Five foreigners involved in drug trafficking extradited from Thailand

[webfact]

Five foreigners involved in drug trafficking extradited

BANGKOK: -- Five accomplices of US drug dealer Joseph Manuel Hunter were extradited to United States on Tuesday where they will face punishment for their crimes.

Escorted by armed police commandos, Britons Philip David Shackels and Scott Alan Stammer, Slovakian Alexander Lnu, Filipino Allan Kelly Perata and Taiwanese Ye Tiong Tan Lim were taken from Bangkok’s Khlong Prem Prison to Don Mueang International Airport at 10 on Tuesday morning to board a plane to the US.

The five foreigners were arrested along with their alleged leader Joseph Manuel Hunter - a former US Navy Special Forces officer who allegedly ran one of the world's biggest drug networks - in Phuket's Krathu district on September 25


-- The Nation 2013-11-19

[webfact]

American 'drug lord' and accomplices deported to the US today



BANGKOK: -- The most wanted drug lord by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and four of his gang members were deported to the United States on a chartered flight before noon today.

Joseph Manuel Hunter, 48, and five accomplices who included two British, a Slovak, a Filipino, and a Taiwanese, were arrested in Phuket in September this year.

Hunter, who served in the US Naval Special Warfare Development Group or SEAL led a big network of drug trafficking that operated in Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

They were scheduled to be deported to New York, where the arrest warrants were issued.

Hunter regularly traveled around the region and last entered Thailand from the Philippines on September 6.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/american-drug-lord-accomplices-deported-us-today/

-- Thai PBS 2013-11-19

[yooper2001]

When they arrive in USA there will FAT lady singing for them. Hope they bring a lot of Vaseline with them, because the folks in American prisons are a lot bigger then thai prisoners

[Thai at Heart]

Is this the bloke who was accused of being a hitman?

if so, why at the time was the only story about him being a hitman, not a drug dealer?

[HeavyDrinker]

When they arrive in USA there will FAT lady singing for them. Hope they bring a lot of Vaseline with them, because the folks in American prisons are a lot bigger then thai prisoners

Just how would you know? Are you some sort of prison penis size expert?

Odd hobby! I'd recommend taking up fishing instead.....

[tim armstrong]

Good to see. As someone who works in this industry, on the other side, its good to see a big player like this guy get what's coming. I just hope there isn't a lot of plea bargaining, and they all get put away for a long time, as the dealers never really get to see the damage they do to customers and their families.

[HeavyDrinker]

Good result and congratulations to all officials involved.....this is one time I'd not mind seeing the stuffed shirts pointing in a photo.....

[mrtoad]

When they arrive in USA there will FAT lady singing for them. Hope they bring a lot of Vaseline with them, because the folks in American prisons are a lot bigger then thai prisoners

Just how would you know? Are you some sort of prison penis size expert?

Odd hobby! I'd recommend taking up fishing instead.....

[crumpled]

When they arrive in USA there will FAT lady singing for them. Hope they bring a lot of Vaseline with them, because the folks in American prisons are a lot bigger then thai prisoners

Just how would you know? Are you some sort of prison penis size expert?

Odd hobby! I'd recommend taking up fishing instead.....

But, fishermen's are always <----------------------------------------------> this much bigger !!

[winstonc]

you get caught when you get too greedy..hopefully like these mps...fingers crossed

[steelepulse]

Well are they international drug dealers, international hitmen, both, or just some greedy muscle patsies that got set up in a sting by the US gov't? By all the various accounts/stories I've read, they could be any or all of the above.

[Prbkk]

I prefer the goat cheese shoplifter in Pattaya story...that was a real triumph for the police

[smutcakes]

Good on the authorities firstly arresting these guys and secondly extraditing them.

Sad not to see some more words of thanks to the police for this work, i suppose its much easier to bitch and moan about the police than give credit where its due.

Thank you, keep up the good work, even if it is sporadic.

[chrissables]

When they arrive in USA there will FAT lady singing for them. Hope they bring a lot of Vaseline with them, because the folks in American prisons are a lot bigger then thai prisoners

So you have seen proof of their guilt? Innocent until proven guilty gone now i presume!

[silent]

When they arrive in USA there will FAT lady singing for them. Hope they bring a lot of Vaseline with them, because the folks in American prisons are a lot bigger then thai prisoners

Gawd you been around the block. Does it hurt?

[silent]

Well are they international drug dealers, international hitmen, both, or just some greedy muscle patsies that got set up in a sting by the US gov't? By all the various accounts/stories I've read, they could be any or all of the above.

Sounds like a hell of a good cover to explain all the travel.

[ratcatcher]

When they arrive in USA there will FAT lady singing for them. Hope they bring a lot of Vaseline with them, because the folks in American prisons are a lot bigger then thai prisoners

Just how would you know? Are you some sort of prison penis size expert?

Odd hobby! I'd recommend taking up fishing instead.....

They don't call it the penal system for nothing you know?

[harleyclarkey]

Good luck boys....don't rush back.

Hope you enjoy your hosts hospitality and from what I see on Discovery it ain't going to be like Thailand.

Should have kept your noses clean.

[dao16]

When they arrive in USA there will FAT lady singing for them. Hope they bring a lot of Vaseline with them, because the folks in American prisons are a lot bigger then thai prisoners

Just how would you know? Are you some sort of prison penis size expert?

