12.31.2009

trafficking news

1. Thailand: 2 arrested in large drug haul

Two members of a network linked to drugs kingpin Wei Sia Kang have been arrested with a large quantity of drugs, including heroin, worth more than 500 million baht. The suspects were identified as Arthit (also known as Tee) Sae Tao, 26, a native of Chiang Mai's Chiang Dao district, and Kuangyung sae Jao, 28, of Bangkok's Khannayao district. Police seized 1.98 million speed pills, 2kg of crystal methamphetamine and 3.5kg of heroin from the two men. Authorities said it was the biggest drug best ever in Bangkok involving multiple drugs and narcotics.

...Pol Maj-Gen Atithep said the gang had been smuggling illicit drugs from a neighbouring country since October. The drugs were awaiting delivery to sellers during the New Year festival....Ethnic minority groups based near the northern border are engaged in armed conflicts with neighbouring countries. The groups are expected to produce more drugs to raise money to finance the war.

countries on Thailand's northern border: Myanmar, Laos - ed.

read more @ bangkok post



2. China discloses arrest of 4 foreigners in September for drug trafficking, countries not identified

BEIJING - FOUR foreigners may face execution in China over a big seizure of heroin, a Hong Kong newspaper reported on Thursday, after China and Britain clashed over the execution of a Briton found guilty of drug smuggling.

The four were among nine people arrested over 144.5kg of heroin found by police in Shenzhen, the far southern Chinese commercial city next to Hong Kong, in August, the Beijing-backed Ta Kung Pao newspaper reported.

'Under Chinese law they may face the most extreme penalty,'said the report, which cited Shenzhen officials. It did not specify the nationality of the four foreign suspects, who were arrested in September after detectives uncovered and then tracked the shipment of drugs from Pakistan.

...The latest case involved high-grade heroin in 289 bags hidden in bales of cotton.

read more @ straits times



3. Italy: Indian man wanted in Belgium held in human trafficking


ROME - ITALIAN police have arrested an Indian man sought by Belgian authorities for alleged human trafficking and helping illegal migrants, an Italian newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Pal Devinder, 32, who was being hunted on a European arrest warrant issued by Belgium, was picked up in northern Italy as he tried to leave a building with his bags packed, according to the Piacenza Sera paper's website. Police raised the alarm after they carried out checks on Devinder near Piacenza and realised the European arrest order had been issued against him. Officers launched a hunt and found him staying with another Indian in the nearby city of Fiorenzuola. Devinder was taken to prison in Piacenza and Italian authorities will now decide whether to extradite him to Belgium. -- AFP

source: straits times


4. Sweden: court rules taking picture of sleeping girl's genitals not a crime, not punishable. also, it's ok to show the pictures too.

A court in Halmstad on the southwest coast of Sweden has dismissed charges against a man who reportedly took a photo of a 17-year-old girl's genitals while she was sleeping. The court said that the incident was was not a punishable offense.
The girl had laid down to sleep on a sofa during a New Year's party. The 49-year-old reportedly lifted up the girl's skirt and photographed her genitals. The man, whose teenage son was hosting the party, was indicted on charges of sexual harassment, local newspaper Hallandsposten reports.

Citing several other cases, the Halmstad district court said that the man had not committed a crime. There is no general prohibition against photographing people without their consent. The same applies to people who are asleep.

The fact that other people have seen the photograph, as claimed by the prosecutor in this case, doesn't make the incident a punishable offense either, according to the court.

The court cited a Swedish Supreme Court (Högsta domstolen) case that cleared a man who had been brought to trial for filming sexual intercourse without the consent of the woman involved.

source: the local

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