBP Port Director, Roma/Falcon Dam said, “Our cadre of frontline officers did a great job in referring this vehicle to secondary and seizing this huge and significant amount of hard narcotics.” Cantu further said, “I commend our officers for their work in securing our nation’s borders.”

(Col Reza'i, the head of the provincial police for combating narcotics) Fortunately, through a hard intelligence work of two months on the issue, a batch of 248 kg of opium, packed as rice and transported to Esfahan was seized. The batch was imported from border provinces through Shiraz and was destined for the north of Tehran and Hamedan. According to the intelligence work carried out, this is not the first batch sent by this group. They have done these operations about four times before and according to the confessions made, they have already transported about 800 kg of drugs. Thus, if we deduct these 240 kg, they have already transported some 600 kg of drugs.

Caracas National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reports on 9 August that Interior and Justice Minister Tareck El-Aissami has delivered 150 briefcases containing high-tech drug detection equipment worth 430,000 Bolivares Fuertes (VEF) ($100,000). The equipment was delivered to military, police, and security organizations as part of the 2009-2013 National Counternarcotics Plan. The minister recalled that these chemical reagents were sold to Venezuela at $7 but as of Tuesday they will be provided free manufactured by the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB). (Caracas National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Spanish -- Official website of the Venezuelan National Assembly; URL: http://www.asambleanacional .gob.ve ) CICPS Dismantle Gang of Car Thieves --

Caracas El Universal Online reports on 7 August that the Criminal and Penal Scientific Investigation Corps (CICPC) successfully dismantled "Los Nacionales" gang that specialized in stealing cars. CICPC National Director William Flores Trosel explained that investigators were tipped off when someone presented forged documents to the National Land Transit Institute. The gang operated in several states. Under questioning the car owner said that he saw an Internet ad for a Ford Explorer 2088 sold in Maturin, Monagas State. The Investigation led to the arrest of eight people with eight stolen vehicles. (Caracas El Universal Online in Spanish -- Website of privately owned daily opposed to the Chavez administration; news coverage often focuses on domestic economic and social problems to challenge government policies; website is the most popular of any Venezuelan newspaper; publisher: Andres Mata Osorio; daily circul ation of 85,000 copies URL: http://www.eluniversal.com ) Truck Thieves, Highwaymen Pose Threat to Drivers, Cargo Owners --

Caracas El Universal Online reports on8 August that highwaymen steal 1,000 trucks a year. Some eight highwaymen or "road pirates" generally operate in each assault and use two cars and two motorcycles. One vehicle passes the truck and forces it to slow down and stop. The rest of the gang move in and take the truck to a safe place where it is unloaded. The driver and helper are held for a day or two and the truck is concealed. Venezuela Rejects US Extradition Request --

Caracas El Universal Online reports on 8 August that Simon Daniel Chocron who is sought by Interpol to face charges in the United States for obscene exhibitionism involving pornographic material and minors. Chocron is a swimmer and is accused of pedophilia. The Supreme Court of Justice has decided that he is to stand trial in Venezuela, thus will not be extradited to the United States because the Venezuelan Constitution expressly forbids that its citizens be extradited. Uribana Prison 'Coliseum' Leaves 31 Injured Inmates--

Caracas El Universal Online reports on 8 August that the number of injured inmates in Uribana Prison now stands at 31. All of them are receiving medical attention at Barquisimeto Central Hospital. The injuries were due to the practice called coliseum," which seeks to emulate ancient Roman fighters. The report quotes El Impulso de Barquisimeto newspaper.

Violence Observatory Estimates 19,000 homicides in 2011 -- Caracas GLOBOVISION.com reports on10 August that according to estimates by the Violence Observatory the number of homicides in Venezuela this year could be as many as 19,000 compared to the 16,000 in 2010. This was said by Director Roberto Briceno Leon, who added that it is state policy not to do anything to face crime, not repress, not act, and not enforce the law. He went on to point out that in 1998 there were 118 detentions for every 100 homicides compared to nine for every 100 over the past three years. He reckons that the government does not want to appear as being repressive. He also criticized Minister Iris Varela for wanting to release 20,000 inmates, which only serves to increase impunity. (Caracas GLOBOVISION.com in Spanish --- Website of commercial 24-hour news station that serves as the most outspoken broadcast critic of the government and is a main platform for the political opposition; main owners currently in exile and government claims to have taken over a portion of their shares; website ranks 33 rd in Venezuela; URL: http://www.globovision.com ) FARC Member To Remain Under DIM Detention --

