Thai Court Postpones Extradition Verdict Of Two Britons Trading In Anabolic Steroids

[webfact]

Court postpones extradition verdict

By Kesinee Taengkiew

The Nation

The Appeals Court yesterday postponed issuing a verdict in the extradition case of two Britons, who were caught for allegedly trading in anabolic steroids.

The lawsuit stated that defendants Edwin Richard Crawley, 46, and Ashley Vincent Livingston, 47, had brought the illegal substance into Thailand for distribution. This case, punishable by at least one year in prison, was being tried under the Extradition Act 1929's Article 10.

On March 21, 2008, the US Drug Enforcement Administration, in cooperation with local police, arrested Crawley and Livingston in Pattaya City. Crawley was arrested for allegedly importing steroids from China through the Internet and then forwarding them to customers in the US and Europe, who then wired him the payments. Some steroids were sent to Thailand and repackaged in dolls or fruit before being parcelled off to Europe.

Livingston allegedly worked as Crawley's assistant and helped him find customers. Crawley has been running this operation since 1999, and has made enough money to purchase properties worth about Bt20 million in Pattaya. Crawley is also known for helping charities in Pattaya and also serves as a coach for a handicapped people's weight-lifting team, which has won many trophies.

However, he and Livingston were arrested on the charges of having imported and exported illegal drugs as well as not paying tax.

Crawley filed an appeal against the extradition, but withdrew it before the Appeals Court trial commenced. So, the court had to ask the public prosecutor if there were any objections to that.

The Appeals Court then postponed the verdict reading to 9.30am today.

-- The Nation 2010-12-16

[Beetlejuice]

Why all the fuss and bother?

A possible one year prison sentence at the taxpayers expense, court proceedings, police time and so on.

Freeze any illegal assets they have accumulated here and give them 7 days to leave Thailand as undesirable aliens then ban them forever from returning.

[asiawatcher]

It goes deeper than that - 1,000 Baht mark up here and there does not work out to be 20M Baht in properties. BiB will be working (maybe) to solve this. That is why extradition has been stalled.

[doggie888888]

"...Crawley is also known for helping charities in Pattaya and also serves as a coach for a handicapped people's weight-lifting team, which has won many trophies..."

It is unfortunate for charities in Pattaya that some of their benefactors are merely using the charities to "buy" instant respectability. I cringe whenever some farang tells me (out of context and unsolicited) he is involved in XXX charity...like it would make his obviously dodgy credentials and character any less dodgy. Even more cringe-worthy are those known shady characters in town, who are known to operate dubious operations that have ripped off other farangs, flashing their pretend "altruistic achievements" around town. Yuk.

Edited December 16, 2010 by doggie888888

[johnefallis]

It goes deeper than that - 1,000 Baht mark up here and there does not work out to be 20M Baht in properties. BiB will be working (maybe) to solve this. That is why extradition has been stalled.

Really? Like sooo many of your infinately knowledgable comments, I'd like to know where your information for this comes from? I'm so tired of opinionated busy-bodies that I just want to seperate them from the rest. Which are you? So you think the mark up between China and the U.S. on the likes of Tev-tropin and others over 11+ years is not much? A few thousand baht?

Did you even read the article? I didn't see anything that stated the police were....oh, nevermind that obvious point...

Why don't you do the math for us Einstein, I'd like an in depth explanation.

After all, you've been taking up my time with your comments for years now.

About time somebody checked you.

John

[johnefallis]

It goes deeper than that - 1,000 Baht mark up here and there does not work out to be 20M Baht in properties. BiB will be working (maybe) to solve this. That is why extradition has been stalled.

Really? Like sooo many of your infinately knowledgable comments, I'd like to know where your information for this comes from? I'm so tired of opinionated busy-bodies that I just want to seperate them from the rest. Which are you? So you think the mark up between China and the U.S. on the likes of Tev-tropin and others over 11+ years is not much? A few thousand baht?

Did you even read the article? I didn't see anything that stated the police were....oh, nevermind that obvious point...

Why don't you do the math for us Einstein, I'd like an in depth explanation.

After all, you've been taking up my time with your comments for years now.

About time somebody checked you.

John

[Bagwan]

The Nation strikes again!

'On March 21, 2008, the US Drug Enforcement Administration, in cooperation with local police, arrested Crawley and Livingston in Pattaya City.'

The DEA have no power to arrest anybody in Thailand. I wonder why the DEA were involved. Seems very small potatoes compared with other matters concerning really dangerous drugs produced in The Triangle. Is everything else inviolable since there is significant BiB involvement?

