-from eonline.com-

Story By Natalie Finn

At least Lil Wayne posted bail in time to make the 3:10 out of Yuma.

The rap star was arrested Tuesday night after Border Patrol officers allegedly found marijuana, cocaine and Ecstasy in his tour bus while it was stopped at a checkpoint in southwestern Arizona.

Lil Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., was stopped at about 11:30 p.m. and booked into Yuma County Jail at 6 a.m. Wednesday on suspicion of possession of dangerous drugs, narcotics and drug paraphernalia, according to Yuma County Sheriff’s spokesman Capt. Eben Bratcher.

The self-proclaimed “Best Rapper Alive” was released a little before 2 p.m. Wednesday on a $10,185 bond after being arraigned via video at Wellton Justice Court, about 35 miles east of Yuma, E! Online has confirmed.

Wayne will find out whether he’s going to face criminal charges at a hearing set for Friday in Wellton.

‘‘He is looking forward to his day in court. That’s all I can say right now,’’ Wayne’s Yuma-based attorney, James Tilson, told the Yuma Sun.

Two members of Wayne’s 11-person entourage were also busted for alleged marijuana possession.

Drug Enforcement Administration spokeswoman Ramona Sanchez said nearly four ounces of pot, nearly an ounce of cocaine, 41 grams of Ecstasy, miscellaneous drug paraphernalia, $22,000 in cash and three guns were recovered from the suspects’ bus. After the bus was pulled over for a routine check on Interstate 8, a drug dog alerted officers to the presence of possible substances.

While two of the firearms were legally registered to two of Wayne’s friends, officers also turned up a .40-caliber pistol registered to Wayne in Florida, where he has a permit to carry a concealed weapon. Authorities are investigating whether the hip-hopper violated Arizona weapons laws, Sanchez said.

Also still plaguing Wayne is a pending drug case in Atlanta, gun and pot charges in New York and a lawsuit brought by a Miami jewelry company that claims he has yet to pay for $146,000 worth of bling he purchased in October.

The New Orleans native has pleaded not guilty to three counts of possessing a controlled substance stemming from his August 2006 arrest in Atlanta after police allegedly found marijuana and more than 100 Xanax and hydrocodone, or cough suppressant, pills in his hotel room after being tipped off by a hotel employee.

In the meantime, the mix-tape master, who lately has made a career of guest-rapping on other artists’ albums, is putting the finishing touches on Tha Carter III, which now has a Mar. 18 release date.

Wayne was named MVP of the Year at the 2007 BET Hip-Hop Awards in October and shared the Alltel People’s Choice Award with Birdman for their collaboration on the single “Stuntin’ Like My Daddy.”

-from news10now.com-

BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. — A high speed chase on Interstate 81 ended with a drug bust in Castle Creek. It happened at about 9 a.m. Thursday.

Deputies say chased the car at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour before pulling it over. They say they found four pounds of marijuana in the vehicle and a three-year-old that wasn’t in a safety seat or seatbelted.

The driver of the vehicle, Eduardo Nunez, 26, of the Bronx, was arrested on numerous charges including criminal possession of marijuana and endangering the welfare of a child.

-from deseretnews.com-

By Pat Reavy

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Neighborhood Narcotics Unit Wednesday made a big drug bust, including the largest single seizure of suspected drug-related cash in the department’s history.

Two search warrants were served simultaneously at separate houses Wednesday morning. The result was three people arrested and the seizure of about 5 pounds of high-grade marijuana, a pound of high-potency hash and about $185,000 cash.

At a house near 2250 East and 7150 South, a husband and wife, Travis and Melissa Eubanks, were arrested for investigation of drug distribution. In their house, investigators seized about $179,000, said Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Lt. Chris Bertram. Also inside the house were two children, ages 2 or younger, who were taken into state protective custody.

While that search warrant was being served, another was served at a house near 2500 East and 6500 South. Most of the marijuana and hash was recovered from that house and Brandon Keirnes was arrested for investigation of drug distribution, the sheriff’s office said.

The busts were the culmination of a monthlong investigation that included surveillance on both homes, Bertram said. The houses were believed to be connected, he said. The drugs were being shipped to the houses from out of state, Bertram added. Investigators believe some personal drug deals were happening at the houses. But mostly, the residences would receive large shipments of marijuana, which from there would be distributed around the valley, including to high schools, clubs, recreational users or whomever was willing to buy, he said. Long waterproof bags used to transport the drugs reportedly were also found in the houses as well as other drug paraphernalia such as scales and packaging materials.

Wednesday’s bust was the second investigation for the sheriff’s office in less than a week. Saturday morning, a search warrant was served at a house near 2600 South and 3400 West. In that house, 63 pounds of normal-potency marijuana was seized in addition to a handgun. Eusebio Sanchez was arrested for investigation of drug-related charges.