Caracas UltimasNoticias.com.ve reports on 9 August that the Office of the Prosecutor General has decided to jail FARC member Guillermo Enrique Torres Cueter, knows as the "FARC Singer" (cantor de la FARC). He was captured by the Military Intelligence Directorate (DIM) on 21 May and 67 days later.on Friday Judge Norma Ceiba told Prosecutor Daniel Guedes: "We are not pressing any charges against him, but do request his arrest in view that Interpol has issued a Red Alert for detention and extradition. Colombia now has to formally request his extradition. Torres himself has requested President Chavez not to extradite him. (Caracas UltimasNoticias.com.ve in Spanish -- Website of generally balanced daily owned by Cadena Capriles media group with relatively objective news coverage; publisher Eleazar Diaz Rangel often takes a pro-government line in his columns but other commentary reflects a range of pro- and anti-government views; highest nationwide circulation daily with over 200,000 copies; URL: http://www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve ) GNB Seize 55 Kg. of High-Grade Colombian Cocaine --

Caracas Agencia Venezolana de Noticias reports on 9 August that the GNB seized 55 kg of cocaine in Merida State, which w as being transported in secret compartments in a vehicle driven by a Venezuelan citizen. The announcement was made by Division General Franklin Marquez, head of National Guard Regional Command No. 1 (CORE-1). The vehicle is a Ford Blazer driven by 25-year old Jose Enrique Castillo, caught while trying to escape down a trail. Marquez said that it is high-grade cocaine from Colombia and marked with the cities of destination. So far this year Detachment No. 16 in Merida has seized 832 kg of drugs and arrested 21 people and confiscated 21 vehicles.(Caracas Agencia Venezolana de Noticias in Spanish -- Website of the official Venezuelan News Agency also known by acronym AVN; URL: http://www.avn.info.ve ) Venezuela Dismantles 17 Cocaine-Processing Labs --

Caracas Agencia Venezolana de Noticias reports on 10 August that with operations Sierra and Centinela 17 cocaine laboratories have been dismantled in the states of Tachira and Zulia in 2011. Interior and justice minister Ta reck El-Aissami said on Wednesday that Venezuela has been at the forefront in counternarcotics operations over the past five years adding that prior to 2004 with the DEA this was never the case. Sebin Captures Internet Swindler --

Caracas Agencia Venezolana de Noticias reports on 10 August that the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin) captured in Carabobo a Venezuelan citizen who swindled people over the Internet selling forged passports using webpage www.tupasaporte.net CICPC Recover Stolen Newborn baby --

Maracaibo laverdad.com reports on 9 August that the CICPC rescued at 1100 yesterday a kidnapped newborn baby. A woman has been arrested and turned over to the Public Prosecutor's Office. .She stole the baby at a bus terminal on 2 August. Carolina Olivares, 21 was the woman arrested. The baby's mother is 14-year old Marinneli Medina. (Maracaibo laverdad.com in Spanish -- Website of newspaper critical of Chavez administration. Circulation: 75,000 c opies per day; URL: http://www.laverdad.com ) Aragua Registers 14 Weekend Deaths --

Maracay El Aragueno Online reports on 9 August that 14 deaths by gunfire were registered this weekend in Aragua State. Most took place in Sucre Municipality followed by Marino. (Maracay El Aragueno Online in Spanish -- Website of Aragua State tabloid owned by the Sindoni Group with a daily circulation of 25,000 copies from Monday through Saturday and 50,000 on Sundays. Editorial Director: Evert Garcia; URL: http://www.elaragueno.com.ve/ ) The following media were scanned and no file-worthy items were noted:

Caracas National Counternarcotics Office

Maracaibo Panorama.com.ve

Valencia notitarde.com Website has been offline since 29/07/11.

Caracas People's Power Ministry for Interior and Justice

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright holder. Inquiries rega rding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of Commerce.

