A Los Angeles police officer once assigned to work narcotics in the troubled Rampart Division is in jail in San Diego facing federal drug charges for allegedly buying 10 kilograms of cocaine from undercover agents, according to court documents. Officer Ruben Palomares, who is currently assigned to the LAPD's Northeast Division, and four other men are charged with possession with intent to distribute the drug, federal court papers say. Palomares, 31, is the subject of a separate investigation by the FBI into his role in the 1998 shooting of an alleged drug dealer. Rafael Perez, the key informant behind the LAPD's Rampart corruption scandal, told investigators that the shooting was unjustified and covered up. [continues 705 words]
Claiming to be fighting a valiant war on crime, governments around the world -- but especially in Canada -- are actually fighting an escalating war on people. This includes Ottawa's draconian "money-laundering" regulations. If you send $15,000 in cash to pay for your grandmother's hip replacement at a U.S. hospital, your name will go on the list of potential money launderers. Privacy? Freedom? Guilt? Innocence? Forget it. Under some definition, sending cash into the U.S. health-care system probably is money laundering. [continues 712 words]
Police Say They'll Concentrate On Harder Drugs; Marijuana Not A Priority LONDON (AP) - Scotland Yard plans to ease its enforcement of laws against possessing marijuana so officers can focus instead on arresting crack cocaine dealers and violent criminals, police said today. As part of a pilot program in one high-crime district, London police will release people found with a small amount of marijuana with just a warning instead of bringing them to a police station for formal arrest, Scotland Yard said. [continues 152 words]
SAN FRANCISCO - In the month since the U.S. Supreme Court said it's illegal to sell or possess marijuana for medical use, the decision appears to be having little effect in the eight states with medical marijuana laws. "I dispense a couple pounds a month," said Jim Green, operator of the Market Street Club, where business has thrived even after the May 14 ruling. "All of my clients have a legitimate and compelling need." Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon and Washington allow the infirm to receive, possess, grow or smoke marijuana for medical purposes without fear of state prosecution. [continues 588 words]
Fraud Investigation UNITED NATIONS - Kofi Annan, the United Nations' Secretary-General, is sitting on the results of a fraud investigation into activities of the world body's drug czar. The report has been kept confidential although the United Nations has been open about criticizing management of the office, which is responsible for combatting drugs and organized crime. This week, the UN's internal investigations unit released three reports accusing Pino Arlacchi, Executive Director of the Office for Drug Control & Crime Prevention, of "heavily personalized" decision-making, poor management and inefficiency. [continues 529 words]
NORTON - A recent substance abuse crackdown involving parolees and probationers from four Southwest Virginia counties has netted multiple violations and arrests. Nearly 200 offenders in Washington, Russell, Dickenson and Smythe counties and Bristol were subjected to unannounced substance abuse testing Monday. Those targeted had a history of substance abuse charges and were suspected of continuing to abuse drugs. Of the 187 people tested, 29 tested positive for substance abuse, with 42 warrants issued. Eight offenders failed to show for the test and are being sought. [continues 352 words]
Two-Man Fight Becomes Brawl As many as five Orleans Parish Prison inmates could be charged in the beating death Thursday of a bunkmate who was awaiting trial on a charge of possessing a hypodermic needle with traces of heroin. Joseph Quinn, 21, was beaten into a coma at about midnight in Tempelman lockup, a minimum-security section of the prison, authorities said. He was admitted to Charity Hospital at about 2:20 a.m. with massive trauma to the head and body and pronounced dead at 9:20 a.m., hospital spokesman Jerry Romig said. [continues 357 words]
The Police Integrity Commission has recommended the introduction of random drug testing for NSW police officers in the wake of the Roni Levi shooting on Bondi Beach. In a report tabled in State Parliament today, the PIC said officers involved in critical incidents such as shootings should be required to immediately give both blood and urine samples. Police Minister Paul Whelan has responded by saying random drug testing of officers using urine and hair samples would begin from September 1. "The issue of using blood for random drug testing however has significant health, industrial, privacy, logistical and cost implications," he said. [continues 393 words]
A recent drop-off in heroin overdose deaths could signal the end of the epidemic but drug experts today warned against complacency. Overdose deaths have been on the decline for two years with marked falls on the east coast this year. In Victoria, overdose deaths dropped to 22 this year from 148 the same time last year. In New South Wales fatal overdoses have fallen from a peak of 491 in 1998/99 to 296 in 1999/2000. A joint report by the Australian National Council on Drugs (ANCD), the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre and Australian Intravenous League, of intravenous drug users found there were about 15,000 fatal and non-fatal overdoses each year. [continues 191 words]
Naltrexone implants are the latest weapon against heroin addiction. Julie Robotham reports. Mark says the polymer block under his skin is his salvation. So far, it is saving him $2,000 a week, several hours every day and his marriage and family. Possibly, it is saving his life. The implant will leak a steady stream of the anti-addiction drug naltrexone into Mark's bloodstream around the clock for up to six months. It will stop the 33-year-old self-employed carpenter craving the heroin he began using three years ago to ease pain from an injury. If he takes heroin, the naltrexone will stop him getting high. [continues 528 words]
This letter is in response to the recent cannabis bust in Fairview. When is this city's Police force going to realize that every time they bust cannabis growers or smokers that their respect within this community drops, not to mention the division it causes between neighbors? The sensational estimates of this grow operations yield are laughable. The plants were in their early stages which means that they hadn't been sexed yet. Even out of a total of 151 plants only 75 would be female, I'd say 50 if they were lucky. Const. Paul Burkart estimates that he had the "satisfaction" of stopping 750 ounces from reaching the streets, nearly fifty pounds! That is close to a pound per plant and reminds me of Jack and the Beanstalk! This whole story is a big fairy tale. The only reason these estimates are so high is to bolster the idea that they were doing something important! [continues 290 words]
