News in Niagara

40 million dollars in cocaine smuggled into Niagara weekly

11/2/2012

Authorities have released a few more details regarding a massive drug raid across the country connected to an investigation right here in the Niagara Region called "Project INK part 2.

The original "Project INK" resulted in the seizure of 30 million dollars worth of cocaine in February of 2012 and has had a dramatic affect on drug trafficking in the region.

That investigation was started by the NRP back in March 2011 and was dubbed "Project INK" and led to the arrest of individuals that led authorities to INK part 2.

Authorities say this cartel they have broken up brought in 400 thousand grams of cocaine into Canada weekly worth 40 million dollars each week.

Staff Sgt Joe Maggiolo says the drugs would come in on boats and dingys on the upper and lower Niagara River and on transport trucks on land.

Maggiolo says the cartel also used little known technology called PGP or "pretty good privacy" to communicate with each other in code.

PGP is used by the military.

Police in Niagara say the once they have two fugitives in custody they could put "Project INK" part two to rest.

A Canada wide warrant has been issued for the arrest of 39 year old Martino Caputo and 25 year old Rabih Al Khalil.







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  1. xiam007 posted on 11/02/2012 03:19 PM
    if 400 Thousand Grams (400 kilos) = $40 million then why was the original bust of 110 kilos valued at $30 million... crazy math? or great press coverage?
  2. RockyR posted on 11/03/2012 12:31 AM
    And how does that much money avoid taxes????? Ask your government after they get their nose out of the punch bowl. Wachovia was at the heart of one of the world’s biggest money laundering operations moving $378.4 billion into dollar-based accounts from Mexican casas de cambio, which are currency exchange firms. Criminal proceedings were brought against Wachovia, though not against any individual, but the case never came to court. In March 2010, Wachovia settled the biggest action brought under the US bank secrecy act, through the US district court in Miami. Now that the year’s “deferred prosecution” has expired, the bank is in effect in the clear. It paid federal authorities $110m in forfeiture, for allowing transactions later proved to be connected to drug smuggling, and incurred a $50m fine for failing to monitor cash used to ship 22 tons of cocaine.
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