Latest news with #U.S.DrugEnforcementAdministration
Japan Today
6 days ago
- Japan Today
Greek port workers jailed pending trial on drug smuggling charges
FILE PHOTO: A view of the container terminal of the Piraeus port, in Perama suburb of Piraeus, Greece January 28, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki/File Photo By Yannis Souliotis Six workers at Greece's largest port Piraeus, arrested for allegedly participating in a gang smuggling cocaine hidden in shipping containers from Latin America, were jailed pending trial on Friday, legal sources said. The case is the third investigation since 2023 that has led to the arrest of port workers on drug trafficking charges. The suspects, employed by a private company handling cargo operations at Piraeus port were arrested on Monday. On Friday they responded to charges including participation in an international criminal organisation at least since 2024, according to police officials. They have denied wrongdoing. The drugs were concealed in refrigerated containers loaded with bananas which were shipped from Ecuador, the police said. Greek police said the investigation, which revealed the gang's tactics and included surveillance of their communications, was launched after a tip-off by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The criminal ring, led by an Albanian gang, exploited the workers' access to port facilities and knowledge of loading and unloading cargo procedures, the police officials said. The alleged gang members were tasked with locating the ships and extracting the cocaine parcels from the containers, and one of them was in contact with the drug buyers in Albania, the officials added. Three guns and bullets were confiscated during the operation. Defence lawyer Nikos Aletras told Reuters that the initial investigation was "rushed" and the charges were aggravated, as seven suspects appeared before a prosecutor on Friday to respond to the accusations. Six of them were later detained pending trial and a seventh suspect was released. South American production of cocaine has surged over the past decade, with traffickers helping to turn Europe into a major consumer and a transit point for cocaine. European countries have been seizing record quantities of cocaine annually since 2017. © (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Straits Times
Greek port workers jailed pending trial on drug smuggling charges
FILE PHOTO: A view of the container terminal of the Piraeus port, in Perama suburb of Piraeus, Greece January 28, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki/File Photo ATHENS - Six workers at Greece's largest port Piraeus, arrested for allegedly participating in a gang smuggling cocaine hidden in shipping containers from Latin America, were jailed pending trial on Friday, legal sources said. The case is the third investigation since 2023 that has led to the arrest of port workers on drug trafficking charges. The suspects, employed by a private company handling cargo operations at Piraeus port were arrested on Monday. On Friday they responded to charges including participation in an international criminal organisation at least since 2024, according to police officials. They have denied wrongdoing. The drugs were concealed in refrigerated containers loaded with bananas which were shipped from Ecuador, the police said. Greek police said the investigation, which revealed the gang's tactics and included surveillance of their communications, was launched after a tip-off by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. The criminal ring, led by an Albanian gang, exploited the workers' access to port facilities and knowledge of loading and unloading cargo procedures, the police officials said. The alleged gang members were tasked with locating the ships and extracting the cocaine parcels from the containers, and one of them was in contact with the drug buyers in Albania, the officials added. Three guns and bullets were confiscated during the operation. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Asia Cambodia calls for ceasefire with Thailand after deadly clashes Asia 'Nothing like this has happened before': At least 16 dead as Thai-Cambodian conflict continues Singapore SMRT to pay lower fine of $2.4m for EWL disruption; must invest at least $600k to boost reliability Multimedia Lights dim at South-east Asia's scam hub but 'pig butchering' continues Asia Hottest 'ticket' in Jakarta? Young Indonesians compete for a slot at singing club Singapore Tipsy Collective sues former directors, HR head; alleges $14m lost from misconduct, poor decisions Opinion ColdplayGate meme fodder isn't an opportunity for a marketing campaign Singapore Kopi, care and conversation: How this 20-year-old helps improve the well-being of the elderly Defence lawyer Nikos Aletras told Reuters that the initial investigation was "rushed" and the charges were aggravated, as seven suspects appeared before a prosecutor on Friday to respond to the accusations. Six of them were later detained pending trial and a seventh suspect was released. South American production of cocaine has surged over the past decade, with traffickers helping to turn Europe into a major consumer and a transit point for cocaine. European countries have been seizing record quantities of cocaine annually since 2017. REUTERS
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
D.C. Dispatch: Iowa legislators cheer fentanyl reclassification, federal spending cuts
