193 pounds of cocaine headed into Canada confiscated at Ambassador Bridge
Farmington Hills deer decision; Trump to speak in Warren; Pistons in playoffs; and more top stories.
Farmington Hills deer decision; Trump to speak in Warren; Pistons in playoffs; and more top stories.
Farmington Hills deer decision; Trump to speak in Warren; Pistons in playoffs; and more top stories.
U.S. officials intercepted and confiscated 193 pounds of cocaine on a truck that was en route to Canada during an outbound check at the Ambassador Bridge port of entry.
"It's amazing enforcement work by all involved," Port Director Marc Calixte said in the press release issued Monday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
This drug bust, which happened April 20, is the third bulk cocaine seizure by the CBP Field Operations in Detroit since March 21. CBP's border security assignments include screening international travelers and cargo to be on the lookout for illicit narcotics, invasive weeds and counterfeit consumer goods among other details.
The investigation involved a Canada-bound commercial vehicle and trailer that was "selected for examination," the report said. Upon the search, officers found several bricks of a white powdery substance packed in two duffel bags. Testing confirmed the cargo to be cocaine.
The cocaine, truck and trailer, all were seized.
The driver, who is a Canadian citizen, faces federal prosecution.
"Safe and secure international commerce is essential to protecting the homeland," Director of Field Operations Marty C. Raybon said in the announcement. "Rest assured that we'll continue to leverage all available resources to disrupt the transnational drug trade and those seeking to exploit our Michigan ports of entry."
The case remains under investigation by ICE Homeland Security Investigations.
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USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
'Innocent bystander' fatally shot during 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City, police say
'Innocent bystander' fatally shot during 'No Kings' protest in Salt Lake City, police say Show Caption Hide Caption 'No Kings' rallies across US draw big crowds to protest Trump Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators filled the streets across the country in coordinated "No Kings" marches to protest President Trump. An "innocent bystander" was killed after being caught in the crossfire between a person who pulled out a rifle at demonstrators and members of a peacekeeping team for the "No Kings" protest in Salt Lake City on June 14, authorities said. The shooting occurred at around 7:56 p.m. local time while a large crowd of demonstrators marched through downtown Salt Lake City, the Salt Lake City Police Department said in an update on June 15. Officers who were facilitating traffic during the protest, which drew about 10,000 people, reported hearing gunfire. The gunshots caused hundreds of people to flee for safety, with some hiding behind barriers and running into nearby parking garages and businesses, according to the Salt City Police Department. Officers immediately responded to the scene, secured the area, and searched for any active threats, police said. Officers discovered a man who sustained a gunshot wound and provided emergency care. The man, who was identified on June 15 as Utah resident Arthur Folasa Ah Loo, 39, later died at the hospital. Police said the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner will determine the official cause and manner of death. A preliminary investigation revealed that Ah Loo was participating in the "No Kings" demonstration and is believed to be an "innocent bystander who was not the intended target of the gunfire," according to police. Police accused Arturo Gamboa, 24, of brandishing a rifle at demonstrators and running away from two peacekeepers, who ordered him to drop the weapon. Police said Gamboa and Ah Loo were both struck by gunfire after one of the peacekeepers fired three rounds. "Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the 39-year-old man who was killed, and with the many community members who were impacted by this traumatic incident," Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said in a statement. "When this shooting happened, the response of our officers and detectives was fast, brave, and highly coordinated. It speaks to the caliber of this great department and our law enforcement partners." The incident remains under investigation, police said, adding that they are also looking into the actions of the peacekeepers. 