Thursday, October 3, 2002

Date Rape Drug Bust

Date Rape Drug Bust
October 3, 2002
Special K Drug Bust

A massive Special K date rape drug bust just went down today. Authorities launched an exhaustive two year investigation into a special K date rape drug ring located in Mexico.

This date rape drug bust has special importance. Not only did United States and Mexico drug enforcement authorities bust a special K date rape drug ring, they nabbed the biggest special k date rape drug ring in the country! This was no ordinary date rape drug bust. The implications of this date rape drug bust will reverberate throughout the illicit drug market.

The illegal drug lab targeted in the drug bust went by the name of Ttokkyo, and was churning out huge amounts of special K, which is a highly dangerous drug used in party raves although it was originally developed and marketed as a veterinary anesthetic. Ketamine, the trade name of the drug known as Special K on the street, is a controlled narcotic in the United States, and sells for up to one hundred dollars per bottle. This drug bust is of significant importance, because Special K has been used as a date rape drug when administered in high doses via smoking or nasal snorting. The date rape drug can cause hallucinations similar to PCP and is highly addictive and a potentially deadly drug.

The date rape drug bust nabbed seven key individuals who played an instrumental role in marketing and distributing the drug into the United States. Reports indicate Ttokkyo is responsible for 80 percent of the date rape drug, Special K, in our country. Incredibly, Ttokkyo advertised the date rape drug openly (among many other drugs) on their website, which clearly shows they were a major internet drug dealing enterprise.

Three of the suspects involved in the date rape drug bust may have escaped to Mexico, a country notorious for refusing extradition to the US for drug-related prosecution. Due to the enormity of this date rape drug bust, though, if the three suspects are captured, they very well may be transferred to the US based on multi-country collaboration. When it comes to date rape drugs, both countries have a zero tolerance policy towards them, and will bust any drug ring distributing them.

The two alleged king pins of the date rape drug bust, Dr. Jose Francisco Molina, a veterinary doctor, and Tijuana businessman, Jose Chevreuil Bravo, are current in custody without bail. Both have plead innocent to charges of conspiracy and drug distribution charges, although Bravo may face up to life in prison if convicted for operating a criminal enterprise.

This date rape drug bust is a landmark victory, and comes off the heels of another date rape drug bust -- this time with GHB -- only last week. It is clear that the government is making huge strides against the war on drugs, and will bust any of them, especially those who market known date rape drugs.

All told, the date rate drug bust seized nearly $20 million dollars worth of Special K, a date rape drug. Authorities began investigating Ttokkyo after reports of their date rape drug and anabolic steroids, another major, major drug sold by Ttokkyo, was being distributed in California gyms.

Ttokkyo is known throughout the athletic community as one of the top anabolic steroid drug distributors in the world, but their alliance with deplorable date rape drug distribution earned them a drug bust and brought them down.

SAN DIEGO FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTS MEXICO'S LARGEST KETAMINE MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTING ORGANIZATION

October 2, 2002

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
San Diego, California

United States Attorney
Carol C. Lam

For Further Information, Contact: Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy D. Coughlin (619) 557-7044

For Immediate Release

SAN DIEGO FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTS MEXICO'S LARGEST KETAMINE MANUFACTURING AND DISTRIBUTING ORGANIZATION

NEWS RELEASE SUMMARY

United States Attorney Carol C. Lam announced today the indictment of ten individuals with operating an international ketamine manufacturing and distribution ring. Ketamine, commonly known as "K," "Special K," "Super K," "Kit Kat," and "Vitamin K," is a Schedule III Controlled Substance and chemically related to PCP. Users take ketamine to experience emergence reactions and hallucinations, and ketamine has also been used as a date rape drug. Agents of the Integrated Narcotic Task Force of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) San Diego Field Division Office and the Simi Valley Police Department were responsible for directing this investigation, which focused on Laboratorios Ttokkyo, a pharmaceutical manufacturing firm located in Morelos, Mexico; and Granero de Oro, a Tijuana based veterinary business and the primary distributor of Ttokkyo brand ketamine.

Jorge Chevreuil Bravo, who is the owner of Granero de Oro, and Dr. Francisco Molina, who is the owner of Laboratorios Ttokkyo are among those charged. The Bravo-Molina organization is the dominant manufacturer of ketamine in Mexico and its Ttokkyo brand ketamine is the largest foreign manufactured brand of ketamine currently diverted for illegal use in the United States. The targeted organization has U.S. based distributors nationwide and agents made arrests and conducted search warrants in New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Boston and San Diego. In Southern California alone, approximately $504,926 in cash was also seized. Seven of the ten indicted defendants have been arrested.

The criminal indictment, which is the result of a two year-long investigation, charges ten individuals with participating in a conspiracy to import and distribute ketamine, conspiracy to launder money, possession of ketamine with intent to distribute, as well as criminal forfeiture. Jorge Chevreuil Bravo, the lead defendant, is charged with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise (CCE).

According to indictment, the Bravo-Molina Organization would solicit orders for ketamine and other pharmaceuticals from U.S. customers and distributors through an internet website. The website provided contact numbers for Bravo and other distributors of Ttokyo products in Mexico. These contact numbers included the address, telephone number and E-mail addresses for Bravo's veterinary stores, and for other distributors to whom Bravo had supplied Ttokkyo products in Mexico. Neither Bravo nor Molina, or any of their identified businesses, sought authorization from the DEA to export to the United States any Ttokkyo brand pharmaceuticals, including ketamine. Ttokkyo brand ketamine produced in Mexico has been smuggled into the United States and provided to distributors in San Diego, San Bernardino, San Francisco, Orlando, Philadelphia, Boston and New York.

