Skip to main content

Jorge Solano Cortes was flown to the United States on Thursday

Jorge Solano Cortes was detained by Togolese police in November in an anti-drugs operation backed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Seven other Colombians, a Costa Rican and a Mexican were also detained, along with a South African, a Ghanaian and two Togolese.Police said the group was planning to fly 500 kg of cocaine from the northern town of Niamtougou in Togo, which is sandwiched between Ghana and Benin, to the Atlantic port of Lome from where it was to be smuggled in containers to Europe.Solano Cortes was flown to the United States on Thursday, Togo's government said in a statement, after it agreed to an extradition request from the U.S. Justice Department. He was wanted in the United States on charges of cocaine-smuggling.United Nations anti-narcotics experts say an increase of cocaine trafficking on West Africa's Atlantic seaboard in recent years has turned it into a "Coke Coast", with Colombian cartels using flotillas of planes and boats to smuggle drugs to Europe.Traffickers work with locals, sometimes in government or military and police circles, the experts say.Over the last three years, law enforcement authorities have made major cocaine seizures in Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mauritania and Sierra Leone and have also focused on bauxite-producer Guinea as a suspected trans-shipment hub.The experts say this pressure has driven the traffickers to seek out smaller states like Gambia, Togo or Benin
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Steven Peter Hipwell, 32, was arrested by Cherng Talay Police on December 22 at 4.30 pm allegedly in possession of two bags of cocaine

Steven Peter Hipwell, 32, was arrested by Cherng Talay Police on December 22 at 4.30 pm allegedly in possession of two bags of cocaine totaling 0.6 and 0.7 grams. His arrest came in a sting operation involving another Englishman ,who had been arrested on drug charges by police in Patong days earlier.Police alleged that David Pet had been caught with cocaine on Nanai Road, and while being held he told police that Hipwell had sold him the drugs.Police then arranged a sting and raid on Hipwell's house, where David ''bought'' the cocaine while police waited outside.Police searched Hipwell's home. Officers said they found another small packet of cocaine in a money jar.Hipwell is being held in Phuket jail while the court considers bail.Both Pet and Hipwell were living and working in Phuket, police say
Post a Comment
Read more

Jessica Guinyard, age 20, and De Anne Browne, age 21, both U.S. citizens, were arrested at Newark Airport in connection with the smuggling attempt.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection arrested two women who attempted to smuggle more than 12 pounds of cocaine concealed in two false sided bags. Jessica Guinyard, age 20, and De Anne Browne, age 21, both U.S. citizens, were arrested at Newark Airport in connection with the smuggling attempt.On Wednesday afternoon, CBP officers selected Guinyard for a routine baggage inspection when she arrived on a flight from San Jose, Costa Rica. Guinyard presented one Pullman style bag for inspection. During her interview, Guinyard indicated that she was traveling with Browne. Upon examination of her bag, CBP officers noticed that the inside walls of the bag felt unusually thick and heavy. A probe of the inside walls revealed a white powdery substance which field tested positive for cocaine. Inspection of Browne’s bag also yielded false sides containing cocaine. “CBP is committed to interdicting narcotics at our ports of entry and identifying the perpetrators who facilitate such brazen attempts to s...
Post a Comment
Read more

Mark Shady, is charged with 14 counts of delivery of cocaine, 15 counts of possession with intent to deliver, two counts of corrupt organizations

Mark Shady, 32, of 1362 Lusk Run Road, is charged with 14 counts of delivery of cocaine, 15 counts of possession with intent to deliver, two counts of corrupt organizations, one count of criminal use of a communication facility and one count of conspiracy to deliver cocaine, according to state Attorney General Tom Corbett.Agents estimate the group was responsible for moving more than seven kilograms of cocaine with a street value of more than $780,000 since at least 2004. Corbett said the investigation started focusing mainly on Shady's alleged distribution of cocaine in Lock Haven, Williamsport and the surrounding areas. From there, agents were able to identify two of his cocaine sources.Evidence and testimony about the alleged criminal activity was presented to a statewide investigating grand jury, which recommended the charges being filed Friday. According to the grand jury, from March to August 2007, law enforcement agents made 14 cocaine purchases from Shady in Clinton County....
1 comment
Read more