Latest news with #drugTrafficking
CTV News
an hour ago
- General
- CTV News
Fredericton man sentenced for charges related to weapons, drugs following break and enter, thefts
An RCMP vehicle can be seen in this file photo. (David Prisciak/CTV News) A 52-year-old man from Fredericton was sentenced to five years and two months in prison for weapon and drug charges connected to a series of break, enter and thefts in Yoho Lake, N.B, in 2024. George Edward Pearce was sentenced on Friday. He is prohibited from owning firearms for life and was ordered to give a DNA sample as conditions of his sentence. Pearce pleaded guilty to the following charges in Fredericton Provincial Court on March 31: seven counts of possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking possession of property obtained by crime for the purpose of trafficking possession of a weapon contrary to an order possession of a firearm while knowing possession is unauthorized unauthorized possession of a prohibited firearm possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle RCMP located and arrested Pearce with assistance from the public. Officers responded to a break and enter reported at a residence in Yoho Lake on June 15, 2024. Police said an individual gained entry to a home during the incident and threatened the homeowners before he fled. They later confirmed the same person was responsible for two other break-ins nearby. Police released an appeal for public assistance to identify the suspect on July 3, 2024. Oromocto RCMP responded to a stranded motorist on Sept. 23, 2024. The responding officer recognized the motorist as the suspect from the break and enter investigation, said a news release. The man was arrested without incident. When police searched his vehicle, they found large quantities of pharmaceutical grad opioids and stolen mail items. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Gang leaders who force children to conceal drugs to face 10 years in jail
Gang leaders who coerce vulnerable individuals into concealing drugs and cash within their bodies could face up to a decade behind bars, thanks to a proposed change in the law. Ministers are seeking to establish a new criminal offence to combat the practice known as "plugging". This method is commonly employed by organised crime groups to transport illicit goods in county lines drug operations. Children and vulnerable adults are often forced to swallow or hide items inside their bodies, which can result in serious harm. There is also a risk of fatal overdose if drug packages rupture internally. The amendment will be incorporated into the Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament. 'There is something truly evil about the gang leaders who degrade young girls, young boys and vulnerable adults in this way, forcing them to put their lives at risk,' Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said. 'This new offence will go alongside other measures in our landmark Crime and Policing Bill toturn the tables on the gang leaders and hold them to account for exploiting children and vulnerable adults.' It comes as the Government committed to investing £42 million into a programme to tackle county lines gangs and support victims of the drugs trade. Since July 2024, more than 800 violent criminals involved in county lines have been charged through the programme's enforcement action and 1,200 drug lines have been closed, according to the Home Office. More than 2,100 safeguarding referrals for children and vulnerable people have also been made, it added. 'Children forced to carry drugs in this way are subject to a form of abuse and exploitation that causes deep, long-lasting harm, and the law must reflect that,' Jack O'Neill, of The Children's Society, said. 'A clear legal definition of child criminal exploitation would help stop vulnerable children falling through the cracks and shift the focus onto the predators who profit from their abuse.'
Free Malaysia Today
26-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Prolonged Myanmar crisis spurs drugs, weapons trade, warns Thai official
Dusit Manapan, adviser to the Thai foreign minister, speaking during an interview on the sidelines of the 46th Asean Summit and related summits in Kuala Lumpur. KUALA LUMPUR : Thailand has warned that transnational crime could worsen if the instability in Myanmar continues. Dusit Manapan, an adviser to Thailand's foreign minister, said that while international attention has largely focused on scam syndicates, Myanmar's political instability brings risks of an uptick in other crimes such as drug trafficking and weapons trading. He said these criminal activities along the Myanmar border stem from the government's limitation to enforce law and order along the border. 'We have tried to stop these criminal activities by not providing some resources, electricity, fuel, and internet,' Dusit told FMT on the sidelines of the 46th Asean Summit and related summits here. 'But our measures, our harsh measures, are partly successful. At the end of the day, they can find a way to replace what they lost from other sources.' According to Dusit, aerial surveillance through drones has also been hindered by advanced counter-technology. 'When you cut electricity and the internet, they resort to Starlink and solar cells,' he added. The political crisis in Myanmar began with the February 2021 military coup, which ousted the elected government and triggered widespread armed resistance. As the conflict escalated, large parts of the country, especially border areas, have become lawless zones exploited to operate scam centres, drug routes, and arms trafficking networks with little interference. Dusit said addressing the root cause of scam centres is crucial, as they generate substantial revenue for organised crime. 