Narco World > A 'Sink' made of MDMA in NL; Another MS-13 exec arrested in Mexico; Amsterdam leads NL in drug use

 

Dutch police find 4 kilogram “sink” made entirely of MDMA in drug bust

Police made an unusual discovery during a drug investigation this week when they found four kilograms of MDMA molded to look like a sink. The case led to the arrests of a 35-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman for possession of ecstasy pills, MDMA, and a firearm in Zwijndrecht on Thursday, according to a police statement.

Officers working as part of a specialized national police unit spotted a car leaving a home that morning in Zwijndrecht, a Zuid-Holland city just west of Dordrecht and south of Rotterdam. They pulled the car over as part of a traffic stop, and quickly found six kilograms of amphetamines. This led to the arrest of the 35-year-old man from Nijmegen.

The officers returned back to their initial stakeout position, and spotted a woman leaving the same home while carrying a box. Police said she placed this next to a garbage bin.

"A loaded firearm was found in the box, as further investigation revealed. The woman had probably been warned after the man from Nijmegen was arrested," police said in the statement.

"In another box that was next to the dumpster was a 'sink' made of almost 4 kilograms of MDMA. The 33-year-old woman was immediately arrested and locked up for questioning," police said.

Both suspects were expected to be interrogated on Friday.

Man on FBI's most wanted list arrested in Mexico

Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, 47, has been arrested in Mexico. He is on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list. Photo courtesy of Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch/Facebook

March 18 (UPI) -- Authorities in Mexico have arrested Francisco Javier Roman-Bardales, an alleged leader of the MS-13 criminal organization and a suspect on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

Roman-Bardales, 47, was arrested on the Teocelo-Baxtla highway, according to a joint statement Monday from the Defense Ministry, Navy, Attorney General's Office, National Guard and the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection.

The statement said Roman-Bardales had been informed of the reason for his arrest and read his legal rights. He was to be transferred to Mexico City to "appear before the relevant authorities before being deported to the United States, where he is wanted."

Little was known about Roman-Bardales' arrest.

The Mexican authorities said it was the result of national cooperation and ongoing investigations "aimed at capturing individuals responsible for generating violence."

During the investigation, authorities learned that Roman-Bardales was operating in Baxtla, located in southeastern Veracruz state.

"With this information, work teams were deployed to carry out fixed, mobile and discreet surveillance, which resulted in the suspect's arrest on the highway, they said.

Roman-Bardales, a native of El Salvadorian(sic), is on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitive list.

He is wanted on a Sept. 22, 2022, indictment charging him and 12 for being high-ranking members of the MS-13 criminal organization.

He has been charged with conspiracy to provide and conceal material support and resources to terrorists, narco-terrorism conspiracy, racketeering conspiracy and alien smuggling conspiracy.

The indictment states Roman-Bardales is a "long-time high-ranking member" of the gang who provided directions to members in the United States.

The arrest comes as Mexico has ramped up law enforcement activities targeting drug cartels under pressure of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which imposed mass tariffs on Mexican goods due to narcotics and undocumented migrants crossing into the United States via the shared border.

Late last month, Mexico transferred 29 alleged drug cartel suspects to the United States.

Is it possible to clean up Mexico? I would be very surprised!

Amsterdam still the drug capital of the Netherlands,

sewage analysis shows

The highest levels of residues from drugs like MDMA, cannabis, and ketamine in all of Europe were measured in Amsterdam's sewage water last year. The concentrations were also relatively high in other cities in the Netherlands, comparison research from the European Drug Agency EUDA showed.

When it comes to MDMA, the active ingredient in ecstasy pills, other Dutch cities also ended up high on the list. Antwerp followed Amsterdam, then came Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Groningen on this section of the list.

Samples were taken from sewage water of 128 cities in order to conduct the research last year. The research showed that MDMA, cocaine, and amphetamines were seen more often on average than a year prior. There was a reduction in the amount of cannabis traces.

Sin is progressive!

There are significant differences among European countries. Residues of cocaine were seen the most in Antwerp. Methamphetamine usage seems to be most widespread in the Czech Republic. The top six cities with the highest concentrations of the drug were in the country.

