Kinahan gangster Liam Byrne will suffer 'inhumane treatment' in UK jail - lawyer

Liam Byrne, a key cog of the Kinahan crime gang, has claimed his extradition to the UK from Spain should be rejected because he risks "inhumane and degrading treatment" in a U.K. prison. Byrne's lawyer said there is a 'real risk' that his client's fundamental right to 'physical and moral integrity' will be in danger if his extradition to the UK proceeds. Byrne was lassoed at a Spanish restaurant in June 2023. His lawyer says extradition would violate human rights because the only evidence against his client are hacked messages on encrypted communications network Encrochat. A separate extradition appeal for Kinahan gangster Jack Kavanagh was also held last week. Spanish prosecutors backed the extradition of both men, who are wanted on gun trafficking charges. Kavanagh was arrested at Malaga Airport on May 30th while in-transit from Dubai to Turkey.

As for the Kinahans, most are still thought to be in the UAE. Daniel Kinahan, 46, his brother Christopher, 42, and associate Sean McGovern, 37, are holed up in the country. The net is apparently closing with Ireland's Justice Minister recently promising to extradite them after high level meetings with UAE officials. See ----->US sanctions Kinahan Cartel

Cameron Ortis guilty

Ashraf Khanani was contacted by Cameron Ortis. With Salim Hanareh and Farzam Mehdizadeh, they ran a huge money laundering business in the GTA. Project Ace began after cops found RCMP intelligence on a device owned by Vincent Ramos, a Vancouver dealer of encrypted phones for drug dealers. He was busted in 2018 and now resides in a Federal US jail cell.

Salim Henareh.

Cameron Ortis

It has been four years of silence since the arrest of Cameron Ortis sent shockwaves through cop, intelligence and the international spy community. His arrest meant the RCMP wasn't vetting civilian employees before dishing out top-secret clearance. Ortis, 51, faced 6 charges when his trial began. Four are under the Security of Information Act for “intentionally and without authority” sharing “special operational information” to four unnamed individuals in 2015. Two charges are under the Criminal Code for breach of trust and misusing a computer. Ortis improperly sat at the apex of Canada’s criminal national security intelligence apparatus. Most details about the allegations against Ortis are under a publication ban.

Senior RCMP officials thought they were brilliant by handing over their national intelligence program to a civilian. RCMP brass made Cameron Ortis director-general of the National Intelligence Coordination Centre and gave him a free hand. Four years later and Ortis is awaiting trial for security breaches; three of his former staff are suing the government for harassment; and an independent review has cited senior police officials responsible for the NICC for their "clear failure." Top RCMP entrusted Ortis with critical intelligence at the helm of the NICC, and kept him in that position despite repeated and numerous complaints about his conduct as a spy from staff. Former RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson says he had a “friendly” relationship with Cameron Ortis, an alleged mole accused of selling top secret intelligence. “I never received any complaints about Cam and I was never advised of any complaints about Cam."

Paulson denies he protected Ortis, which is strange because Ortis's rapid rise would have been impossible without Paulson. The former head of RCMP’s special intelligence unit was reported for his “strange and controlling” behavior in early 2017. Ortis was arrested in Sept 2019 after the FBI revealed he was a spy. Paulson initially declined to comment. An independent review concluded all levels of senior RCMP management failed to deal with the many complaints against Ortis. Harassment was a theme during Paulson’s tenure at the RCMP. He issued an apology in Oct 2016 in a legal settlement. Hundreds of millions was blown in legal fees.

See ----->Espionage suspect Cameron Ortis jailed
See ----->Vincent Ramos pleads guilty in 'Phantom Secure'

Leaving the Hells Angels

Hang-arounds, associates and prospects may leave the club at any time. Patched members, who are expected to make a lifetime commitment, will leave the club either in good standing or bad standing. In good standing means the member is considered retired, is still considered a brother, but is more or less inactive in the club. Less than 10% leave this way. In bad standing is someone who has been kicked out or is seen to have turned their back on the club. Only members can own HA colours, so tattoos, clothing, paint on bikes, jewelry must be retrieved by the club. In some cases members out in bad standing are to be attacked on sight. In all cases Hells Angels will shun an ex-member out in bad standing.

See ----->Becoming a Hells Angel

OPP lasso 9.1m bootleg smokes

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) seized more than nine million illegal cigarettes following a traffic stop on Highway 407 near Bronte, Ont. A transport truck carrying about 9.1 million cigarettes was stopped and the contraband seized. Saskatchewan RCMP meanwhile seized 42,000 cartons of illegal cigarettes after stopping a semi-trailer for speeding on Highway 1 near Gull Lake. A B.C. man was busted. Bootleg smokes are now common across Canada. Contraband tobacco to organized crime is just another commodity. It’s a low risk, high profit crime, and penalties are light.

Its estimated that untaxed, contraband cigarettes now account for up to half of total sales in British Columbia.