'Crawley was arrested for allegedly importing steroids from China through the Internet and then forwarding them to customers in the US and Europe, who then wired him the payments. Some steroids were sent to Thailand and repackaged in dolls or fruit before being parcelled off to Europe.'

They sent the goodies before being paid?  5555   If this is true then they should have pleaded insanity.

Nit picking I know, but I didn't realise that solids/liquids could be transported through the ether.  So the transporter on the USS Enterprise is not fiction? Maybe this pair of rascals should have exported themselves via the Internet?    

[newermonkey]

Most people would not know that Anabolic Steroids were illegal here as they are legal in so many countries. Most people know there use is banned in all professional physical sports, but is this not the stuff that weight lifters and body builders need to grow huge tree like muscles?

Although TIT where aspirin will probably become illegal soon the way its headed!

[Phuket Stan]

There are some people earning really big bucks out of doing exactly the same as these guys were doing...once again Google is your friend...in most western countries steroids are a prescription drug only....they can can do untold damamge to a person's body if not controlled correctly...anybody who does buy them online is really taking a grave risk with their bodies....any drug coming out of China would have to be regarded as dodgy to say the least...remember the baby milk scandal there a couple of years ago....I can relate to the DEA being involved trying to stop this...just think of the ongoing costs for medical help the users may need and the deaths that the drugs can cause

[newermonkey]

It goes deeper than that - 1,000 Baht mark up here and there does not work out to be 20M Baht in properties. BiB will be working (maybe) to solve this. That is why extradition has been stalled.

Really? Like sooo many of your infinately knowledgable comments, I'd like to know where your information for this comes from? I'm so tired of opinionated busy-bodies that I just want to seperate them from the rest. Which are you? So you think the mark up between China and the U.S. on the likes of Tev-tropin and others over 11+ years is not much? A few thousand baht?

Did you even read the article? I didn't see anything that stated the police were....oh, nevermind that obvious point...

Why don't you do the math for us Einstein, I'd like an in depth explanation.

After all, you've been taking up my time with your comments for years now.

About time somebody checked you.

John

Yes! dint you know about "Teleport Version 1.2" For PC and MAC.

Sorry this reply was for "Bagwan"

Edited December 16, 2010 by newermonkey

[webfact]

Appeals Court extradites 2 Britons

The Appeals Court Thursday upheld the lower court's ruling to extradite two Britons, who were caught for allegedly trading in anabolic steroids.

The court ordered the extradion of Edwin Richard Crawley, 46, and Ashley Vincent Livingston, 47, after Crawley withdrew his appeal.

The two were charged with having brought the illegal substance into Thailand for distribution. This case, punishable by at least one year in prison, was being tried under the Extradition Act 1929's Article 10.

On March 21, 2008, the US Drug Enforcement Administration, in cooperation with local police, arrested Crawley and Livingston in Pattaya City. Crawley was arrested for allegedly importing steroids from China through the Internet and then forwarding them to customers in the US and Europe, who then wired him the payments. Some of the steroids were sent to Thailand and repackaged in dolls or fruit before being parcelled off to Europe.

Livingston allegedly worked as Crawley's assistant and helped him find customers. Crawley has been running this operation since 1999, and has made enough money to purchase properties worth about Bt20 million in Pattaya. Crawley is also known for helping charities in Pattaya and also serves as a coach for a handicapped people's weight-lifting team, which has won many trophies.

-- The Nation 2010-12-16

[rafish]

You can find steroid use openly used in almost any of the local gym establishments here in Thailand. One day I even saw the use of a syringe in the work out area. When I inquired as to the substance he was using, he politely smiled and said: "steroid." As for the substance being illegal here in Thailand, I have never seen an enforcement of this law, but then I'm not going to the gym any more either.

Most people would not know that Anabolic Steroids were illegal here as they are legal in so many countries. Most people know there use is banned in all professional physical sports, but is this not the stuff that weight lifters and body builders need to grow huge tree like muscles?

Although TIT where aspirin will probably become illegal soon the way its headed!