'Atrocious': Lawyers, family and friends of detainees describe ICE detention Police: Suspect taken into custody on murder charge After officers reported hearing gunfire, they were notified at about 8 p.m. of another man with a gunshot wound in the area. Police said they found the man, who was dressed in all black clothing and wearing a mask, crouching among a group of people. As officers approached the scene, police said witnesses pointed out a nearby firearm, which was described as an AR-15-style rifle. Officers also discovered a gas mask, additional black clothing, and a backpack in the area. The man was later identified as Gamboa and was transported to a local hospital, according to police. Investigators later took Gamboa into custody, and he was booked into the Salt Lake County Metro Jail on a murder charge. Officers also detained two men who were wearing neon green vests and carrying handguns, police said. The men were identified as members of the peacekeeping team for the "No Kings" demonstration. The two peacekeepers told investigators that they saw Gamboa leave the crowd of demonstrators and move into a secluded area behind a wall, which they found suspicious, according to police. One of the peacekeepers told investigators that he saw Gamboa pull out an AR-15-style rifle from a backpack. The peacekeepers then drew their firearms and ordered Gamboa to drop the rifle, police said. Witnesses reported to authorities that they saw Gamboa lift the rifle and run toward the crowd while holding the weapon in a firing position. One of the peacekeepers fired three rounds, according to police. One round struck Gamboa, and another round hit Ah Loo. "Detectives have not been able to determine, at this time, why Gamboa pulled out his rifle and began to manipulate it or why he ran from the peacekeepers when they confronted him," police said. "Detectives have developed probable cause that Gamboa acted under circumstances that showed a depraved indifference to human life, knowingly engaged in conduct that created a grave risk of death and ultimately caused the death of an innocent community member." Has Trump overblown threat of protests? Residents, local officials say yes. Shooting occurs during widespread 'No Kings' protests "No Kings" demonstrations across the United States drew large crowds on June 14. The protests, which were mostly calm and peaceful, were held in opposition to President Donald Trump's policies and coincided with the controversial parade for the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary in Washington, D.C. A demonstration in Northern Virginia, about 70 miles from Washington, D.C., was met with violence after a man intentionally drove an SUV through a crowd of departing protesters, striking at least one person, police said. Police in Los Angeles hit protesters with batons, fired tear gas, and ordered a large crowd in downtown to disperse; authorities said they were responding to people throwing "rocks, bricks, bottles," and "fireworks" at officials. Meanwhile, authorities said a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband were killed and another lawmaker and his wife were injured at their homes by a man impersonating law enforcement in what Gov. Tim Walz called a "politically motivated assassination." In a statement, the "No Kings" group said it was adhering to guidance from the Minnesota State Patrol and Walz, who urged people not to attend any rallies on June 14. Contributing: N'dea Yancey-Bragg, Sarah D. Wire, Jeanine Santucci, and Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY
Axios
2 hours ago
- Axios
Authorities arrest suspect in killing of top Minnesota lawmaker
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Boston Globe
2 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Friends say Minnesota shooting suspect was deeply religious and conservative
Sen. John Hoffman, also a Democrat, and his wife, Yvette, were shot earlier by the same gunman at their home nearby but survived. Advertisement Friends and former colleagues interviewed by AP described Boelter as a devout Christian who attended an evangelical church and went to campaign rallies for President Donald Trump. Records show Boelter registered to vote as a Republican while living in Oklahoma in 2004 before moving to Minnesota where voters don't list party affiliation. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Near the scene at Hortman's home, authorities say they found an SUV made to look like those used by law enforcement. Inside they found fliers for a local anti-Trump 'No Kings' rally scheduled for Saturday and a notebook with names of other lawmakers. The list also included the names of abortion rights advocates and health care officials, according to two law enforcement officials who could not discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity. Advertisement Both Hortman and Hoffman were defenders of abortion rights at the state legislature. Suspect not believed to have made any public threats before attacks, official says Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said at a briefing on Sunday that Boelter is not believed to have made any public threats before the attacks. Evans asked the public not to speculate on a motivation for the attacks. 'We often want easy answers for complex problems,' he told reporters. 'Those answers will come as we complete the full picture of our investigation.' Friends told the AP that they knew Boelter was religious and conservative, but that he didn't talk about politics often and didn't seem extreme. 