Thread: Canadian truck driver admits to smuggling cash and Ecstasy

I.C.E. News Release

January 27, 2010

Canadian truck driver admits to smuggling cash and Ecstasy

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A Canadian tow truck driver linked to one of the largest local Ecstasy seizures in recent history pleaded guilty in federal court here Tuesday to federal drug and currency smuggling charges.

Robert James Fox, 38, of British Columbia, Canada, specifically pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute MDMA (commonly known as Ecstasy) and bulk cash smuggling. The charges are the result of an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with assistance from the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

"Substances like Ecstasy not only pose a significant public safety risk, they also generate huge profits that are often funneled back into other types of illegal activity," said Daniel Lane, assistant special agent in charge for the ICE Office of Investigations in Sacramento. "That is why ICE is determined to attack and dismantle these kinds of criminal schemes."

"This guilty plea represents our commitment to use all resources available to remove those who traffic in dangerous drugs from our community," said United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner.

In May 2009, a CHP officer pulled Fox over for a traffic violation as he traveled on Interstate 5 through the city of Woodland, Calif. The officer observed several discrepancies under the bed of the truck suggesting a hidden compartment. When the officer ran his police dog around the truck, the dog alerted to the presence of controlled substances. The officer searched the truck and found a hidden compartment containing drugs and cash. Fox admitted to carrying more 225 pounds of Ecstasy pills and $435,000 in U.S. currency.

ICE agents seized the Ecstasy pills and cash, which are being forfeited by the United States. Another $2,670 found in the truck's cab is also being forfeited as drug proceeds.

Fox is scheduled to be sentenced March 23 by U.S. District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton. Together the drug and currency smuggling charges carry a maximum term of up to 25 years in prison and a possible fine of more $1 million.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

ICE comprises four integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities. For more information, visit www.ICE.gov. To report suspicious activity, call 1-866-347-2423.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 28, 2010
U.S. Department of Homeland Security

http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/1001/100127sacramento.htm

Quote:
"In May 2009, a CHP officer pulled Fox over for a traffic violation as he traveled on Interstate 5 through the city of Woodland, Calif."

Yet another benefit of NAFTA and the "tri-national trucking program" authorized under it. Just wait unitl the DOT finally manages to make it possible for those Mexican rigs to roll across the border and then across our entire country (after not being inspected first in Mexico)!

Originally Posted by Texas2step

Quote:
"In May 2009, a CHP officer pulled Fox over for a traffic violation as he traveled on Interstate 5 through the city of Woodland, Calif."

Yet another benefit of NAFTA and the "tri-national trucking program" authorized under it. Just wait unitl the DOT finally manages to make it possible for those Mexican rigs to roll across the border and then across our entire country (after not being inspected first in Mexico)!

The Mexican trucks were already allowed in. In California the C.H.P. truck inspectors inspected every Mexican truck that crossed the border and they found fewer serious violations than they do stopping a random selection of U.S. trucks.

RELATED

" . . . A pilot program during the Bush administration found that Mexican trucks were as safe as U.S. trucks - safer, in some cases. A Department of Transportation study released in October found that Mexican trucks had better safety ratings than American trucks . . . "


http://www.newsmax.com/us/mexican_truck ... 240358.htm

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-164717-mexican.html+trucks

JohnDoe2 wrote:
"Texas2step wrote:
Quote:
"In May 2009, a CHP officer pulled Fox over for a traffic violation as he traveled on Interstate 5 through the city of Woodland, Calif."

Yet another benefit of NAFTA and the "tri-national trucking program" authorized under it. Just wait until the DOT finally manages to make it possible for those Mexican rigs to roll across the border and then across our entire country (after not being inspected first in Mexico)!" (please read: "not being inspected again in the United States" - added).

"The Mexican trucks were already allowed in. In California the C.H.P. truck inspectors inspected every Mexican truck that crossed the border and they found fewer serious violations than they do stopping a random selection of U.S. trucks."

Reply:
It was my understanding that Mexican trucks previously were allowed to be driven by Mexican truck drivers across the border only for up to 20 miles within the United States. At this point, the truck's contents were reinspected by U.S. customs officials, and their Mexican drivers replaced by U.S. drivers for transport beyond that very limited area.

However, it is my understanding that, under the new NAFTA program, the contents of Mexican trucks certified to operate within the U.S. will be inspected in Mexico by Mexican customs officials and then sealed. These trucks and their Mexican drivers will be allowed to cross the border and continue on throughout the continenal United States without the trucks' being re-inspected by U.S. customs officials. I think that qualifying Canadian trucking companies and their certified drivers already are authorized to operate in this manner. However, unlike Mexico, one of the two primary languages of Canada, like that of the United States, is English, and so far they haven't found a lot of illegal aliens hiding in the backs of Canadian trucks. Please note that the "truck" described in this article is a tow truck, not a cross-country semi-trailer.

Preventing illegal aliens from routinely hiding themselves and "hitching rides" on and in British trucks operating regularly across "The Chunnel" from the U.K. into France and then back again has turned out to be a large problem which British authorities have been unable to solve. And British Independent Truck Operators who own their own trucks can be charged legally with "sequestering" and "transporting" an illegal alien if one is discovered, whether they know the alien(s) is on his/her truck or not! However, in our case, experience teaches us that no foreign trucking company or government is ever going to be held responsible in cases such as these (or of transporting illegal drugs, plants, animals, etc.), or have their priviliges of crossing into our nation suspended or revoked because of it.