Regular marijuana has a street value of about $600 per pound, Bertram said. The pot from Wednesday’s bust, which has more of the active chemical THC, has a street value of up to $5,000 per pound. Investigators believe the money seized from Wednesday’s busts was from just one week’s worth of drug sales.

Additional arrests from the busts were pending Wednesday.

-from uk.reuters.com-

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentine authorities seized more than a ton of cocaine with a street value estimated at $22 million in one of the biggest drug busts in years, the government and police said on Saturday.

Police discovered the drugs in a warehouse in the outskirts of Buenos Aires and arrested at least 10 people, including several former police and army officers, the newspaper Clarin reported on its Web site.

“It’s a narco-criminal organization made up of Argentines and Spaniards,” Police Commissioner Miguel Castro told the Todo Noticias television network.

The drugs were hidden in plastic sheets used to protect playing fields when concerts and other events are held at sports stadiums.

The bust came after a lengthy investigation into a company that allegedly imported and exported protective panels for grass, said Security and Justice Minister Anibal Fernandez.

(Reporting by Damian Wroclavsky; writing by Kevin Gray, editing by Philip Barbara)

-from wtoctv.com-

From the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office:

On January 18^th at approximately 6 am members of the Beaufort/Jasper Multi Agency Drug Task Force (DTF), and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team executed a search warrant at a Bluffton residence in connection with an ongoing drug investigation.

As a result of information gathered during the investigation, a search warrant was obtained for the residence located at 240 Flat Rock Trace off Buckwalter Pkwy. During the course of the investigation, DTF officers connected suspects, 19-year old Christopher Nicolosi and 21-year old Anthony Mazzuchi to drug related activities including the illegal distribution of drugs.

At the time the search warrant was executed at the Flat Rock residence, three persons were found inside: Anthony Mazzuchi, 18-year old Brendan Flory and 19-year old Allissa Hovik. All three suspects were placed under arrest (see respective charges below).

Christopher Nicolosi was later located at 10 Anchorage Point on Hilton Head. Upon making contact with Nicolosi, officers found him to be unlawfully carrying a handgun his person. Nicolosi was placed under arrest (see respective charges below).

Charges:

Anthony J. Mazzuchi, 21, of 240 Flat Rock Trace, Bluffton

• Simple Possession of Marijuana
• Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule IV Narcotic (Clonazepam)

Brendan C. Flory, 18, of 240 Flat Rock Trace, Bluffton

• Simple Possession of Marijuana

Allissa M. Hovik, 19, of 10 Anchorage Point, Hilton Head

• Simple Possession of Marijuana

Christopher L. Nicolosi, 19, of 240 Flat Rock Trace, Bluffton

• 3-Counts of Sale and Distribution of Marijuana
• Unlawful Carrying of a Firearm
• 2-Counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Under 21
• Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number
• Possession of a Stolen Firearm

Seized:

• Less than one Ounce of Marijuana
• More that 50 tablets of Prescription Pills and Schedule IV Narcotics
• Scales
• 45 caliber hand gun
• 38 caliber hand gun
• 9 mm hand gun
• Remington long gun
• $1,880 in U.S. Currency

Search Warrant at 76 Tombee Road on St. Helena Island:

On January 19^th at approximately 7 am, DTF members along with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team conducted a Search Warrant at 76 Tombee Rd, as a result of an ongoing drug investigation.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined the residence at 76 Tombee Rd was being used for drug related activities including the storage and distribution of illegal drugs.

At the time the search warrant was executed, 30-year old Henry James Brown Jr. and Christina Matthews were located in the residence along with four children. Both suspects were arrested at the scene (see respective charges below).

Charges:

Henry James Brown, Jr, 30, of 76 Tombee Rd, St. Helena

• Possession with intent to Distribute Marijuana
• Possession of Stolen Property
• 2-Outstanding Family Court Bench Warrants

Christina Matthews, of 76 Tombee Rd, St. Helena

• Possession with intent to Distribute Marijuana
• Possession of a Schedule II Narcotic (Morphine)

Seized:

• Seven ounces of Marijuana
• Morphine (undetermined amount)
• $455 U.S. Currency
• Stolen Mossberg 20 gauge shot gun

-from canada.com-

EPENTIGNY, Que. - A drug laboratory capable of producing five million ecstasy, methamphetamine and counterfeit Viagra and Cialis pills a month was busted last Friday by the RCMP.

“This is a very significant seizure,” said Sgt. Andre Potvin, head of the RCMP Montreal drug squad.

Police said they seized 44,000 ecstasy pills, 83,000 methamphetamine pills, 25,000 pills resembling Viagra and 31,000 resembling Cialis.