President Donald Trump signs the HALT Fentanyl Act, July 16, 2025, in the East Room of the White House. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is second from the right. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok) This week in the nation's capital, President Donald Trump signed a fentanyl reclassification act led by Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, Iowa legislators cheered the passing of a federal rescission bill through Congress and House members helped send a $832 billion defense appropriations bill through the GOP-led chamber. The Grassley-led HALT Act permanently reclassifies fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule 1 drug. In February 2020, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a temporary scheduling order reclassifying fentanyl-related substances to Schedule 1. Congress has since extended this order a total of 10 times. The act has received criticism from advocacy groups such as the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights stating that classwide drug rescheduling may exacerbate incarceration rates and sentencing. The president's signing of the HALT Act Wednesday was attended by several Iowa officials including Grassley, Attorney General Brenna Bird and Rep. Randy Feenstra. 'The HALT Fentanyl Act is now the law of the land, marking a major victory in America's fight against fentanyl,' Grassley said in a press release. 'By permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I, the HALT Fentanyl Act will save American lives and prevent deadly fentanyl knockoffs from making their way into Iowa communities.' 'This bill is a huge win for Iowa and the entire country,' Bird said in a press release. 'As a mom and prosecutor, I am deeply aware of the devastating effects fentanyl has had on our communities. And as Attorney General, I hear about this issue from Iowans regularly. 'I applaud President Trump for signing into law the HALT Fentanyl Act and taking decisive action to keep fentanyl and other poisonous substances out of our country.' Feenstra stated. 'In conjunction with our work to secure the border, this legislation will help law enforcement confiscate dangerous drugs, combat the drug cartels, and save lives.' Rep. Ashley Hinson stated: 'This bill will help end the scourge of the opioid epidemic that has taken too many American lives — we will continue working together to get dangerous drugs off our streets & ensure dealers are punished for their crimes.' Rep. Zach Nunn also stated he 'proudly cosigned' the HALT act for its ability to 'crack down on traffickers,' keep 'deadly substances off our streets' and ensure consistent penalties for fentanyl distributors. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks stated in a press release: 'As an original cosponsor in the House, I was proud to help lead the fight to get this bill across the finish line. With this law in place, we're going on offense. We're giving law enforcement what they need to crack down, take control, and stop this poison from claiming more lives.' Miller-Meeks also reintroduced a bipartisan bill Thursday requiring social media companies and other communication service providers to alert law enforcement officials when illegal drug distributions occur on their platforms. All of Iowa's delegates voted in favor of Trump's rescission bill to axe $9 billion in previously approved funding for programs including the U.S. Agency for International Aid, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio. The rescission bill passed both chambers of Congress Friday with a vote of 51-48 in the Senate and 216-213 in the House. This marks the second time in over three decades Congress has approved a presidential rescission request. Ernst praised the cuts to USAID, citing 'abuses' such as an alleged $148,000 sent to a pickle-maker in Ukraine through USAID and $20 million spent on Sesame Street programming in Iraq. 'If we are ever going to get serious about our debt crisis, Congress needs to pass a rescissions bill like this every single week,' she stated in a press release. Hinson responded to the bill with a statement on X: 'President Trump is the first president to actually deliver on real savings for the American people and end the culture of wasteful spending in Washington.' Grassley took to X as well to state 'Fed govt is $36 TRILLION in debt Last night Sen Republicans voted to roll back DC's out of control spending.' He added that Republicans plan to build on the provisions in the 'big, beautiful bill' going forward. Miller-Meeks called the rescission cuts a one of two 'big wins for the American people' in an X post. She also cheered the passing of a defense appropriations bill increasing military spending. Democrats in both the House and Senate voted against passing the rescission bill. Several Democratic legislators criticized the rescission bill for cutting funding from public broadcasting that will impact rural news sources and withdrawing U.S. support from countries in need. Ernst led an amendment to the defense appropriations bill to require all defense spending be posted on the public website This amendment will directly target 'Other Transaction Agreements' which are flexible spending agreements not subject to standard acquisition laws and requirements. 'I am ending Pentagon bureaucrats' game of hide and seek with your tax dollars,' Ernst stated in a press release. 'Americans have a right to know where their hard-earned dollars are going. I've long been working to make the Pentagon more transparent and accountable and will continue to work to review the hidden receipts.' The expansive defense bill passed through the House with a split vote of 221-209 on Friday. It allocates nearly $832 billion for provisions such as: Basic pay increase for all military members by 3.8% starting 2026 Codifies Trump's executive order to end military diversity, equity and inclusion programs $13 billion for missile defense and space programs $7 billion for 'classified space superiority programs.' $2.6 billion for hypersonic missiles. $1.15 billion for counterdrug programs $500 million for Israeli Missile Defense $500 million for Taiwan Security Operative Miller-Meeks responded to the provisions in a press release stating: 'This bill gives our troops the pay raise they deserve and the resources they need to defend this country.' The bill moves to the Senate for reconciliation. Cedar Rapids is set to receive $25 million in federal funding through the Grassley-backed Infrastructure and Jobs Act of 2021. The funding is allocated for a 'flood resiliency project' and road improvements on highway I-380. 'I'm happy to announce that the City of Cedar Rapids is receiving a $25 million award to improve its flood resilience and infrastructure,' Grassley said in a press release. 'You can imagine how important this funding is for Cedar Rapids, after the city has been hit by devastating floods. These federal dollars will be put to good use to strengthen the Cedar Rapids community.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Toronto Sun
