Bootleg cigarettes a global problem

Lincolnshire cops visited a store after suspicions it was selling illicit cigarettes and booze. A cop shows how a remote control lowers a ceiling light to reveal shelves packed with counterfeit cigarettes. 11 gangsters, part of an Armenian organized crime group involved in the large scale import and distribution of cigarettes were recently arrested by French Customs. 2.5 tonnes of counterfeit cigarettes were seized, worth about €1.250m in France, with €100k in cash and €150k in winning lottery tickets bought to launder profits. French cops said the counterfeit cigarettes were imported from European countries, before being stored in warehouses and then sold on the black market in French cities. An illegal cigarette factory was shut down by Belgian Customs. The factory was located in Arlon, Belgium and sent product across Europe.

A study by KPMG, commissioned by tobacco giant Philip Morris, showed consumption of illicit cigarettes in the EU was about 8% of total use in 2019, but this was still equivalent to nearly 39 billion cigarettes and €9.5bn in lost government revenue.

Excise fraud is currently an EU law enforcement priority.

9 Gangster Disciples, 3 US Army soldiers charged with conspiracy gun-running

Members of the Gangster Disciples in the Pocket Town neighborhood of Chicago used the guns in a street war against rivals.

Demarcus Adams, 21; Jarius Brunson, 22; and Brandon Miller, 22, were enlisted in the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Campbell in Clarksville, Tennessee. They are charged with crimes stemming from the purchase and transfer of guns to gangsters in Chicago. The soldiers purchased 91 guns from various dealers for resale. Demarcus Adams - Brandon Miller

'Mr Taco' off to jail for 14 years

The former owner of a chain of taco restaurants in Wisconsin was convicted of cocaine trafficking and sentenced to 14 years in federal prison. Luis Morales, 41, of Mr. Taco and Savor Food & Spirits, led a local drug trafficking organization that distributed large amounts of cocaine in the Fox Valley between 2014 and 2020. A lengthy investigation determined Morales often traveled to Chicago, where he obtained large amounts of cocaine, and also made frequent trips to Mexico and Colombia.

The Mr. Taco location in Kimberly was often used to distribute and accept payments for cocaine. Morales arranged for his employees to sell "large amounts of cocaine" at Mr. Taco's Kimberly location. Morales also owns Mr. Taco restaurants in Appleton and Hilbert, as well as Savor Food and Spirits in Kimberly.

Frequent cocaine flyer Ali Baek busted again

TO cops landed 25 kg of high grade cocaine with an approximate street value of $2.5m. Busted is Nino Cunanan, 41, and Ali Baek, 54. Less than 2 years ago Baek was nailed with 61 kg of cocaine. Cops described the pair as 'professional cocaine importers'.

A drug investigation dubbed 'Project Corredor' yielded 61 kg of high purity cocaine which cops estimated to be worth $7.9m. Four Toronto men were arrested. Cops are still looking for two others. Cops also seized four vehicles, $200k Cdn, $14k US, 30k euros and a large amount of luxury jewellery.

Patrick English, 39, David Bergman, 48, Ali Baek, 52, and Ardeshir Omanian, 57 face drug charges. The high level traffickers used land border crossings and were linked to the Sinaloa cartel.

Raids on private Bolivian narco planes, again

On March 27, agents of Bolivia’s anti-corruption police were met with gunfire when they raided La Cruceña aerodrome, just east of the city of Santa Cruz. 38 people were arrested, 66 small planes seized and 29 hangars sealed. Drums of precursors, large-caliber weapons and satellite communication equipment was also seized. This is the third raid on the La Cruceña aerodrome. In July and November 2019, the facility was raided with 15 people arrested and several aircraft seized.

Both times investigations stalled when Bolivia’s anti-narcotics police didn't pursue prosecutions. Poorly regulated private aerodromes like La Cruceña are ideal for drug traffickers. Some 81 private aerodromes are registered in Bolivia where they operate with little oversight.

Marengo trial

The Marengo trial is a trial of leading members of the Mocro Mafia, a Dutch-Moroccan criminal organization. Seventeen gangsters are standing trial for involvement in various murders and attempted murders in the Netherlands. The principal is Ridouan Taghi, considered to be the leader. Saïd Razzouki is the alleged right-hand man of Taghi. He was arrested in Medellín on February 7, 2020, and extradited to the Netherlands.

A breakthrough in the case came when when Nabil B., one of the suspects, offered to give a statement. Shortly after, Nabil's brother was murdered, after which Nabil pulled out, later changing his decision. His attorney, Derk Wiersum, was killed on 18 September 2019. Investigative journalist Peter R. de Vries was supporting a crown witness in the trial. On 6 July 2021, he was shot in the head. On 15 July he died as a result of the shooting. After reports that Ridouan Taghi was planning a jailbreak, the streets around the fortified courtroom known as the Bunker were ringed with heavily armed police and military.

See ----->Kinahan associate Ridouan Taghi fingered in escape plots
See ----->Caloh Wagoh - 'Keylow'

HA Ryan charged in largest drug seizure in Manitoba history - update

Frequent flyer Damion Ryan, 41, is nailed. Cops seized 110 kg of cocaine, 41.4 kg of meth, 3 kg of fentanyl, and half a kg of MDMA. Estimated street value is $70m. 14 handguns, five assault-style rifles and more than $445k cash was also seized.

Project Divergent was launched in 2018 after a Manitoba RCMP criminal analyst flagged trends regarding the importation of drugs into Canada.

See ----->HA Damion Ryan busted again

Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh = 21 years in slammer

Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh has been caged for 21 years for masterminding a major European cocaine and pot operation. He was pinched at Birmingham Airport on January 12, 2019, after returning from a vacation to Mexico. He flew across the Atlantic weeks after returning from Dubai where he's thought to have met with mob boss Daniel Kinahan. Kavanagh was a high ranking member of the Kinahan group. Kavanagh and his gang had imported drugs into the UK on an industrial scale.

Kavanagh, 54, was an alpha level trafficker.

Las Vegas K9 Nuggetz lassoes $10.5m in cocaine

Nanak Singh and Chandra Prakash were carrying a large load of cocaine in a shipment of tomatoes in a truck. They were stopped for driving erratically around 2:30 a.m. K9 Nuggetz indicated an alert for drugs. Cops found 230 pounds of cocaine with an estimated value of $10.5m.

Thomas 'Tommy Shots' Gioeli compassionate release denied

A judge rejected the appeal from cancer-stricken mobster Thomas 'Tommy Shots' Gioeli for a compassionate release from prison.

“The unfortunate fact in this case is that the defendant’s crimes were so heinous and the nature of his leadership role so dangerous that release would not be appropriate.” Gioeli, 70, was convicted at a 2012 federal racketeering trial for conspiring to kill supporters of then-family boss 'Little Vic' Orena during a war for control of the Colombo family. He was sentenced to 18½ years behind bars. The career tough guy was described as a cold-blooded killer during his trial where he was convicted of racketeering.

The family capo, heading a faction loyal to imprisoned head Carmine “Junior” Persico, was bumped up to street boss during the battle where 13 victims were killed — including a bagel shop worker gunned down in a case of mistaken identity. Gioeli famously won a $250k settlement after an August 2013 fall during a prison ping-pong game left him with a fractured kneecap needing surgery. The gangster is less than halfway through his prison term.