THE elderly couple whose house was raided last month can still be included in the criminal charges that the police will file. Atty. Vicente Cuna, legal counsel of Yu Kim Chuy, 87, a businessman, said Narcom director Efren Fernandez has implied this during their meeting sometime last week at the Narcom office in Camp Crame. Yua's house was being rented out to several Chinese nationals when police raided and seized the property for concealing a shabu manufacturing lab. "During our last meeting, he (Fernandez) was making it appear that Mr. Yu is included in the charges and they might file charges against my client", Cuna said in a phone interview. [continues 123 words]
Hands Off Those Hemp Chips--The DEA Has Declared Them Illegal FROZEN WAFFLES are the latest targets of the War on Drugs. This news may come as a surprise to consumers, unless of course they've read pages 51,539 through 51,544 in the Federal Register. The Drug Enforcement Agency now views a variety of hemp food products containing trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinols--or THC--as Schedule I narcotics: in other words the same as heroin, under the Controlled Substances Act. [continues 1514 words]
The normally strait-laced Associated Press did something very cheeky when President Bush announced his new drug-control policy last week. In an otherwise innocuous report on the announcement -- a drug-use reduction target, a $19.2 billion budget -- the wire service noted: "The war on drugs has touched the Bush family. Noelle Bush, daughter of Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, has been admitted to a drug treatment program after being arrested Jan. 29 on charges of trying to buy Xanax with a fraudulent prescription." [continues 837 words]
Wellington: The Police Association says a judgement saying police should not search people because of their appearance will not affect how officers operate. In a landmark written ruling, Judge Phil Gittos found the police breached the Bill of Rights when they searched Chris Fowlie, president of the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (Norml), and arrested him for possession of a small amount of cannabis. Police Association president Greg O'Connor told NZPA on Saturday police did not search people because of how they looked. [continues 439 words]
In response to the Feb. 3 editorial about the MHS Macohi article describing a teen's drug use, I want to extend your thoughts, and the readers', on this extremely serious concern. Writing realistic articles about student drug use will help those in denial, somewhat, but let's also be realistic about how our state perceives the drug problem. Gov. Jeb Bush's proposed budget drastically reduces funds for drug rehabilitation and first-offender programs. Does he think the schools will be able to take up the slack and rehabilitate addicted teens? Many youths and first offenders will go by the wayside without help for their drug habits, if the governor has his way. More and more teen drug concerns will be a major factor in Manatee schools' dropout statistics, skipping, low academic performances, and crime issues. Another thought: Will the governor's daughter Noelle be a statistic of the cuts in drug rehab funding? Think again. LYNN ARAGON Bradenton [end]
As you have recently reported, funding for residential and outpatient drug-abuse treatment programs was cut severely during Special Session C of the Florida Legislature. Lawmakers weighed heavily the decision to reduce funding for these programs against the core functions of the Department of Corrections, such as security and public safety. Gov. Jeb Bush's executive budget, released in early January, outlined a $7.3 million restoration of substance-abuse-treatment funds. His recent supplemental budget included an additional $3.1 million to restore fully the residential and outpatient substance-abuse-treatment programs. [continues 119 words]
Officials Expect That The Increase In The Public's Awareness Will Bring More Busts Local narcotics agents predict an increase in the number of drug lab busts as the community becomes more aware of what to look for and because of heightened security at the airport. "They (the public) are the eyes and ears of the police department," said Dean Yamamoto, clandestine laboratory coordinator of the Honolulu Police Department. Meetings are being held around the state to educate residents about clandestine drug labs. The state Attorney General's Office has held meetings on Kauai and in Kona. Yamamoto said he plans to coordinate more meetings so the public can help law enforcement catch drug lab operators. [continues 504 words]
Now Colombia's Right-Wing Death Squads Are Recruiting Urban Gangs, Opening A Fresh Front In The War And Threatening The Very Fabric Of Democracy. With The New Guerrillas At 15, John Abandoned his schoolbooks for the guns, motorcycles and designer clothes of a hit man. Working for the Medellin cartel in the 1990s, he whacked drug traffickers who owed money to cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar, supplied getaway cars for bombings and kidnapped civilians. Like many ghetto kids of his generation, he also revered the cartels for declaring war on the government after it agreed to hand drug traffickers over to the United States. [continues 1830 words]
Transportation Chief General Roberto Lastimoso has admitted that there is no basis for subjecting all drivers to drug testing before the issuance of a driver's permit. This was disclosed by Rep. Jacinto Paras (3rd District, Neg. Oriental) after a meeting with the LTO chief after the issue was taken up before the Committee on Transportation, which he chairs, two weeks ago. Paras said Lastimoso pointed out that there is no law that really mandates it and that it is only for professional drivers. Paras said Lastimoso assured that they will address the clamor against the drug testing requirement. He also welcomed the move of the IBP to file a class suit against the drug testing requirement, which they believe is unconstitutional and could lead to graft and corruption. [end]
