Pubdate: Sun, 10 Nov 2002
Source: Beaufort Gazette, The (SC)
Copyright: 2002 The Beaufort Gazette
Contact:  http://www.beaufortgazette.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1806
Author: Glenn Maffei, Gazette staff writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

POLICE STOP DRUG-TRAFFICKING SCHEME

RIDGELAND -- Police here say they stopped another drug-trafficking scheme 
in an Interstate-95 traffic stop Monday, seizing $120,779 and arresting an 
illegal Colombian immigrant. Luis Henao, 47, of Woodside, N.Y., told 
Ridgeland police he was paid $1,000 to travel from New York to Fort 
Lauderdale, Fla., in the 1997 Ford Taurus station wagon, Chief Richard 
Woods said. He was not charged because of the drugs, but was sent to 
Immigrations and Naturalization Services in Charleston.

Two officers pulled over the southbound vehicle about 1 p.m. after 
observing it cross the center divider line several times, the chief said. 
Henao, who said he did not know the money was hidden in a specially 
installed compartment in the back of the car, had left New York on Sunday, 
intending to drive straight through to deliver the vehicle, Woods said.

"I'm assuming whoever he was going to meet was going to take the money out 
of the compartment and put cocaine back in the compartment and come back 
North," Woods said.

Woods said Henao was living illegally in the United States and had an 
extensive criminal record. The station wagon, which was registered to 
another person in New York, also was confiscated by police. The money was 
hidden in a hydraulic-operated compartment with wires running to the 
defroster. Woods said the officers received consent from Henao to search 
the vehicle.

Henao was detained at the Jasper County Detention Center overnight and INS 
took custody Tuesday.

Woods said the department may get title control of the station wagon after 
the DEA completes its investigation.

The money from Monday's seizure has been sent to the Drug Enforcement 
Administration office in Charleston, which will conduct an investigation. 
After the money clears in about five months, Ridgeland police will net 
$96,623 -- the seized money minus the DEA's 20 percent cut -- which will be 
added to the town's drug-fund account.

Hardeeville, Ridgeland and the Jasper County Sheriff's Office all have 
drug-fund accounts, where money seized from in-town and interstate busts is 
sent. But Ridgeland's is the highest, at just over $17,000, compared to the 
Sheriff's Office account balance of about $10,000.

On Oct. 10, the Sheriff's Office made its first interstate seizure in more 
than two years, arresting a Miami resident and seizing almost $14,000.

Ridgeland's drug fund will swell from $17,000 to $132,223 after the money 
from this seizure and the $22,000 seized in an early September I-95 traffic 
stop clear.
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