16-07-2025
- Toronto Sun
LILLEY: U.S. arrest warrant alleges deep Canadian ties to fentanyl trade
Affidavit unsealed in U.S. court links accused B.C. drug kingpin to global trade in narcotics Get the latest from Brian Lilley straight to your inbox An undated photo of alleged Surrey, B.C., gangster Opinder Singh Sian, 37, who has been charged in California with exportation of methamphetamine. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says he is the North American leader of a transnational drug-trafficking organization. Photo by Postmedia Network files A shipment of 100 kg of fentanyl precursor chemicals a month from Vancouver to Los Angeles; that was the promise allegedly made to an undercover agent. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account A newly released arrest warrant that hasn't been tested in court shows the alleged international ties of a British Columbia drug kingpin and how narcotics move freely across borders. The warrant, issued by a California district court for the arrest of Opinder Singh Sian, alleges connections to Canadian, Chinese, Turkish, Mexican and Irish organized crime groups, including the Kinahan cartel which has ties to the terrorist group Hezbollah. Sian is a Canadian national and a resident of Surrey, B.C., but was arrested last month in Nevada on charges of trying to ship methamphetamine from the United States to Australia through the Port of Long Beach, just outside of Los Angeles. The information in the affidavit sworn by agent Albert Polito of the Drug Enforcement Administration reads like a Hollywood script and, if the allegations are true, blows apart the idea that Canada is not a source country for fentanyl and other drugs destined for the United States and elsewhere. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Some of the alleged details described in the affidavit: Meth sourced from Montreal contacts was traded in Los Angeles for shipment to Australia; requests for bulk cocaine purchases in Los Angles for distribution in Vancouver; promises of substantial shipments of fentanyl precursor chemicals from China into the Port of Vancouver and then shipped to Los Angeles via a Canadian trucking company. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. There's a Toronto connection as well with one of those named allegedly shipping hundreds of pounds of meth through various ports and channels around the world, while reporting to bosses in Hong Kong and working with members of the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico. The whole operation allegedly started after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency got a tip from their field office in Ankara, Turkey, about the chance to put a confidential source into a global drug-trafficking ring. That allegedly led to the connection with Sian and drug-smuggling operations that spanned four continents and at least eight countries. Sian, the Canadian living in Surrey and doing business around the world, was allegedly at the centre of this, according to the DEA. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. According to the affidavit, Sian took the DEA's confidential source, known as Queen, out for lunch with his family on Aug. 16, 2023. After the lunch, Sian and Queen went to a cafe where they met with a man named Peter Peng Zhou, who allegedly made the bold promise of providing the precursor chemicals that fentanyl is made from. 'ZHOU said that he would be getting the precursors from China in Vancouver and send them to Los Angeles, via his trucking company,' the affidavit alleges, adding that Zhou promised that he could send 100 kg per month. Postmedia reported other B.C. suspects named in the U.S. case have not yet been charged. Sian and other associates also allegedly offered to provide Queen with these chemicals, either shipped through Canada or directly to the Port of Long Beach. The affidavit contains discussions about shipping fentanyl chemicals by mail and methods used to avoid detection. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. This affidavit and the charges against Sian, if proven, back up the claims made by the Americans. Like too many toddlers with oppositional disorder, Canadians have been denying that there is any issue in Canada and have refused to look at the facts. Concerns in Washington about Canada and fentanyl didn't originate with U.S. President Donald Trump as the Biden administration raised concerns. We have super labs that have been busted, we have sophisticated smuggling networks that take drugs in both directions and Canada has been used as a hub for laundering drug money from the trade of fentanyl and other narcotics. The opioid epidemic, driven in large part by fentanyl, is a scourge in Canada that has killed close to 50,000 people since 2016. We should be taking it seriously to protect our own people, but instead we are pretending it doesn't exist because Trump mentioned it. Time for us to grow up, do what is right and dismantle the kinds of operations the Americans just pointed us to in the allegations contained in the search warrant. Read More Celebrity Crime Toronto Maple Leafs Entertainment Canada