Dolly Cifuentes Villa, alias La Meno, alleged front person serving Mexican

drug trafficker. (Source: RCN Television, 10 August 2011)

Authorities Arrest Front Person Allegedly Serving Mexican Drug Trafficker --

Bogota El Tiempo reports that the authorities in Valle del Aburra in Antioquia Department have arrested Dolly Cifuentes Villa, 47, alias La Meno, who allegedly served as a front person for Mexican drug trafficker alias El Chapo Guzman considered the leader of the Sinaloa Cartel. El Tiempo explains that Judicial and Investigative Police Directorate (Dijin) and DEA agents were able to establish that alia s La Meno used 35 companies owned by her family to launder money for alias El Chapo Guzman. El Tiempo also reports that alias La Meno's family supplied alias El Chapo with narcotics and that laundered "at least $200 million." (Bogota eltiempo.com in Spanish -- Website of pro-Liberal Party, most influential newspaper published by Casa Editorial El Tiempo with the largest circulation in Colombia; URL:

http://www.eltiempo.com/ http://www.eltiempo.com ) Authorities Occupy 32 Properties Worth 40 Billion Pesos Allegedly Belonging to Front Persons Serving Northern Valle del Cauca Cartel

-- Bogota El Tiempo reports that following a two-year investigation the authorities have occupied 32 properties worth 40 billion pesos (about $22.28 million) allegedly belonging to front persons serving the Northern Valle del Cauca Cartel and an unidentified Mexican cartel. El Tiempo also reports that the authorities are after a person wanted by the authorities in Mexico for drug trafficking. National Customs and Tax Directorate Director Says Defrauders 'Launder 6 Trillion Pesos'

-- Bogota El Tiempo reports that Juan Ricardo Ortega, National Customs and Tax Directorate (DIAN) director, has denounced that tax evaders launder 6 trillion pesos (about $2.23 billion) on a yearly basis. El Tiempo provides examples of how money is laundered through real estate such as properties worth 900 million pesos (about $501,393) being registered for 87 million pesos (about $48,468). Authorities Arrest Drug Courier in Caqueta --

Bogota El Espectador reports that the authorities patrolling the Caqueta Department highway have arrested an unidentified man who had swallowed an "undetermined amount of capsules of cocaine." El Espectador also reports that the man claims he swallowed 63 capsules. (Bogota elespectador.com in Spanish -- Website of right-leaning daily owned by Bavaria Group and Santodomingo family; URL:

-- Bogota El Espectador reports that that National Police Director General Oscar Naranjo has confirmed that the authorities in Colombia, with the support of Venezuelan authorities, have arrested 10 pilots serving alias El Loco Barrera. Naranjo also reports that Colombian authorities provided the coordinates of three illegal airstrips destroyed by the authorities in Venezuela near the border. Authorities Seize 400 Kg of Explosives Allegedly Belonging to FARC in Valle del Cauca

-- Cali El Pais reports that the authorities in Bajo Calima on the road to Buenaventura (Valle del Cauca) have seized 400 kg of a powerful explosive called pentolita mixed with ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) from a minefield allegedly planted by the FARC's Libardo Garcia Front. (Cali El Pais in Spanish -- Website of Pro-Conservat ive Party daily; URL:

http://www.elpais.com.co/ http://www.elpais.com.co ) Authorities Discover 'Several Irregularities' in Army Contracts

-- Bogota RCN Television website reports that Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera has requested an investigation into alleged irregularities in Army contracts worth 9 billion pesos (about $5 million). (Bogota RCN Television Online in Spanish -- Website of Radio Cadena Nacional Television, a private station owned by the industrial group Ardila Lulle; URL:

-- Santa Cruz El Deber Digital reports that Special Antinarcotics Force (FELCN) officers have arrested four Bolivians and two Colombians who were allegedly trying to dismantle a cocaine laboratory in San Jose de Chiquitos Municipality (Santa Cruz) to move it to another area. (Santa Cruz de la Sierra eldeberdigital. com.bo in Spanish -- Website of conservative, influential, pro-business, regional newspaper with the most prestige and widest circulation nationwide. Owned by the Rivero family, member of the Grupo Lider media conglomerate which also includes PAT (Periodistas Asociados de Television) television network, recently acquired by the Daher family of Santa Cruz; URL:

Guayaquil El Universo reports that the 400 kg of cocaine hydrochloride worth about $36 million seized by the authorities at Port of Guayaquil (Guayas) hidden in a shrimp container were bound for Benin in Africa. Investigation shows that the narcotics were marked with a bitten apple, the letter B, a crown, and the number 10. (Guayaquil El Universo Online in Spanish -- Website of influential daily owned by Grupo El Universo C.A.; consistently critical of the government; URL:

-- Guayaquil El Universo reports that Antikidnapping and Antiextortion Unit (Unase) officers in Manta (Manabi) have released Rabi Yishak Tom Rotem Yosef who had been kidnapped on 1 August. During the operation the authorities arrested Israeli Dan Di Nur, 54, considered the gang's leader and who had been previously arrested on 13 January in Quito with 800 grams of cocaine. Investigation shows that Israelis Joseph Museph and Anatoli Alperovich, Mexican Isac Cae Morales, and two unidentified Ecuadorans are members of the gang. PERU Authorities Destroy Cocaine Laboratory, Seize 13 Kg of Coca Paste --

