Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: All

"...inside two yellow school buses..."


Note: The following text is a quote:

http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/newsreleases/articles/070305houston.htm

March 5, 2007

ICE Agents, Local Law Enforcement Agencies Seize 19,000 Pounds of Marijuana
School buses were used in drug smuggling case

HOUSTON - Federal and local law enforcement officers seized more than 19,000 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $13 million yesterday inside two yellow school buses at a remote Southeast Houston location.

The participating law enforcement agencies included: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Harris County Sheriff's Department (HCSD), Houston Police Department (HPD) and Pasadena Police Department (PPD).

As part of an on-going investigation, ICE agents conducted surveillance at the remote Southeast Houston location over the weekend, and identified this area as an offloading and distribution site for large amounts of marijuana shipments illegally imported from the Southern border.

During the surveillance, ICE, CBP and other local law enforcement agencies observed numerous van, truck and vehicle traffic. Two yellow school buses were also used in this apparent drug-smuggling operation at the site.

When ICE, CBP and other law enforcement officers entered the area, they discovered several vehicles containing large amounts of marijuana inside. Overall, ICE agents and the other law enforcement officers seized more than 19,000 lbs (9½ tons) of marijuana, and seized many of the vehicles.

"This significant drug seizure exemplifies the professional teamwork among our local, state and federal law enforcement partners," said Robert Rutt, special agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Houston. "We work aggressively to keep drugs out of our communities, and to dismantle the criminal networks that profit from narcotics trafficking."

Two individuals were apprehended at the site and now face federal drug charges.

This is an ongoing ICE investigation.

-- ICE --


395 posted on 03/08/2007 1:49:08 AM PST by Cindy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 393 | View Replies ]


To: All; Jet Jaguar; NautiNurse; Judith Anne; backhoe; piasa

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=cuba

===
===

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=27280

"Cuba Has Biological Weapons"
By Frances Robles
Miami Herald | March 8, 2007

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The former chief of Cuba's military medical services is calling for international weapons inspections of a secret underground lab near Havana, where he says the government is creating biological warfare agents like the plague, botulism and yellow fever.

Roberto Ortega, a former army colonel who ran the military's medical services from 1984 to 1994, defected in 2003 and now lives in South Florida.

After living here quietly for four years, this week Ortega went on the Spanish-language media circuit to denounce what he claims is an advanced offensive biological warfare weapons program. He spoke Tuesday night at the University of Miami's Institute for Cuban and Cuban-American Studies where one angry heckler stormed out accusing him of deliberately sowing fear among Cuban exiles.

''They can develop viruses and bacteria and dangerous sicknesses that are currently unknown and difficult to diagnose,'' Ortega told The Miami Herald. "They don't need missiles or troops. They need four agents, like the people from al Qaeda or the Taliban, who contaminate water, air conditioning or heating systems.''

He said Cuba was ready to use the biological agents ''to blackmail the United States in case of an international incident'' such as the threat of a U.S. invasion.

The Cuban government has denied such programs exist, but if Ortega's allegations are true Washington could face the prospect of an enemy nation 90 miles away with the capability of launching germ attacks.

UNDERGROUND LAB

Ortega said he told the CIA nearly two years ago about an underground Cuban facility southwest of Havana."

===
===

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2007/2/28/95512.shtml?s=ic

From the NewsMax.com Staff
For the story behind the story...

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007 9:51 a.m. EST

"Defector: Cuba Preparing Biological Weapons"

ARTICLE SNIPPET: "The former head of Cuba’s military medical services says the communist government is stockpiling biological warfare agents like the plague, botulism and yellow fever at a secret underground lab near Havana.

Roberto Ortega ran the Cuban military’s medical services from 1984 to 1994 and defected to the U.S. in 2003. He said he told the CIA nearly two years ago about the secret Cuban facility, and is speaking publicly now because he did not see the CIA take action on his information and wants international inspections of the lab.

The Cubans "can develop viruses and bacteria and dangerous sicknesses that are currently unknown and difficult to diagnose,” Ortega told the Miami Herald. "They don’t need missiles or troops, they need four agents, like the people from al-Qaida or the Taliban, who contaminate water, air conditioning or heating systems.”

According to Ortega, Cuba was prepared to use the biological weapons "to blackmail the United States in case of an international incident” such as the threat of an American invasion."


396 posted on 03/08/2007 2:03:53 AM PST by Cindy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 395 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson