By Allan Lengel ticklethewire.com WASHINGTON — A bill that lessens the sentencing disparity between crack and powdered cocaine sailed through the Senate Wednesday night, the website Main Justice reported. The Fair Sentencing Act establishes an 18-to-1 sentencing ratio for crack and powder cocaine offenses as opposed to the current 100-to-1 ratio. In other words, a…
In the rough streets of Baltimore, the influence of foreign drug dealers may not be obvious — that is until you do some digging. Reporter Van Smith has done just that, and connected the dots in this report. The logo of the Los Zetas Cartel/baltimore city paper By Van Smith Baltimore City Paper BALTIMORE —…
An interesting exchange: weapons for cocaine. Obviously, two valuable products. By ANAHAD O’CONNOR New York Times NEW YORK — A former member of the Syrian military was charged in New York on Wednesday with plotting to sell high-powered weapons to Colombian terrorists in exchange for more than a ton of cocaine. According to federal prosecutors,…
This is a big indictment which targets some major players. But the money is too good and the smaller fish will only step up to the plate to grab it. The question is: How do you stop that from happening? By Richard Marosi Los Angeles Times Federal authorities announced indictments Monday against the reputed leaders…
One thing the U.S. has to do is try harder to mend the strained relationship between the U.S. and Venezuela. It shouldn’t be hard to improve upon the relationship the Bush administration had. By Chris Kraul Los Angeles Times CARACAS, Venezuela — A breakdown in anti-drug cooperation between Venezuela and the United States has contributed…
This change has been a long time coming. The disparity in sentencing was a simple minded approach to a complicated issue that has plagued America’s inner cities where crack cocaine sales are most prevalent. There has to be a smarter approach to dealing with this problem that has lead to the deterioration of so many…
The paper’s editorial calls for action now to take on the violent Mexican drug cartels that pose great dangers to the U.S. Sec. of Defense Robert Gates said Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press that the U.S. is in a position to help Mexico with training, resources, surveillance and intelligence. Well, no better time than…
In this hard-bitten town, in the shadow of the nation’s capital, authorities recently made what they’re calling their biggest coke bust in the city’s history. The bust was notable not only for its quantity, but its location. By Van Smith Baltimore City Paper BALTIMORE — Trenell David Murphy, a 33-year-old Baltimore man, was charged in…