'Otherwise, we will continue to have this kind of problem. After online scams, you will have drug trafficking. You have weapons trade,' Dusit said. According to the United Nations, East and Southeast Asia collectively lost up to US$37 billion to cyber-enabled fraud, underscoring the scale of these operations. Myanmar has become a key hub, not only for online scams but also as the world's largest opium producer, surpassing Afghanistan. 'There are many ethnic armed groups involved. This is a business that makes a lot of money for the groups, so they have money to buy weapons. 'They need to earn some income, so that they can have resources to fight the government,' he said. The 46th Asean Summit is being held here today and will likely address transnational crimes like online scams at the highest level. Malaysia, as Asean chair, has called for enhanced legal harmonisation and information-sharing mechanisms among member states to counter growing transnational threats, according to foreign minister Mohamad Hasan's address to the 29th Asean Political-Security Council Meeting.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Yahoo
Harnett couple charged with prescription fraud
LILLINGTON — A Harnett County couple was charged for alleged prescription fraud from a Dunn hospice. In April, law enforcement received a report from the management of Liberty Home Health and Hospice concerning a possible case of prescription fraud involving hospice nurse Juana Nicole Hull, 42. The ensuing investigation revealed that on multiple occasions between January and April, Hull and her husband allegedly diverted controlled prescription medications from several pharmacies during her employment at Liberty Home Health and Hospice, a release states. On Wednesday, May 21, the Harnett County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at 143 Decoy Spread Place, southwest of Lillington. Juana Hull and Robert Wayne Hull, 38, were arrested. Juana Nicole Hull faces multiple charges, including: • Four counts for obtaining possession of a controlled substance through misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception, or subterfuge. • Four counts for embezzling or diverting a controlled substance as a registrant, practitioner or employee. • Four counts for trafficking opium or heroin. • Six counts for conspiring to traffic opium or heroin. Robert Hull faces different charges, including: • Six counts for obtaining possession of a controlled substance through misrepresentation, fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge. • Six counts for trafficking opium or heroin. Juana Hull was issued a secured bond of $150,000, while Robert Hull received a secured bond of $100,000.
CTV News
22-05-2025
- CTV News
Police say only 3 of 10 suspects in gun and drug trafficking bust remain in custody
A months-long undercover investigation into illegal firearm and drug trafficking has led to the arrest of 10 suspects, who face more than 100 charges combined, Durham Regional Police say. The multi-jurisdictional probe, dubbed Project Venture, was launched in November of last year and police say it unearthed a firearm and drug trafficking network that spanned Durham Region, Toronto, and the Region of Waterloo. Earlier this month, 19 search warrants were executed at locations in all three regions and police said a total of 12 firearms were seized, including eight handguns, two rifles, and two shotguns. According to investigators, four of the weapons came from the U.S., one was stolen during a break-and-enter in Durham Region, and another was traced back to British Columbia. Police said one firearm had an unreadable serial number, two did not have serial numbers, and investigators are still working to confirm the origin of the other guns that were seized. 'Project Venture was an undercover operation,' Det.-Sgt. Brad Corner told reporters at a news conference on Thursday. 'We were targeting a drug trafficker that was operating in our region and through those contacts and dealing with that drug trafficker, we were able to move up the supply chain as well as focus on a gun trafficking operation as well.' In addition to the weapons that were seized, police said they also recovered a vehicle, 3.4 kilograms of cocaine, and about $130,000 in Canadian currency. 'Based on the volume of drugs we believe they were trafficking, this is a fairly organized operation involving a number of different groups,' Corner added. A total of 112 charges have been laid in connection with the probe and police said 10 suspects were arrested while two remain outstanding. 'Out of the 10 individuals arrested, disturbingly, only three remain in custody,' Durham Police Acting Deputy Chief Ryan Connolly told reporters. He called the recent rise in gun violence in the region 'deeply concerning.' He added that so far in 2025, officers have taken 39 illegal guns off the street, an increase of 22 per cent from last year. 'The alarming part to this is… earlier in our careers, for a frontline officer to seize a firearm, it would be a major event. Unfortunately, it is becoming all too regular now,' Connolly said. 'These guns are being trafficked in our communities, people are profiting from this, and these are tools of death. These guns are used to commit robberies, street level robberies, commercial robberies, carjackings, and we have to take this more seriously.'