Lima RPP Noticias reports that Counternarcotics officers in Padre Abad Province in Ucayali Department have destroyed a cocaine laboratory with the capacity to produce 1.6 tons of cocaine. During the operation the authorities seized 13 kg of c oca paste. (Lima RPP Noticias Online in Spanish -- Website of top-rated commercial news radio station, owned by Grupo RPP, S.A. (Radio Programas del Peru); URL:

http://www.rpp.com.pe/ http://www.rpp.com.pe/ ) Authorities Seize 14 Kg of Cocaine Hydrochloride in Puno

-- Lima RPP Noticias reports that National Police officers have seized 14 kg of cocaine hydrochloride from a house in Juliaca in Puno Region and arrested two unidentified women and one man. Authorities Seize 8 Kg of Opium Latex in Cajamarca

-- Lima RPP Noticias reports that Counternarcotics authorities in San Miguel Province in Cajamarca Region have seized 8 kg of opium latex from Joel Terrones Rodas, 40, and Hermegildo Gilbeto Sanchez Quiroz, 50.

The following media were scanned and no file worthy items were noted:

(Bogota Semana.com in Spanish)(Medellin El Colombiano.com in Spanish)(Barranquilla EL HERALDO.COM.CO in Spanish)(Cartagena El Universal Online in Spanish)(Bucaramanga Vanguardia.com in Spanish)(Bogota Office of the President in Spanish)(Bogota Caracol Radio Online in Spanish)(Bogota National Navy of the Republic of Colombia in Spanish)(San Andres elisleno.com in Spanish)(Cochabamba Los Tiempos.com in Spanish)(La Paz La Razon Online in Spanish)(Quito El Comercio.com in Spanish)(Lima La Republica Online in Spanish)(Lima El Comercio.com.pe in Spanish)

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of Commerce.

The Secretariat of Public Security website reports in bulletin 441 on 10 August that federal police officers searched David Origel Ortiz at the Tijuana Airport when they noticed bulges in the pockets of his pants. He was found to be in possession of $40,000 that he had not declared. He had flown in from Guadalajara, Jalisco. Police arrested him and seized the money. In just one week, federal police have seized the equivalent of 1,584,130 Mexican pesos ($126,845.10) at airports around the country. (Mexico Secretariat of Public Security in Spanish -- Official website of the Mexican Secretariat of Public Security. URL:

The Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) on 10 August reports that citizen reports of suspicious activity on Jose Ruben Romero Avenue, in the El Hipico housing development of Mexicali, Baja California, led Sedena personnel to the area. The military personnel ended up arresting one person who was in possession of approximately 31.66 kg of cocaine; a long arm; 20 cartridges of varying calibers; and two vehicles. (Mexico City Secretariat of National Defense WWW-Text in Spanish -- Official website of the Mexican Secretariat of National Defense URL:

Ciudad Juarez El Diario on 10 August reports that a citizen report led naval personnel to the Cumbres Segundo Sector neighborhood of San Nicolas, Nuevo Leon, where they arrested Raul Garcia Rodriguez, a.k.a. El Sureno. He is believed to be the leader of the Zeta Cartel in San Nicol as. Also arrested was Abril Samanta Moron Diaz. The two were in possession of an AK-47 rifle; a 9-mm handgun; four loaded magazines; 200 doses of cocaine; ten doses of cocaine rock; and a vehicle. (Ciudad Juarez El Diario.mx in Spanish -- Most widely read border daily published in Chihuahua State. Root URL as of filing date:

Ciudad Juarez El Diario on 11 August reports that Jose Refugio Ruvalcaba Plascencia, former police chief of Juarez and Chihuahua, was shot to death while drinking coffee at a restaurant at the intersection of Periphery de la Juventud and Politecnico Nacional Avenue in Chihuahua, Chihuahua. Three men arrived on scene and two shot at him repeatedly and then fled in a maroon Dodge Stratus vehicle that was guarded by two white Chevrolet pickups. Police found 17 shells from a .38 Super-caliber weapon at the restaurant . Ruvalcaba was carrying a .380-caliber automatic handgun, Pietro Beretta model 84FSCHEETAH, serial number H45987Y, at the time of his death, and in his vehicle, a white Durango truck, police found a 12-guage shotgun, Mossberg brand, serial number T632837. His police career had been controversial, and he had most recently owned a private security agency called Integral. Cocaine, Crystal Seizures on the Rise, Marijuana Seizures Drop -