'He was right-leaning politically but never fanatical, from what I saw, just strong beliefs,' said Paul Schroeder, who has known Boelter for years. A glimpse of suspect's beliefs on abortion during a trip to Africa Boelter, who worked as a security contractor, gave a glimpse of his beliefs on abortion during a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2023. While there, Boelter served as an evangelical pastor, telling people he had first found Jesus as a teenager. 'The churches are so messed up, they don't know abortion is wrong in many churches,' he said, according to an online recording of one sermon from February 2023. Still, in three lengthy sermons reviewed by the AP, he only mentioned abortion once, focusing more on his love of God and what he saw as the moral decay in his native country. He appears to have hidden his more strident beliefs from his friends back home. 'He never talked to me about abortion,' Schroeder said. 'It seemed to be just that he was a conservative Republican who naturally followed Trump.' Advertisement A married father with five children, Boelter and his wife own a sprawling 3,800-square-foot house on a large rural lot about an hour from downtown Minneapolis that the couple bought in 2023 for more than a half-million dollars. Seeking to reinvent himself He worked for decades in managerial roles for food and beverage manufacturers before seeking to reinvent himself in middle age, according to resumes and a video he posted online. After getting an undergraduate degree in international relations in his 20s, Boelter went back to school and earned a master's degree and then a doctorate in leadership studies in 2016 from Cardinal Stritch University, a private Catholic college in Wisconsin that has since shut down. While living in Wisconsin, records show Boelter and his wife Jenny founded a nonprofit corporation called Revoformation Ministries, listing themselves as the president and secretary. After moving to Minnesota about a decade ago, Boelter volunteered for a position on a state workforce development board, first appointed by then-Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, in 2016, and later by Democratic Gov. Tim Walz. He served through 2023. In that position, he may have crossed paths with one of his alleged victims. Hoffman served on the same board, though authorities said it was not immediately clear how much the two men may have interacted. Launching a security firm Records show Boelter and his wife started a security firm in 2018. A website for Praetorian Guard Security Services lists Boelter's wife as the president and CEO while he is listed as the director of security patrols. The company's homepage says it provides armed security for property and events and features a photo of an SUV painted in a two-tone black and silver pattern similar to a police vehicle, with a light bar across the roof and 'Praetorian' painted across the doors. Another photo shows a man in black tactical gear with a military-style helmet and a ballistic vest with the company's name across the front. Advertisement In an online resume, Boelter also billed himself as a security contractor who worked oversees in the Middle East and Africa. On his trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, he told Chris Fuller, a friend, that he had founded several companies focused on farming and fishing on the Congo River, as well as in transportation and tractor sales. 'It has been a very fun and rewarding experience and I only wished I had done something like this 10 years ago,' he wrote in a message shared with the AP. But once he returned home in 2023, there were signs that Boelter was struggling financially. That August, he began working for a transport service for a funeral home, mostly picking up bodies of those who had died in assisted living facilities — a job he described as he needed to do to pay bills. Tim Koch, the owner of Metro First Call, said Boelter 'voluntarily left' that position about four months ago. 'This is devastating news for all involved,' Koch said, declining to elaborate on the reasons for Boelter's departure, citing the ongoing law enforcement investigation. Boelter had also started spending some nights away from his family, renting a room in a modest house in northern Minneapolis shared by friends. Heavily armed police executed a search warrant on the home Saturday. 'I'm going to be gone for awhile' In the hours before Saturday's shootings, Boelter texted two roommates to tell them he loved them and that 'I'm going to be gone for a while,' according to Schroeder, who was forwarded the text and read it to the AP. Advertisement 'May be dead shortly, so I just want to let you know I love you guys both and I wish it hadn't gone this way,' Boelter wrote. 'I don't want to say anything more and implicate you in any way because you guys don't know anything about this. But I love you guys and I'm sorry for the trouble this has caused.' Associated Press writer Mike Balsamo contributed to this report from Washington. Contact AP's global investigative team at Investigative@ or