Toronto Sun
15-07-2025
- Toronto Sun
Surrey gangster led transnational drug operation with infamous Irish gang
Opinder Singh Sian, who survived two Surrey shootings in 2008 and 2011, was arrested last month in Nevada, according to U.S. court documents The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration undertook a three-year investigation into the crime groups. Photo by JOHANNES EISELE / AFP/Getty Images A Surrey gangster linked to the Brothers Keepers allegedly worked with the notorious Irish Kinahan gang as well as Turkish and American criminals to smuggle methamphetamine and fentanyl precursors around the globe. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Opinder Singh Sian, who survived two Surrey shootings in 2008 and 2011, was arrested last month in Nevada, according to U.S. court documents obtained by Postmedia. He was charged in California with smuggling large shipments of methamphetamine out of the port of Long Beach to Australia in the summer of 2023. At one point during the three-year-long investigation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Sian allegedly told a confidential source that he worked with 'Irish organized crime, specifically, the Kinahan family, Italian organized crime, and other Canadian organized crime groups.' 'Sian also explained that he obtained drugs through contacts with drug cartels in Mexico and South America. Sian again stated that he worked with a known drug kingpin based out of Turkey,' the 29-page criminal complaint said. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Kinahan gang started in Dublin in the 1990s, but is now headquartered in Dubai. It has close ties to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel. The U.S. State Department announced $5-million US rewards for the arrest of leader Christy Kinahan and his sons Daniel and Christopher Jr. in April 2022. All three are also subject to U.S. Treasury sanctions. The investigation that led to Sian's arrest began in June 2022 when the DEA's office in Ankara, Turkey saw an opportunity to 'insert a confidential source (CS-1) playing the role of an international transportation coordinator into an international drug trafficking organization that needed help transporting drugs from Southern California to Australia and other destinations.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. A gang member in Turkey gave the source Sian's phone number, identifying him as the North American leader of the drug trafficking organizations, the court document filed against Sian said. 'Sian and CS-1 subsequently held several in-person meetings and communicated via phone calls and the Threema messaging application in order to coordinate multiple deliveries of methamphetamine from co-conspirators to CS-1 in Southern California for shipment to Australia,' said the complaint, signed by DEA special agent Albert Polito. Sian unwittingly met the confidential source in both Vancouver and California in early 2023, arranging four drop-offs of methamphetamine totalling more than 240 kilograms throughout the summer of 2023. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The complaint said Sian believed that CS-1 was arranging to ship the meth to Australia through his purported cousin who posed as a port worker, but was really an undercover DEA agent. During a February 2023 Vancouver meeting, Sian introduced CS-1 to two male associates. 'They explained that they had about 500 kilograms of cocaine and needed help getting it through Los Angeles ports and then on to Australia. CS-1 claimed that he/she could arrange for the drugs to be offloaded in Los Angeles, repackaged, and put on a container ship to Australia,' the document said. 'CS-1 also claimed that he/she could arrange for someone to offload the drugs in Australia and transfer them to the ultimate buyers.' The following month, Sian went to L.A. to meet the source at a Manhattan Beach restaurant. The undercover DEA agent also attended. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'At the beginning of the meeting, Sian said they could get in trouble just for meeting like this.' CS-1 convinced Sian that the meth was being consolidated into a single load being sent in August 2023. 'When the purported arrival date came, DEA and Australian law enforcement packaged sham methamphetamine and placed a tracking device inside,' the document said. Undercover Australian officers gave the sham drugs to gang members in Sydney who drove to a stash house. 'The Australians then raided the stash house and soon thereafter arrested the receiving couriers.' At the urging of the DEA handlers, CS-1 asked Sian if he could get fentanyl precursor chemicals into the U.S. 'Sian informed CS-1 that he could get the chemicals directly from China. He then asked CS-1 if they could receive a shipping container in the Port of Long Beach containing those chemicals,' the complaint said, adding that Sian sent sample chemicals through the mail to the source. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. CS-1 visited Vancouver again in August 2023 for a meeting with Sian and an associate named Peter Peng Zhou. Zhou said 'he would be getting the precursors from China in Vancouver and send them to Los Angeles, via his trucking company.' So far, other B.C. suspects named in the U.S. case have not been charged. A Nevada judge ordered Sian, 37, held in custody pending his transfer to California. She said in her June 30 decision that Sian's criminal gang 'is alleged to have ties to international hitmen.' Sian has been on police radar in B.C. since at least 2008. He was wounded in a shooting in August 2008 that left his friend Gurpreet Sidhu dead. He was targeted again in May 2011, but survived. He was convicted in July 2017 of careless use of a firearm and sentenced to 18 months probation. kbolan@ . Bluesky: @ Read More Columnists Golf NFL NHL Canada