Mexicali La Cronica on 11 August reports that Commander Alfonso Duarte Mujica, from the Army's 2 nd Military Region, announced that 53.25 metric tons of marijuana were seized between 1 January and 10 August 2011. He also said that 2.538 metric tons of crystal were seized during the same period. In Baja California, Baja California Sur, and Sonora, close to 3.5 metric tons were seized, along with 168 metric tons of marijuana. Mujica pointed out that marijuana seizures have decreased, while seizures of cocaine and crystal have increased. (Me xicali La Cronica.com in Spanish -- Daily from Mexicali, Baja California State. URL:

http://www.lacronica.com/ http://www.lacronica.com ) Three Gunned Down by Armed Group in San Nicolas, Nuevo Leon -

Monterrey El Porvenir on 11 August reports that three subjects who appeared to be gang members were shot to death by an armed group behind a department store at the intersection of Miguel Aleman Highway and Las Torres Avenue, in the La Talaverna neighborhood of San Nicolas. Each of the three victims was shot more than seven times, and authorities found approximately 40 shells from a 9-mm handgun and an AK-47 submachine gun at the scene. (Monterrey El Porvenir in Spanish -- Daily from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon State. URL:

Mexico City Notimex on 11 August reports that a device exploded at approximately 2200 hours on 10 August near the mayor's office in Allende, Nuevo Leon. A police officer and two civilians were injured, according to Mayor Jorge Salazar. The explosive was made out of a tank with several liters of gasoline and chemicals and was left in a garbage can in the parking lot at the intersection of Allende and Privada Allende Streets. Preliminary reports indicate that the device was left by several men, presumed to have ties to organized crime, who were driving a red truck. (Mexico City ntmx NOTIMEX Online in Spanish -- Website of Mexican Government official news agency; URL:

OSC found no file-worthy material in the following sources: Mexico City Office of the Attorney General of the Republic, Mexican Naval Secretariat, Mexico City Notimex, Mexico City El Universal, Mexico City Blog del Narco, Tijuana El Mexicano Online, Hermosillo El Imparcial, Nogales El Diario de Sonora, Chihuahua Tiempo, Torreon El Siglo de Torreon, Salti llo Vanguardia, Monterrey El Norte, Tampico Milenio Diario de Tampico

Material in the World News Connection is generally copyrighted by the source cited. Permission for use must be obtained from the copyright holder. Inquiries regarding use may be directed to NTIS, US Dept. of Commerce.

Bulgarian Police Break up Narcotics Ring, Arrest Six
Staff report: "Police Break up Narcotics Ring in Plovdiv" - Trud Online
Thursday August 11, 2011 15:17:43 GMT

The police operation was conducted by officials from the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and policemen from Plovdiv. Half a kilogram of pure heroin was confiscated. The boss of the criminal ring together with his five accomplices were arrested.

The police operation conducted by the anti-mafia officers and the policemen from the Plovdiv Regional Police Department is the result of a long monitoring and a joint investigation conducted by officers from the Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and criminologists from the Regional Police Department against the bosses of the drug distribution ring in the region of the town.

In the course of the i nvestigation it became clear that the major members of the criminal ring control a network of dealers that dominate the heroin market in the region. Last night a joint team conducted the police operation for their arrest.

Six people were arrested near the town of Krichim as they were concluding a deal for a huge amount of heroin: The boss G.K. Kadri (43-year-old), who has a criminal record for destroying somebody else's property and for drug trafficking, and the remaining members -- A.A. (27-year-old), V.B. (43-year-old), A.M. (54-year-old), N.K. (39-year-old), and D.A.(39-year-old), who all have a criminal record for different offences, including documentary frauds and a murder attempt. They offered resistance while being detained.

The drug was found while three cars they were driving were searched. Packages containing minimal amounts of heroin were seized -- samples with pure substance, electronic scales, as well as half a kilogram of heroin.

The s cheme that the criminal network adopted is clear. High-purity heroin was secretly imported in Bulgaria after which it was mixed with different substances permitted by the law and was packaged in small doses to be distributed in the region of Plovdiv. Thus half a kilogram of heroin, packaged in doses for the retail market, would be sold for about 90,000 leva ($66,000).

The investigation into the case is under way and the homes of the criminal ring members and their cars are still being searched.