Trafficking in illegal cigarettes, a huge business in Central Canada, moved west. So say former cops working in illicit trade prevention for the tobacco companies. They’re fighting back but it isn't easy when legal smokes cost $135-$180 a carton and 200 cigarettes sell on the black market for $35. Legal cigarettes are required to self extinguish when not in use. Contraband tobacco products don't have that feature and are responsible for a multitude of fires.

See ----->Traffic stop leads Vernon cops to 1.5m contraband smokes

Young Thug - RICO

Young Thug's racketeering trial has begun in Georgia. Jeffery Lamar Williams was busted on gang-related charges in May 2023 after being named in a sweeping 56-count grand jury indictment in Fulton County, Georgia. He is among 28 associated with the Atlanta-based Young Slime Life (YSL) gang, which he co-founded in 2012. His indictment spotlights use of rap lyrics as evidence. Lyrics from the 2018 track Anybody featuring Nicki Minaj refer to a killing authorized by Williams. "I never killed anybody, but I got something to do with that body," he repeats in the chorus, adding that he's the "general" of the group.

Young Thug was first charged with two counts, conspiring to violate the state’s RICO act and participating in street gang activity.

Williams was hit with drugs and weapons charges after cops searched his home following his arrest.

YSL is an acronym for ‘Young Slime Life’.  It’s a hybrid Bloods gang in Atlanta.

Other rappers from the label were also indicted, including 'Gunna' Sergio Kitchens.  'Gunna', is also facing RICO charges. He was denied bond again and must remain behind bars until trial. Prosecutors argued that Gunna plays a leadership role in YSL and that he will intimidate witnesses if he is let out on bond. Prosecutors learned of many threats against witnesses.

Gunna, Young Thug.

On May 14, a nurse was caught trying to smuggle cocaine and pot into jail for Gunna.

Jean-Francois Généreux busted for fake $2 coins

CBSA found what looked like 12,000 $2 Canadian coins, all stamped 2012, inside plastic bags. The label declared it contained “metal badges”. Companies in China are pumping out fake Canadian $2 coins and selling them to buyers online. Similar in size and weight to a toonie, fakes are being found in greater numbers. Fake toonie, left, with two-toed polar bear, beside genuine.

Jean-Francois Généreux, the buyer of the toonies, has been convicted multiple times for uttering fake documents and using or circulating counterfeit money, including twice in 2002, again in 2006, and in 2009. The prolific crook has arrests dating back 22 years. He has pleaded guilty to multiple charges involving fraud, theft, identity theft, and mail theft. Généreux's supplier was offering poor quality CAN$2 coins at low prices, in huge quantities on the Chinese online sales site Alibaba. Seizures of counterfeits have been increasing steadily according to cops.

26,630 fake $2 coins were seized. It was Généreux’s third package of “metal badges” from China in a month.

Vitel’homme Innocent wanted by U.S.

Haitian gang leader Vitel’homme Innocent, 37, is charged with terrorizing U.S. citizens in Haiti. Newly named to the FBI’s 'Ten Most Wanted Fugitives' list there’s a big $2m bounty. Innocent was previously charged with plotting the kidnapping of a group of U.S. Christian missionaries in 2021. The gang boss was also named in a Haitian police report into the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

'Ndrangheta trial winds down

An Italian tribunal convicted 207 and sentenced them to a combined 2,100 years in prison on charges related to their membership in Italy's 'Ndrangheta. 131 others were acquitted. Boss Luigi Mancuso served 19 years in an Italian prison for his role in leading one of the 'ndrangheta's most powerful crime families, based in the town of Vibo Valentia. Awash in cocaine cash, the 'Ndrangheta has bought hotels, restaurants, pharmacies, car dealerships and other businesses throughout Italy, especially in Rome and the country's north.

Bullet planted in Iskar Andrice's head

The slum of Cité Soleil in Haiti welcomed news that feared gangster Iskar Andrice, also identified as Iscar Andris, who ruled the Belekou community with an iron fist, was dead.

Andrice died in troubled circumstances, say locals. The number 2 of the G9 Gang died after being shot, but by his own bullet the story goes.
See ----->Haiti's Jimmy Cherizier - 'Barbecue'

Marius Lazăr, Romanian HA boss - Guilty

Lazar plotted the killing of two rival bikers.

Romanian HA boss Marius Lazăr, 50, has been found guilty after being extradited to the US to face charges including drug trafficking. Lazăr challenged his extradition to the European Court of Human Rights which resulted in bail for two years.

The DEA wants NZ citizen Miles John McKelvy for importing cocaine after a bust of the HA in Romania. He has a long history as an "insidious predatory fraudster and drug smuggler". Marc Patrick Johnson and Michael Murray Matthews were busted with Lazăr in 2020. They are still on the run after being granted bail by a Romanian court.

Miles John McKelvy

Matthews is HAMC in New Zealand and Johnson has a long history as a meth cook. Marius Lazăr will be sentenced later. The drugs came from Mexico and were destined for New Zealand.