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.
