cannabisnews.com: DEA Delivers Drug Bust DEA Delivers Drug Bust Posted by FoM on April 13, 2000 at 11:14:22 PT By David A. Vise, Washington Post Staff Writer Source: Washington Post The Drug Enforcement Administration has broken up a drug smuggling ring that allegedly used Federal Express drivers to transport marijuana around the country for a Mexican cartel. Authorities said this morning that they will make more than 100 arrests and have seized 121 tons of marijuana. The DEA investigation, called Operation Green Air, has been going on for 20 months, with the cooperation of Federal Express. An employee of the company first noticed a suspicious package that turned out to contain marijuana. The company's cooperation allowed the DEA to snare a larger group of employees and traffickers, authorities said.The seized marijuana had a wholesale value of $140 million, the DEA said, and was smuggled to Boston, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Connecticut and Florida after it was brought into the United States from Mexico.Joe Keith, who heads the special operations division of the DEA, said the drugs flowed from a violent Mexican cartel known as the Tijuana Cartel, which shipped the drugs to warehouses outside Los Angeles. The marijuana was then allegedly transferred by Jamaican drug traffickers, who boxed it for shipment via Federal Express to the East Coast, where it was allegedly handled by Federal Express drivers and sold to individuals by Jamaican drug dealers, he said.The scheme involved at least 20 to 25 Federal Express employees who have been or will be arrested, Keith said. In all, the DEA anticipates more than 100 arrests in the case, with about 60 of those coming today."This is one of the largest marijuana trafficking organizations we have worked on in some time," Keith said. "This is a very significant operation. They were sophisticated and the cooperation we got working with Federal Express helped us immensely."The Federal Express workers included 20 drivers, three customer service workers and at least one security specialist, DEA officials said.Federal Express officials said their security system helped detect the drug trafficking and emphasized that they fully cooperated with federal law enforcement officials."This is an example of how our security system worked," said Bob Bryden, vice president of security for Federal Express. "Normally, we terminate employees immediately. In this instance, DEA realized it had more importance than just one seizure and asked us not take action against our employees and asked us to help uncover the complete scope."Federal Express said its detailed tracking system was crucial in assisting federal agents.By David A. ViseWashington Post Staff WriterThursday , April 13, 2000 © 2000 The Washington Post Company CannabisNews Articles On The DEA:http://google.com/search?num=10&q=cannabisnews+DEA+site:cannabisnews.com Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by legalizeit on April 13, 2000 at 22:23:09 PT Abolish the DEA What a waste the DEA is! Here we spend who knows how many millions to pay a bunch of bureaucrats and cop-types to chase people who are trafficking nothing more than plant material, while we have to pay Uncle Sam $30 a year just for the 'privilege' of visiting our National Forests and $20 a pop for visiting National Monuments! (Before the escalation of the Drug War the prices were free and $5, respectively.)When idiot Congressmen and Senators pour money into this lost venture, we the taxpayers are the ones who are bilked even more. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on April 13, 2000 at 18:17:47 PT: Cost/Benefit analysis? Let's see: of all the illicit drugs, only the price of good ol' never-killed-anyone potiguaya has risen. Heroin and cocaine, real killers, have *dropped*. Precipitously. Quality has risen. Price fallen. Does this sound like a success for the advocates of prohibition? Only in the topsy-turvy, white-is-black alternate universe inhabited by the minds of DrugWarriors. How much was spent in the arrest of these 'criminals'? Hundreds of thousands of dollars? Millions, maybe? How much was the pot worth? Thousands? While deadly white powders claim more victims because they are harder to detect than pot. My country neighbors used to tell me there was only one way to gain the attention of a mule; to liberally apply a 2x4 to the cranium, directly between the eyes. Too bad the DrugWarriors would have you up on charges for attempting the very same act, no matter how desperately it is needed... or deserved. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by MikeEEEEE on April 13, 2000 at 18:12:32 PT Yet another bust When are they going to learn they can't stop it, I'd like to see my tax dollars saved, more jail time for an herb, not a drug = more $$$$$$$ down the toliet. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Freedom on April 13, 2000 at 11:57:11 PT What a waste of resources. I feel so much safer now. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by greenfox on April 13, 2000 at 11:35:17 PT More Propoganda (and even a bit of advertising!) "The seized marijuana had a wholesale value of $140 million, the DEA said"well this is quite impressive, although I must say I would never pay that price for Mexican. ;)"...said the drugs flowed from a violent Mexican cartel known as the Tijuana Cartel..."These "violent cartels" are switch phrases. First of all, I highly doubt these people are as violent and oppressive as those writing this article. If they are, however, thisis due to prohibition. Dealers must compete and the product, more lucritive than gold, causes problems amongst those selling. If it were legal, it would be regulated and this problem would be non-exsistant. :P' "This is one of the largest marijuana trafficking organizations we have worked on in some time," Keith said. "This is a verysignificant operation. They were sophisticated and the cooperation we got working with Federal Express helped us immensely." 'This is the part where the DEA agents justify the billions we spend every year. Of course it was (notice the adjetives) "largest, significant,immensely,trafficking, etc" ; this is to throw people off guard. "Gee whiz, my tax dollars ARE helping to end this big, mean, drug war!" Except, as said so many times, prison is never mentioned. They ARRESTED people, sure, but THEN WHAT? Furthermore; for every bust like this that they catch, nine others slide through the cracks. This won't affect marijuana avalibility in the slightest; au contrair, it will simply drive the price up ever so slightly for something that is already worth its weight in gold.And one last thing on this; they refered to the opperation as "sophisticated". Friends, let me ask you this: has any publicized bust ever been called "simple, small scale"? The answer to the drug war gravy train lay within the answer to that question. :) Peace out!-greenfox [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: