Three men accused of smuggling 'vinylized' heroin via Miami
Associated Press
March 12, 2004
A federal grand jury indicted three men for allegedly trafficking in 2 kilograms of heroin that had been chemically altered into a vinyl-like slab and disguised as part of a suitcase brought in via Miami.
The indictments, announced Friday by the U.S. attorney's office, name Freddy Alonso Osorio, 45, of Pawtucket, Jaime Humberto Restrepo-Mejia, 34, of Central Falls, and Willingon Rodriguez-Forero, 29 of New York.
The men were arrested last month at a gas station in Pawtucket as Rodriguez-Forero allegedly tried to deliver the heroin-lined suitcase to the other two men.
Federal agents believe the three men planned to chemically reconvert the heroin to its pure form for distribution.
Officials said this is the first known incident involving this type of heroin in Rhode Island. Similar "vinylized" heroin has been discovered at Miami International Airport and at LaGuardia Airport in New York.
At a hearing last month in U.S. District Court in Providence, prosecutors said that on Feb. 12, a U.S. customs inspector at Miami International Airport became suspicious of a suitcase belonging to a man from Colombia.
Customs agents determined a gray slab that fit the contours of an inside wall of the suitcase contained heroin. Further analysis determined that nearly 2 kilograms of heroin had been mixed with a vinyl-like liquid substance and poured into the suitcase where it hardened.
Customs agents monitored the delivery of the suitcase to in Rhode Island.
Osorio and Restrepo-Mejia were indicted with conspiracy to distribute more than 1 kilogram of heroin and attempting to possess with intent to distribute more than 1 kilogram of heroin. Rodriguez-Forero was indicted with conspiracy to distribute more than 1 kilogram of heroin.
Upon conviction, each offense carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $4 million fine.
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Associated Press
March 12, 2004
A federal grand jury indicted three men for allegedly trafficking in 2 kilograms of heroin that had been chemically altered into a vinyl-like slab and disguised as part of a suitcase brought in via Miami.
The indictments, announced Friday by the U.S. attorney's office, name Freddy Alonso Osorio, 45, of Pawtucket, Jaime Humberto Restrepo-Mejia, 34, of Central Falls, and Willingon Rodriguez-Forero, 29 of New York.
The men were arrested last month at a gas station in Pawtucket as Rodriguez-Forero allegedly tried to deliver the heroin-lined suitcase to the other two men.
Federal agents believe the three men planned to chemically reconvert the heroin to its pure form for distribution.
Officials said this is the first known incident involving this type of heroin in Rhode Island. Similar "vinylized" heroin has been discovered at Miami International Airport and at LaGuardia Airport in New York.
At a hearing last month in U.S. District Court in Providence, prosecutors said that on Feb. 12, a U.S. customs inspector at Miami International Airport became suspicious of a suitcase belonging to a man from Colombia.
Customs agents determined a gray slab that fit the contours of an inside wall of the suitcase contained heroin. Further analysis determined that nearly 2 kilograms of heroin had been mixed with a vinyl-like liquid substance and poured into the suitcase where it hardened.
Customs agents monitored the delivery of the suitcase to in Rhode Island.
Osorio and Restrepo-Mejia were indicted with conspiracy to distribute more than 1 kilogram of heroin and attempting to possess with intent to distribute more than 1 kilogram of heroin. Rodriguez-Forero was indicted with conspiracy to distribute more than 1 kilogram of heroin.
Upon conviction, each offense carries a minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $4 million fine.
Link