[INTJ]

Who wants to extradite who to where and for what crime ?

http://www.mesomorphosis.com/blog/redicat-extradited-to-united-states-and-arrested-at-lax/683/

"Ashley Vincent Livingston, better known as Redicat in the world of black market androgens, was extradited to the United States for prosecution last Tuesday after spending eight months in a Thailand jail. Redicat was taken into custody by Thai police last March 2008, along with British Dragon co-founder Edwin Richard Crawley, in Pattaya (Thailand) as part of an international sting operation involving the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). During his detention in Thai jail, he allegedly cooperated fully with Thai police in response to torture providing law enforcement with extensive information about his customers and business associates (“Spilling the beans on the Big Thai Bust,” December 14).

Redicat was officially arrested on December 9, 2008 by U.S. Marshall Special Agent Jason Sherrell upon arriving at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on a flight from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. His extradition was delayed by the Thailand airport closures at the end of November.

Ashley Livingston was transferred to a facility in Seattle, Washington where awaits trial facing multiple steroid distribution, steroid conspiracy and money laundering charges along with his co-conspirator Edwin Crawley in the United States District Court in the Western District of Washington as part of massive Operation Raw Deal investigation"

He is back in Pattaya now, or was last month, time served

????

Rubbish unclear reporting from the Nation as usual.

Edited December 16, 2010 by INTJ

[housepainter]

Seems to be a bit of roid rage flying about on here since the supplies been cut off.

The DEA are involved due to the credit card trasactions that show substantial amounts of money being 'laundered'. Since 911 all money transfers are monitored above a realtively small amount. This example has caused concern and the rest is an arrest.

It is confused and poor reporting as one poster points out.

But where there is a large amount of money and property involved it is good to see the DEA forcing a positive result. The BIB left to themselves, had they ever discovered the crime, would have simple settled for a deal. Also, the acts were clearly illegal as why conceal shipments in dolls and amongst fruit?

Thank goodness the DEA got involved and now we are safe from the ranting green hulks.

There's at least one rather disturbed individaul on here who clearly is on the stuff. Not exactly a good image.

As for finding the stuff on sale here, it's in almost every chemist and the streets are pumped full of unfortunately low self esteemedpersons who should just try reading a good book instead. It would do a lot more for self development than any fattened bicep can ever achieve.

Self image and self worth that manifests itself in steroid taking is a small problem for a few affected individuals that just need their confidence building with some positive therapy.

[INTJ]

"Thank goodness the DEA got involved and now we are safe from the ranting green hulks"

Yes, I too feel much safer without these ranting green hulks around, good job USA

Edited December 16, 2010 by INTJ

[cup-O-coffee]

On March 21, 2008, the US Drug Enforcement Administration, in cooperation with local police,

It is illegal to sell Viagra without a doctor's consultation and prescription. It is a felony. Read your spam lately?

Why the fuss about two men who help people look and feel better about the cards that were dealt to them; handicapped people? Why not arrest all the customers who were taking these steroids? Why manipulate the law and selectively arrest people and let others off the hook with each news article that we read?

The DEA is worthless, and nothing more than organized crime with a badge and carte blanche to act with impunity, thanks to the P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act. They should stay home and go after the online seller's IP addresses, and human traffickers, and all the other crooks that need more attention than two men who help handicapped people appreciate how they look and feel about their lives. Why come to Thailand and work in league with known crooks, who are sanctioned by the United Nations for human rights violations?

How many police buy and sell Viagra from the pharmacies that they own, or collect tea money from? Yeah; the same scum who run human trafficking, drug and gun running, etc etc. And the DEA work with this ilk? It says a lot about who the real mafia is, doesn't it?

It's another charade; pap for the idiots who believe what they read at face value.

I feel sorry for these two men, and hope they can get out and return to helping people who probably know more about the risks and benefits of what they were doing than the sensationalistic idiots who ironically singled them out in order to achieve something non-value added.

[dighambara]

It goes deeper than that - 1,000 Baht mark up here and there does not work out to be 20M Baht in properties. BiB will be working (maybe) to solve this. That is why extradition has been stalled.

Really? Like sooo many of your infinately knowledgable comments, I'd like to know where your information for this comes from? I'm so tired of opinionated busy-bodies that I just want to seperate them from the rest. Which are you? So you think the mark up between China and the U.S. on the likes of Tev-tropin and others over 11+ years is not much? A few thousand baht?

Did you even read the article? I didn't see anything that stated the police were....oh, nevermind that obvious point...

Why don't you do the math for us Einstein, I'd like an in depth explanation.

After all, you've been taking up my time with your comments for years now.

About time somebody checked you.

John

Two kids fighting over nothing.

According to a couple of sources on the internet, Anabolic Steroids are over the counter meds here. So what did the guy do..?? Ship items without a proper label..??