Complex Colombian heroin network broken up in New York
New York (EFE).- U.S. law enforcement authorities, working with the Colombian police, broke up a drug trafficking network that brought heroin valued at tens of millions of dollars into New York City.
Since the operation was begun in the summer of 2004, 56 people involved in the network have been arrested, Michael Garcia, the U.S.
attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Wednesday at a press conference.
The latest blow to the group came on Tuesday in the southwestern Colombian city of Cali with the arrests of 30 members of the gang, among them nine of its leaders, a move which virtually dismantled the organization.
The nine ringleaders arrested in Colombia will be tried in the United States and, if found guilty, they will face prison terms of from 10 years to life behind bars. The other people apprehended in the Andean nation will be tried there.
Garcia called the operation a "new model" for investigation in drug trafficking cases.
John P. Gilbride, a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration overseeing the case in New York, said at the press conference that during the operation police seized more than 100 kilograms of heroin with an estimated street value of $25 million.
In addition to the drug, anti-drug agents here seized $3 million in cash, jewelry, several luxury automobiles and about 20 stamps used to mark packets of the drug before it was sold on the street.
Gilbride said that this was the largest seizure of the drug from a single organization in New York's history and he emphasized the importance of the operation "since 90 percent of the heroin that arrives in the city comes from Colombia." EFE raf-pgp/bp
Since the operation was begun in the summer of 2004, 56 people involved in the network have been arrested, Michael Garcia, the U.S.
attorney for the Southern District of New York, said Wednesday at a press conference.
The latest blow to the group came on Tuesday in the southwestern Colombian city of Cali with the arrests of 30 members of the gang, among them nine of its leaders, a move which virtually dismantled the organization.
The nine ringleaders arrested in Colombia will be tried in the United States and, if found guilty, they will face prison terms of from 10 years to life behind bars. The other people apprehended in the Andean nation will be tried there.
Garcia called the operation a "new model" for investigation in drug trafficking cases.
John P. Gilbride, a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration overseeing the case in New York, said at the press conference that during the operation police seized more than 100 kilograms of heroin with an estimated street value of $25 million.
In addition to the drug, anti-drug agents here seized $3 million in cash, jewelry, several luxury automobiles and about 20 stamps used to mark packets of the drug before it was sold on the street.
Gilbride said that this was the largest seizure of the drug from a single organization in New York's history and he emphasized the importance of the operation "since 90 percent of the heroin that arrives in the city comes from Colombia." EFE raf-pgp/bp
posted by Marko at 6/22/2006 09:55:00 AM
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