Narcs nab people using puppies to smuggle drugs

[Chicky 0]

Narcs nab drug-smuggling puppies

DEA: Dogs' bellies were cut open, heroin was placed inside

By Eliott C. McLaughlin

CNN.com

Wednesday, February 1, 2006; Posted: 9:57 p.m. EST (02:57 GMT)

The DEA says these unlikely drug smugglers were rescued during a 2005 raid at a Colombian farm.

(CNN) -- A two-year investigation into a Colombian heroin ring netted more than 65 pounds of drugs, resulted in the arrests of more than 20 people and saved the lives of some drug-smuggling Labrador retrievers, the Drug Enforcement Agency said Wednesday.

Ten wayward pups were found during a raid on a Colombian farm in 2005, and six of them were carrying more than 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) of liquid heroin in their stomachs, said DEA spokesman Rusty Payne.

Puppy smugglers are another take on the human "mule," or "swallower" in DEA parlance -- someone who ingests packets of drugs and transports them in their stomachs.

The puppies, however, had little say in the matter.

In the case of the puppies found during the 2005 raid, the dogs' bellies had been cut open, and heroin packets were stitched into their stomachs, Payne said. The pups, mostly purebred Labrador retrievers, were sewn back up and prepared for shipment to the United States, he added. (Watch how the dogs became mules -- 1:18)

"The organization's outrageous and heinous smuggling method of implanting heroin inside puppies is a true indication of the extent that drug dealers go to make their profit," said Special Agent in Charge John Gilbride in a written statement.

Though the 10 dogs were rescued before being shipped, it wasn't enough to save all of their lives.

"Three of the six died of infection when the drugs were removed," Payne said, adding that four other puppies "were going to be used and obviously were saved."

Payne said the DEA did not announce its find after the raid because the investigation was still ongoing, but Wednesday, the two-year probe yielded 18 search warrants in six Colombian cities and landed the latest of 21 arrests, all Colombian nationals. Another arrest was made during the investigation in North Carolina, said DEA spokeswoman Erin Mulvey.

In addition to the arrests, the investigation led to 14 heroin seizures, totaling 24 kilograms (52.8 pounds), and a seizure of 6 kilograms (13.2 pounds) of cocaine.

The investigation began after agents learned of a cartel in Medellin, Colombia, that was smuggling drugs along the eastern seaboard from Miami, Florida, to New York City.

The cartel also used human couriers, the DEA said in a statement, and shipped the heroin in "body creams, aerosol cans, pressed into bead shapes, and sewn into the lining of purses and double-sided luggage."

OMFG That is ###### sick............ People like that should be tortured brutally. Here is the link to see the puppies they saved, they are adorable http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/02/...pups/index.html

[Not Available 0]

Oh my gosh! That is so sick!...and sad! Those poor puppies...

[Jaylen Brit 0]

Yes its sick but are you surprised? Drug dealers/sellers also use babies to hide drugs - usually in their diapers, clothing or cots - thinking police won't look there - these people are callous and have no regard for anything except MONEY - I say shoot the lot of em.

And when dealers swallow the evidence to avoid being caught red-handed I say leave em to suffer n die - instead of the slap on the wrist and free medical care they usually get.

These 'people' are parasites - and don't deserve any less than the misery they cause others.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

All this because of the current drug prohibition making this kind of activity profitable.

[Jasman0717 9]

#######

[Fischkoepfin 1]

All this because of the current drug prohibition making this kind of activity profitable.

Exactly. And because it is hard to fight a war on drugs on the one hand while fighting a war against terrorism and to a lesser degree "socialism" on the other hand. See Afghanistan for a prominent example and the support of Columbian paramilitary units to sabotage Venezuela for a less prominent example.

[JayJay 4]

Wow that is awful....

Doesn't surprise me, but it's still very sad: shipping substances for human destruction by destroying the bodies of animals (or again, other humans). Amazing how much people will kill for a drug...

...a human harvesting the ingredients, someone caught up in the drug heirachy in the country of origin, someone smuggling the drug by hiding it in their body, people both caught up in the drug heirachy in America or caught in crossfire by accident...and then finally the drug user - who will consume the drug and eventually many will die of related conditions. Isn't that crazy!

Legalizing drug use, then controlling it and hopefully someday stamping it out through educational and opportunistic advantages (for everyone involved or tempted) would not only stop puppies being used as drug mules, but would also inevitably mean that little three year old boys and girls in those neighborhoods in which drugs are a large part of illegal life, would not get caught so much in gunfire from opposing dealers... (it's a small summary, but I'm sure y'all know what I'm on about )

[almaty 19]

those chopf##ks

those chopf##ks

[ChristinaM 0]

Sick, sick, sick.

[Sister Fracas 5]

I hope those cuties will make it into good homes...

Edited February 2, 2006 by Frances

[almaty 19]

I hope those cuties will make it into good homes...

me too sister fraces....

[Peggy 1]

Poor little puppies.

[lucho562 0]

I remember this. That sucks.

[Mephys 2]

Im sad for the puppies