Police also seized 35 kilograms of bulk powder for the manufacture of about 160,000 ecstasy pills, 32 kilograms of powder to make about 145,000 meth tablets plus a quantity of ketamine, a hallucinogenic and anesthetic drug often used in veterinary medicine.

Police arrested two brothers who allegedly ran the lab.

Pierre Girouard, 61, of Montreal and Gilles Girouard, 60, of Repentigny, northeast of Montreal, face charges of possession of illegal drugs, the manufacture and trafficking of illegal drugs and conspiracy.

Potvin said they might also be charged with counterfeiting pills.

Potvin said the investigation took three months and stopped short of pinpointing the buyers of the drugs.

“We wanted to make sure the drugs didn’t get onto the street,” he said.

He said the ecstasy and meth pills are sold for up to $35 a pill at clubs and raves. On the street they go for about $25. The value of the seizure on the street is about $5 million, he said.

Montreal Gazette

© Canwest News Service 2008

-from rockymountainnews.com-

Two Western Slope men are facing drugs and weapons charges as part of a law enforcement sweep that has seized $260,000 worth of illegal drugs in the last seven months.

Eric Trefethen, 37, of Craig, has been charged with drug possession and distribution and possession of illegal weapons. Officers from Moffat County and the All Crimes Enforcement Team arrested Trefethen on Thursday night after a search of his home turned up methamphetamines, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a handgun and several high-power rifles, including a loaded, fully automatic machine gun.

On Wednesday, police arrested Garrett Ruffen, 49, of Steamboat Springs and charged him with dealing crack cocaine.

ACET Commander Garrett Wiggins says the two arrests are the result of several ongoing drug investigations in Routt and Moffat counties.

-from macon.com-

By Ashley Tusan Joyner

Seven people are behind bars after Macon police and Jones County sheriff’s deputies dismantled what authorities are calling one of the largest cocaine distribution rings in Middle Georgia.

Officials seized about 2 kilograms of cocaine with an approximate street value of $208,000; $108,706 in cash; a quantity of marijuana with an approximate street value of $800; eight vehicles with an approximate value of $90,895; five firearms including a 9 mm pistol, a Glock 45, a Glock 40, a shotgun and an SKS assault rifle; and about $150,000 in personal property.

One of the weapons was stolen from Kentucky, police said.

Eleven other regional law enforcement agencies assisted in the bust.

The seizure marks the peak of an ongoing police investigation, which has included various arrests and drug busts since Dec. 30.

Arrested on trafficking cocaine charges were:

Ivan Lamont Oglesby, 31, Macon; Leroy Thomas Foster II, 32, Macon; John Franklin Ragin, 29, Macon; James Louis Avery, 28, Jacksonville, Fla.; Willie James Rogers, 31, Macon, also charged with eluding police; Draton Amour Floyd, 25, Macon; and Deidra Shundrell Brown, 30, Macon.

Brown was released from custody on $16,600 bond.

Derek Wayne Gainey, 30, of Macon, was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

“Our investigation reveals that this organization was importing powder cocaine from the Atlanta area at the rate of approximately 1 to 2 kilograms per week and distributing it in this community, both in the form of powder and crack cocaine, primarily from locations in the downtown Macon area and Pleasant Hills community,” Macon Police Chief Mike Burns said at a news conference Tuesday.

Burns would not elaborate on the nature of the continuing investigation or how arrests were made.

Bibb County assistant district attorney Kim Schwartz said the bust represents a high level break in the local drug chain.

“The problem with focusing entirely on street-level drug activity is that whenever you make those arrests there’s a whole group of other people waiting to move in and fill their spots,” she said. “It’s been a number of years since the Macon Police Department initiated and followed through on an investigation of this magnitude. But we cannot obtain these kind of results without the cooperation of local law enforcement agencies.”

Assisting in the investigation are: the Narcotics and Financial Crimes Divisions of the District’s Attorney’s Office of the Macon Judicial Circuit, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office Drug and Vice Unit, the Clayton County Police Department, the Atlanta Police Department, the Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Butts County Sheriff’s Office, the Warner Robins Police Department, the Byron Police Department, the Georgia State Patrol, the Tri-City Drug Task Force and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office.

“The drugs are somewhat mobile. We can’t build a fence around our communities,” Jones County Sheriff Butch Reese said. “For a while, we’ve put a little dent in the drugs in the area.”

Keith Moffett, director of internal affairs for Mayor Robert Reichert, thanked police for working toward “safety at the end of the day for our families.”

Individuals convicted of trafficking 400 grams of cocaine or more face a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and a mandatory fine of $1 million, according to officials.

The investigation continues.

There are warrants outstanding for a number of other individuals.

Police expect additional arrests and additional charges.