drug trafficking

Published on: April 18, 2019

Idaho State Police Seize Hemp Worth $1.3 Million Using Civil Asset Forfeiture

In January, Denis Palamarchuk, age 36, was driving a semitruck when he was pulled over by police. The truck contained nearly 7,000 pounds of hemp. Law enforcement arrested Palamarchuk on a drug trafficking charge and also seized both the hemp and the truck.

While law enforcement officers believed the material in the truck to be marijuana, Palamarchuk attempted to explain that it was, in fact, industrial hemp. Although cannabis and hemp are closely related plants, hemp contains only a small amount of the psychoactive agent which makes cannabis so potent. Industrial hemp is used in a wide variety of products, including foods, beauty products, and rope. In December 2018, President Trump signed the Farm Bill, which made hemp legal federally.
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Published on: December 27, 2017

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to Surge Agent Hires

by Brian Silber

One of President Donald Trump’s often-cited campaign promises during last year’s election was the need to increase security at the border. So far in 2017, he seems to be delivering on that promise in one of the larger expenditures in his administration.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been mandated to hire an additional 5,000 agents to help secure the U.S.-Mexico border. CBP currently has over 60,000 employees who are responsible for screening cargo and individuals at U.S. borders, and seizes nearly 6 tons of illicit drugs per day.

Published on: November 29, 2017

$300 Million in Drugs Seized, Dropped Off in Port Everglades

by Brian Silber

As part of a series of patrols fighting transnational organized crime operations around Mexico and South America, the US Coast Guard seized cocaine and heroin worth over $300 million. The drugs were collected by multiple Coast Guard cutters patrolling the waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

The drugs were offloaded on Tuesday, November 14th as the US Coast Guard Cutter Spencer returned from its three-month voyage to the Pacific.

Published on: November 15, 2017

Major Marijuana Seizures Along US-Mexico Border

by Brian Silber

United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents made two major seizures involving the smuggling of marijuana into the United States.

The two separate events resulted in nearly 600 pounds of marijuana being seized, as well as the vehicles the drugs were being transported in. All of the individuals involved were arrested and turned over to the DEA.

Published on: November 8, 2017

Major Heroin Bust in Jacksonville

by Brian Silber

Late last month, Jacksonville police announced one of their largest drug seizures in recent years, with the discovery of nearly 16 pounds of heroin valued at close to $400,000.

In addition to the significant bust, authorities also took three suppliers off the streets as part of Operation Big Apple, a years-long investigation targeting drugs trafficked to Florida from New York City.