The measures show that usage of drugs like MDMA, cocaine, and ketamine peaks at the weekend and on Mondays. With methamphetamine, use is more evenly distributed throughout the week.

This indicates that the latter drug is also used by users during the week, while other drugs are mainly used in leisure time. Cannabis is still used the most, despite the decrease in the measurements, the researchers wrote. 

Canadian Cops Warned to Watch for Violent MS-13 Salvadoran Gang Members

MS-13 is going to love Canada

Joe Warmington
Toronto SUN News Crime

Members of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), held on March 4, 2013, in the Criminal Center of Ciudad Barrios, San Miguel, in El Salvador. (AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

The federal government has warned Canadian police services “violent” gangs known for cutting off the heads of victims are attempting to sneak across U.S.-Canada border points to avoid President Donald Trump’s changing immigration policy, The Toronto Sun has learned.

The classified “Alert” from Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC) warns “violence linked to the MS-13 is often described as brutal, from senseless beatings to dismemberment.”

Toronto has seen this gang before — even arresting members who threatened a Toronto justice official. MS-13 stands for Mara Salvatrucha which CISC calls a “Latin American street gang known for its violent activities and that exploits migration patterns to set up new cells.”

It calls MS-13 “one of the largest and most violent organized crime groups in the world” with 70,000 members in “half a dozen countries.”

Members of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), held on March 4, 2013, in the Criminal Center of Ciudad Barrios, San Miguel, in El Salvador. (AFP/GETTY IMAGES)

And it’s not just men. The Washington Post did a story this week describing MS-13 female members luring victims to into being slashed to death.

CISC stated in a two-page document obtained by the Toronto Sun that “the Canadian law enforcement community should be aware of the group’s modus operandi” which includes “the use of extreme violence to exert power and ensure cohesion among its members.”

It also suggested “influx of Salvadoran migrants is expected throughout 2018 and 2019 requesting asylum in response to the removal of their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States.”

It tells cops and border security people “MS-13 members will likely exploit the migration of Salvadorians to Canada to set up new cells, most likely in the Greater Toronto Area, Montreal and Vancouver.”

The memo talks of potential dangers to residents since “MS-13 maintains a propensity for public and indiscriminate acts of violence, suggesting an enhanced public safety threat in the communities it inhabits.”

It’s not new. After the arrest of 17 alleged gang members in 2008, then-Toronto Police chief Bill Blair said investigators discovered MS-13 had placed a target on someone in the justice system. “Within the judicial process there are police officers, there are correction officers, there are court officers, there are members of the bar and members of the bench. This investigation involves someone within that process,” said Blair.

Toronto Police on Wednesday re-iterated they are on top of such issues.

“We work around the clock with law enforcement and intelligence colleagues locally, provincially, nationally and globally to get the latest and most accurate information about anything that might affect public safety in Toronto,” said TPS spokesman Mark Pugash. “Our contingency plans are reviewed and updated whenever necessary.”

CISC describes itself as supporting “the effort to reduce the harm caused by organized crime through the delivery of criminal intelligence products and services” by informing “partners, government and other stakeholders about criminal markets in Canada and assists law enforcement leaders in making decisions regarding organized crime enforcement priorities.”

The RCMP says it will comment on the situation with MS-13 in the coming days.

In meantime the lookout is on for MS-13.

Time to retweet

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent out a tweet. Now the Parti Quebecois wants a retweet.

Jan. 28, 2017, Trudeau posted: “to those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada.”

Law enforcement sources say it was an “advertisement for illegals” to come to the border which they have done in droves — sometimes even having police carry their bags into Canada where many have become refugees.

“The problem is some are in gangs or have nefarious backgrounds,” said a justice source.

Now the PQ’s Catherine Fournier and Carole Poirier are urging Trudeau to tweet there are no “free passes into Canada.”

One copper (Copper? We still use that word?) said while it’s a good idea, it might be too late.

No indication here as to what their main activities are besides threatening and murdering people. But we can assume they are in the drug trade, probably also weapons smuggling and sex trafficking. Unfortunately, the Canadian government is working on ways to reduce prison sentences for many crimes, when so many sentences are already absurdly light. MS-13 is going to love Canada.