Results tagged “smuggling”

Much of the primo, hydroponically-grown herb you'll find in New York comes from Canada, where an untold quantity passes across the border at the Akwesasne Mohawk reservation, which stretches five miles along the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Naturally, the authorities would like to pull the plug on this source, so six weeks ago Joseph Resnick, the head of the NYPD's narcotics division, took a trip up there to see what could be done. The good news for tokers is that the Mohawk smugglers have this down to a science, and Resnik is "astounded at how lenient the border is."

A type of Guyanese finch called Towa Towa is prized by New York’s Guyanese community for singing competitions; people place bets on two birds to see which can sing the longest and most beautifully. (Here’s YouTube video of a Towa Towa singing.) But the problem is getting the finches into New York; Guyana's Wild Bird Protection Act prohibits finch exports. Top birds can sell for more than $5,000, which might explain why 36-year-old Guyanese-born nursing home worker Terrence McLean was busted at JFK in 2006 with 13 Towa Towas hidden inside plastic hair curlers. Yesterday McLean admitted guilt in not declaring the birds to customs and faces a possible $25,000 fine. But he's due back in court today to fight a second charge of smuggling because, according to his lawyer, "He is absolutely innocent of the charge of knowingly violating of Guyanese law." McClean could be fined an additional $25,000 if a jury finds him guilty on that charge.

Nine people were arrested for allegedly smuggling cocaine inside children's toy packaging. NY1 reports that "four kilograms of cocaine, four handguns, and more than $86,000" during the investigation. The suspects pleaded not guilty to charges including drug possession and money laundering; a prosecutor said, "We're investigating whether they were paid in cocaine." One employee worked in a check-cashing facility, and it's believed he laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars there, and the ringleader allegedly wired the money back to Puerto Rico. As for the smuggling, the DEA says kilos of coke were "concealed inside children’s toy tool boxes and large building toy container boxes" and then "the organization used United States Postal Service Express Mail to make deliveries to drop off addresses in Manhattan and the Bronx."

The tabloids have caught wind of a bird smuggling operation uncovered by customs officials at JFK airport: For years now people have been sneaking Guyanese finches called Towa Towas into New York. The birds are used by Brooklyn’s Guyanese community for singing competitions; people place bets on two birds, and a judge decides which one has the lovlier song. (Here’s YouTube video of a Towa Towa singing.)