Latest Smuggling Stories

Press Release from PLoS MedicineDespite a high level of global awareness of trafficking in persons, not enough is known about the scale and health implications of trafficking, according to a new editorial published in this week's PLoS Medicine. The editorial accompanies a six-part series on Migration and Health (http://www.ploscollections.org/article/browseIssue.action?issue=info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fissue.pcol.v07.i14), published by PLoS Medicine in May and June 2011.The editors argue that even...

With the advancement of technology, the Internet has become a major tool for European organized crime, top officials at Europol say.These criminals use the Internet for drugs and human trafficking as well as money laundering and cybercrime."Organized crime is a multi"“billion euro business in Europe and it is growing in scale. The further expansion of Internet and mobile technologies, the proliferation of illicit trafficking routes and methods as well as opportunities offered by the...

With the high prevalence of drug abuse and trafficking in major cities throughout the world, one new study shows how advanced CT with 3D scanning can help radiologists better identify ingested or hidden contraband items more effectively.These advanced imaging techniques can help law enforcement officers fight international drug trafficking, identify medical complications caused by ingested drug packets, and reduce contraband smuggling within the penal system, said Dr. Barry Daly, lead...

MIAMI, Feb. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On this year's anniversary of the passage of the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the bishops of Florida called upon parishioners to engage in educational, public information and advocacy efforts to help victims and put a stop to increasing human trafficking cases. US State Department figures estimate that 600,000 - 800,000 men, women and children are trafficked across countries and that 14,500 - 17,500 of them are trafficked...

"If we help Mexican youth become part of the solution, they at the same time are freed from being trapped in the problem," says Clark Carr Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) January 18, 2011 Youth involvement in violent drug cartel operations in Mexico has steadily escalated over the last several years. Case in point, a recent AP news bulletin from the City of Monterrey contained multiple mentions of youth connected to mainline cartel activities. The report described US Navy capture of...

WASHINGTON, Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs today announced the release of an Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force Strategy and Operations e-Guide. The e-guide provides resources and guidance to support effective Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force operations, including task force formulation and structuring, and strategies and lessons learned from the anti-trafficking field. It also provides a centralized link to trainings and...

THE PAIR RECEIVED 366 DAYS IN FEDERAL PRISON; 3 YEARS SUPERVISED RELEASE, AND ORDERED TO REPAY $280,000 LOS ANGELES, Dec. 21, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two Glendale residents were sentenced yesterday to 366 days in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release, and ordered to pay $280,096 in restitution to the state of California for trafficking in contraband cigarettes and conspiracy to traffic in contraband cigarettes. Grigor Chivitchian, 57, and Sarkis Mkrtchyan, 47,...

Statement of Steve Pasierb, President NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future study (MTF) - the largest survey on teen drug abuse tracking over 46,000 8th, 10th and 12th graders - shows that teens' daily use of marijuana, especially among 8th graders, has increased significantly, with overall illicit drug use among this group jumping to 16 percent, up from 14.5 percent in 2009. The MTF survey also points to marked increases in...

ZeroPoint Risk Research LLC, the Boston-based risk management research and consulting firm, announces the Fair Trade Receipt© report. Boston, MA (PRWEB) December 9, 2010 Organized crime in the United States, Latin America, Asia, and Europe is fueling the growth of product piracy and counterfeiting. It threatens brand integrity, encourages the theft of intellectual property, and endorses the crime of human trafficking, factors that contribute to corporate regulatory, legal,...

According to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), the best way to detect cocaine in the body of a human drug courier, known as a mule, is through computed tomography (CT)."Cocaine from South America is making its way to Europe through Africa," said Patricia Flach, M.D., a radiologist at University Hospital of Berne and Institute of Forensic Medicine of Berne in Switzerland. "From Africa, drug mules most commonly try...