Odd hobby! I'd recommend taking up fishing instead.....

Well, it is true that American state prisons (penitentiaries) are very rough--probably cleaner than the Thai ones, but with scarier people. Federal jails can vary. I would probably be more scared of a jail in the US than in Thailand, although I wouldn't want to spend time in either system.

I am glad I am not speaking from personal experience, but I am speaking from the experience of a guy I worked with. He was a young kid, did something stupid (not violent at all) and ended up in a state penitentiary. Let your imagination take care of the rest of what he told me.

[technologybytes]

I don't think congratulations are in order just yet.. nobody has been convicted and we don't really know the true motive for this incredibly quick extradition.

I'd think that the chances or a fair trial are marginally higher in the USA than in Thailand, It's fairly obvious that none of these people have committed any serious offence in Thailand or they would have to serve some time in Thailand. It's probably a case of handing over whoever the US asks for.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

BANGKOK: -- The most wanted drug lord by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and four of his gang members were deported to the United States on a chartered flight before noon today.

Joseph Manuel Hunter, 48, and five accomplices who included two British, a Slovak, a Filipino, and a Taiwanese, were arrested in Phuket in September this year.

First, I think the ThaiPBS report posted above is wrong... The ringleader, Hunter, previously was sent to the U.S. and wasn't part of today's group. The Nation report above is correct, in that the five extradited today apparently were others involved in the broader operation.

Second, I've never found anything from the U.S. Justice Department or the DEA indicating that Hunter, was on any of their "most wanted" lists.

Here's the U.S. Attorney for New York's original announcement of the arrests from Sept. 27.

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/September13/HunteretalArrestsPR.php

Here's the DEA's companion announcement from late Sept:

HUNTER is expected to arrive in the Southern District of New York this evening and will be presented before a U.S. Magistrate Judge in Manhattan federal court tomorrow.

http://www.justice.gov/dea/divisions/hq/2013/hq092713.shtml

Here's the indictment unsealed in the case:

http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/September13/HunterJosephetalIndictment/U.S.%20v.%20Joseph%20Hunter%20et%20al.%20S7%20Indictment.pdf

[Frank James]

What a complicated case, and should be interesting to follow. Five defendants, five lawyers, requests for separate trials, teams of attorneys on all sides, requests for change of venue, requests for extradition to the various defendants various home countries. Hunter is obviously the big catch, the others bit players.

What is really interesting is the speed at which the extraditions have taken place. When the much higher profile Viktor Bout was apprehended, it took much longer for the long arm of US law to get him shackled and on the plane. Of course, in that case there was counter-pressure from Russia. In the end, though, it seems that what the long arm of US "Justice" wants, it gets, from Thailand, at least.

This will play out over many months, if not years. Lawyers in the US are lined up, salivating at the chance to defend Mr. Hunter, just to get all that face time in the mass media.

[Larry001]

Good job Thailand. Get rid of this scum

[bridge2bridge]

GOOD RIDDANCE to the SCUM BAGS.

Put them where they belong.

FOR A LONG TIME.

Pity they could not be tried in China.

That would be the end of them then.

No time for crims that sell drugs and ruin the lives of people, especially the young.

Edited November 19, 2013 by metisdead
Bold font removed.

[Benmart]

Well are they international drug dealers, international hitmen, both, or just some greedy muscle patsies that got set up in a sting by the US gov't? By all the various accounts/stories I've read, they could be any or all of the above.

Good point. It's up to the reader to decide based on the available information. In any event, they are gone from the LOS and they can cool their heels in a Federal pen back in the USA.

[Bpuumike]

When they arrive in USA there will FAT lady singing for them. Hope they bring a lot of Vaseline with them, because the folks in American prisons are a lot bigger then thai prisoners

So you have seen proof of their guilt? Innocent until proven guilty gone now i presume!

There must be good reason why they are wanted in the US.

[Benmart]

This will play out over many months, if not years. Lawyers in the US are lined up, salivating at the chance to defend Mr. Hunter, just to get all that face time in the mass media.

Indeed, it will take time and the sharks (lawyers) are circling as we type. I'm no great fan of trial hype and the Hollywood circus that attends it, but at the end of the game I hope the defendants get their fair trial, whatever the outcome.

Edited November 19, 2013 by Benmart

[redutedog1]

BYE BYE

[saroq]

Good to see. As someone who works in this industry, on the other side, its good to see a big player like this guy get what's coming. I just hope there isn't a lot of plea bargaining, and they all get put away for a long time, as the dealers never really get to see the damage they do to customers and their families.

Don't forget the damage done to the customers is self inflicted and it is they who damage their families. You'd have to have been living under a rock to not know that if you start using hard drugs you've got a very good chance of your life falling apart. Each sale of meth, heroin etc should come with a big rubber stamp so that the word "STUPID" can be stamped on the person's forehead.

[TEKLA]

Hunter, who served in the US Naval Special Warfare Development Group or SEAL led a big network of drug trafficking that operated in Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

Hunter had finished offering their product to 6 ASEAN countries above but had not to others like Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia...

It would be big money if they were able to offer to Hassal Bolkiah of Brunei..