United States Attorney Carol C. Lam stated that "We will continue to dismantle national and international drug trafficking organizations attacking each and every level of their efforts to reach their intended markets in the United States." Drug Enforcement Administration Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Jack Hook stated that "this case demonstrates that the DEA in cooperation with state and local law enforcement is taking a very aggressive and proactive approach to the growing popularity of club drugs, such as ketamine. The DEA is committed to keeping pace with those involved in manufacturing and distributing of narcotics."

United States Attorney Lam praised the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) for the coordinated team effort resulting in this indictment. Agents from the United States Customs Service, Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigative Division, United States Postal Inspection Service, California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement, Narcotics Task Force, San Diego Police Department, Chula Vista Police Department San Diego Sheriff's Department, Ontario Airport Interdiction Team and Simi Valley Police Department participated in this OCDETF investigation. The OCDETF program was created to consolidate and utilize all law enforcement resources in this country's battle against major drug trafficking.

DEFENDANTS
Jorge Chevreuil-Bravo
Dr. Jose Franciso Molina
Ahed Hbaiu
Josh D. Milane
Desmond Quinn Donnellan
Rudolfo Luhrs-Gonzalez
Kevan Allan Kneuker
Phillip D. Esposito
Jaime Salabarria-Clote
Josue Santiago Acevedo-Ramos


SUMMARY OF CHARGES
Number of Defendants: 10
Charges :
Count 1:
Continuing Criminal Enterprise in violation of Title 21, United States Code, section 848(a);
Count 2:
Conspiracy to import ketamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, 952 (b), 960 (b)(4), & 963;
Count 3:
Conspiracy to distribute ketamine in violation of Title 21, United States Code, sections 846 and 841(a)(1);
Counts 4 -13:
in violation of Title 21, United States Code, section 841(a)(1): Possession with intent to distribute or distribution of ketamine;
Count 14:
Conspiracy to Launder Money in violation of Title 21, United States Code, 956(h) and 1956(a)(1)(A)(i); and an allegation of Criminal Forfeiture.

PARTICIPATING AGENCIES
Drug Enforcement Administration/ Integrated Narcotics Task Force
United States Customs Service
Immigration and Naturalization Service
United States Postal Service Inspection Service Team
Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation Division
California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement
Ontario California Airport Interdiction Team
San Diego Police Department
San Diego County Sheriff's Department
Chula Vista Police Department
Simi Valley Police Department
Coryell County, Texas Sheriff's Department

An indictment itself is not evidence that the defendants committed the crimes charged. The defendants are presumed innocent until the Government meets its burden in court of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Wednesday, October 2, 2002

DISMANTLING OF A KETAMYNE PRODUCING ORGANIZATION WAS ACHIEVED


Mexico City, October 1, 2002.
Press Release N° 890/02

DISMANTLING OF A KETAMYNE PRODUCING ORGANIZATION WAS ACHIEVED

- Two of the organization's main leaders were located in Panama and put at the disposal of U.S. authorities where they have arrest orders
- They offered the substance through Internet web sites, telephone numbers and addresses to contact distributors in Mexico.

As a result of information exchange and mutual legal assistance agreements between the General Attorneys Office and other law enforcement authorities abroad, the Specialized Unit against Organized Crime (UEDO), participated in the dismantling operative of an organization dedicated to the production and distribution of a psychotropic substance known as Ketamyne.

After receiving a collaboration request from American authorities UEDO initiated investigations that ended in several operatives in the States of Baja California, Morelos and Mexico City.

Jorge Chevreuil Bravo, owner of a store named Granero de Oro in Tijuana, Baja California and José Francisco Molina Alvarado, owner of the Tokyo Laboratories in the State of Morelos, lead the organization that operated since 1999 in the packaging and distribution of the substance within bottles of ten and fifty milliliters.

Investigations revealed that together, Chevreuil Bravo and Molina Alvarado have sent several quantities of the substance to the U.S. which was produced at the laboratories in order to cover the increasing demand in that country.

At the present time the commercial value of a 10 ml. bottle in the U.S. varies between 50 and 100 dollars. The organization managed a web site where they offered the substance and also used telephone numbers and addresses to contact distributors in Mexico.

As a result of the operatives carried out at the "El Grano de Oro" store within the Plaza Hermosa mall in Tijuana, documents with the name of Ernesto Chevreuil Bravo were found and around 700 boxes contining bottles with the substance.

Furthermore, at the address of Segunda Street and Benito Juárez number 7014 in the downtown area, 400 more boxes were found with the substance.

In the State of Morelos, ministerial personnel searched within the Ttokkyo laboratories where they found and secured 70 bottles of 10 and 50 ml. with the substance as well as 440 kilos of the active substance within 18 barrels ready to be processed.

In Mexico City, at the Farallón Street number 205, Jardines del Pedregal neighborhood, authorities confiscated a 38 special caliber gun, 12 rounds of ammunition and documents. At the Tijuana Street number 10, interiors 601 and 602 in the Del Valle neighborhood, the administrative offices of the laboratories were searched.

All searches were carried out by Federal Public Ministry Agents with support from AFI agents and experts.

Mexicans Chevreuil Bravo and Molina Alvarado were located in Panama where authorities deported them through Miami. As they entered the United States they were arrested since a judge in that country had issued arrest orders against them.