SYDNEY (Xinhua) -- About 94 kilograms of cannabis worth almost 2 million AU dollars (over 2 million U.S. dollars) has been seized from a car on the New South Wales (NSW) north coast in eastern Australia, NSW Police said on Thursday.

Officers stopped a Holden Commodore station wagon on the Pacific Highway at Coffs Harbor Wednesday afternoon, police said.

A search of the vehicle allegedly uncovered 94 kg of cannabis, which had been placed inside a number of large plastic bags in the boot of the car.

The car's 56-year-old male driver from Eagle Heights in Queensland has been charged with supplying a commercial quantity of a prohibited drug.

He was held in custody overnight to appear at Coffs Harbor Local Court on Thursday.

Malaysians on charges over alleged ice, heroin plot

AN alleged plot by Malaysian nationals to import large quantities of ice and heroin into Australia and distribute them across the east coast is part of a "worrying trend" of increased narcotics production from the Malay archipelago.

Christopher Roberts from the National Security College in Canberra said drug production in the region was increasing to meet demand in Australia for illicit substances such as methamphetamines and heroin.

"It's an issue of supply and demand and there may be increased demand in Australia and other countries that plays into this," Dr Roberts said.

An alleged new bid by a Malaysian syndicate to bring drugs into Australia was interrupted on Tuesday when police arrested five men and seized $4 million worth of drugs in NSW and Victoria.

Malaysian men, Kevin Tan Hong Yong, 28, and Peter Lim Cheng Choy, 48, were the alleged principals of the syndicate and were staying at the Holiday Inn at Haymarket, in inner-city Sydney to allegedly oversee the establishment of a new ice distribution network.

One was arrested on Tuesday night while en route to Sydney Airport, while the other was arrested at a restaurant in Sydney's Chinatown district.

Both were charged with four counts of supplying prohibited drugs, amounting to 1384gm of heroin, at Lansvale, in Sydney's south-west last Sunday, 996gm of ice on August 3 as well as a further 998gm and of ice and 685.3 gm of heroin on July 28.

They were denied bail.

Detective Superintendent Scott Cook, who leads the Asian Crime Squad of NSW Police, says the drug network was in its infancy.

Police also arrested Cheung Wing Cheng, 39, at Hurstville, Sydney, Fook Chon Wong, 38, at Cabramatta, in Sydney, and Ding Xiao, 23, in Victoria.

Half-ton of cocaine seized in Mexico

Mexico City –  Mexican authorities seized a half-ton of cocaine from a vessel that had arrived at a port in the Yucatan Peninsula from Lima, Peru.

In a joint statement, the federal Attorney General's Office and the Navy Secretariat said the Liberian-flagged Hansa Berlin was heading for Cancun, Mexico's leading tourist resort.

The cocaine was found Thursday at Progreso port inside the false bottoms of cardboard boxes of clothing. The authorities found a total of 559 packets of cocaine weighing 539 kilos (1,187 pounds), the statement read.

According to experts, some 300 tons of South American cocaine are shipped annually through Mexico to the United States, the world's largest market for illegal drugs.

Cartels' turf battles for control of smuggling routes are one of the main drivers of the drug-related violence that has left more than 40,000 dead in Mexico in less than five years.

UNKNOWN DATE ENTRIES

Over 420 Kg of Marijuana Seized in Police Operation in Southern Bulgaria

"Over 420 Kg of Marijuana Seized"
Police Destroy 22 FARC Cocaine Labs in Colombia

UNKNOWN DATE

Police Destroy 22 FARC Cocaine Labs in Colombia A total of 22 cocaine laboratories belonging to the FARC guerrilla group were destroyed in three cities in Guaviare, a province in southern Colombia, the National Police said. The labs were dismantled during “Operation Republica 81,” which was carried out by National Police drug enforcement agents and the Attorney General’s Office. The operation targeted “rural infrastructure” belonging to the 1st Front and 7th Front of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, guerrilla group, the National Police said. Each of the labs, which were located in rural areas outside the cities of San Jose del Guaviare, El Retorno and Miraflores, had the capacity to process around 10 kilos of cocaine base weekly. Total estimated average monthly cocaine base production from the labs was 880 kilos, officials said. Drug enforcement agents seized 338 kilos of coca base, 6,800 kilos of coca, chemical precursors and other materials worth some 1.9 billion pesos (about $1.05 million), the National Police said. A total of 80.8 tons of drugs were seized and 239 labs destroyed during the first quarter of this year, the National Police said in a report released earlier this year.

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