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| -Lurid Crime Tales- |
| ‘Cartels are scrambling’: Virus snarls global drug trade |
| 2020-04-20 |
| [ABC] Coronavirus is dealing a gut punch to the illegal drug trade, paralyzing economies and severing supply chains in China that traffickers rely on for the chemicals to make such drugs as methamphetamine and fentanyl Coronavirus is dealing a gut punch to the illegal drug trade, paralyzing economies, closing borders and severing supply chains in China that traffickers rely on for the chemicals to make such profitable drugs as methamphetamine and fentanyl. One of the main suppliers that shut down is in Wuhan, the epicenter of the global outbreak. Associated Press interviews with nearly two dozen law enforcement officials and trafficking experts found Mexican and Colombian cartels are still plying their trade as evidenced by recent drug seizures but the lockdowns that have turned cities into ghost towns are disrupting everything from production to transport to sales. Along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border through which the vast majority of illegal drugs cross, the normally bustling vehicle traffic that smugglers use for cover has slowed to a trickle. Bars, nightclubs and motels across the country that are ordinarily fertile marketplaces for drug dealers have shuttered. And prices for drugs in short supply have soared to gouging levels. “They are facing a supply problem and a demand problem,” said Alejandro Hope, a security analyst and former official with CISEN, the Mexican intelligence agency. “Once you get them to the market, who are you going to sell to?” Nonetheless, Capt. Chris Sandoval, who oversees special investigations for the Houston-based Harris County Sheriff’s Office, said there’s a new saying among his detectives: “Not even the dope dealers can hide from the coronavirus.” Related: Methamphetamine: 2020-04-16 Mexican Drug Tunnel Exits in U.S. Warehouse Run by Illegal Aliens Near CBP Crossing Methamphetamine: 2020-04-10 Iowa Woman Arrested After Asking Cops to Check Drugs for Coronavirus Methamphetamine: 2020-02-25 $18 Million in Meth, Heroin, Cocaine Seized at Texas Border Crossing Related: Fentanyl: 2020-04-18 Authorities bust three alleged Bronx drug dealers, seize 11 kilos of heroin and fentanyl Fentanyl: 2020-04-16 Mexican Drug Tunnel Exits in U.S. Warehouse Run by Illegal Aliens Near CBP Crossing Fentanyl: 2020-03-01 ICE arrests Dominican national involved in fentanyl ring released under state bail reform law |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #15 what NMBS said |
| Posted by: Lex 2020-04-20 22:48 |
| #14 I think the cartels have enough liquidity in their portfolios to withstand this temporary downturn. Besides, Pelosi might stick in a bailout provision in the next stimulus package for them. |
| Posted by: bbrewer126 2020-04-20 20:30 |
| #13 Demand down ? Try cutting it with HCQ. |
| Posted by: Dron66046 2020-04-20 19:37 |
| #12 The extent of Chinese involvement in the drug trade and the critical use of an Un-defended border are now crystal clear. We must not let these facts be memory-holed by the complicit MSM and corrupt political class. Close the f’ing border, cut off the Chinese step by step , re-industrialize America a and watch our nation prosper again because Exceptionalism is a true description of our birthright that has been squandered y fool and fellow travelers. |
| Posted by: NoMoreBS 2020-04-20 12:50 |
| #11 It’s the only way to be sure. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2020-04-20 09:42 |
| #10 It’s the only way. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2020-04-20 09:41 |
| #9 Seems like more than one awful thing is coming out of Wuhan. Maybe we should nuke the site from orbit. |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2020-04-20 09:22 |
| #8 And prices for drugs in short supply have soared to gouging levels. Your drug dealer price gouging you? Report them to the Price and Control Office near you or call. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2020-04-20 06:46 |
| #7 Isn't that an essential business in Michigan? |
| Posted by: Clem 2020-04-20 05:19 |
| #6 I weep for you, the Walrus said... |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2020-04-20 04:04 |
| #5 #3 To most people "economy" = my personal livelihood. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2020-04-20 02:42 |
| #4 How hard this will hit Al Qaeda, Hizbollah, and the IRGC, all of which work with the drug cartels and profit from them? |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2020-04-20 02:27 |
| #3 /\ Predominately urban economy and dem voter base. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2020-04-20 02:12 |
| #2 ^End the lockdown, save our economy! |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2020-04-20 02:09 |