Pharma: California "dismantles international prescription drug trafficking ring."

The California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement initiated the investigation after conducting numerous border stops of members of the drug trafficking organisation, some of whom were validated gang members. The group would acquire wholesale quantities of controlled pharmaceutical drugs, such as OxyContin and Hydrocodone, smuggle the drugs to Mexico where they were sold and then smuggle the cash back into the United States to finance their criminal operations, says Harris.

Anthony Wright, the leader of the organisation, allegedly boasted that he earned USD1,000 a day for the several years the operation was running. In the San Diego area, the organszation brought upwards of USD400,000 into the United States from Mexico in just a six-month period.

Since 2009, numerous border stops have been conducted on members of the drug trafficking organisation, resulting in the seizure of approximately 1,288 OxyContin pills and 9,500 Hydrocodone pills, with an estimated street value of USD78,000.

Wright, the primary source for this drug trafficking organisation, frequented Dabney’s Pharmacy in South Central Los Angeles, which , Harris says, provided large quantities of Hydrocodone and other controlled substances pharmaceuticals without reporting the transactions to the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement. This pharmacy has failed to report filling any scheduled prescriptions to the state’s prescription monitoring scheme since November 2009, as required by state regulations. Agents also believe Wright acquired significant amounts of pharmaceutical controlled drugs by employing a large network of individuals to obtain prescriptions in return for money.

The controlled substance pharmaceutical drugs were acquired from San Diego, Riverside and Los Angeles counties through drug diversion schemes and prescription and insurance fraud. The pharmaceuticals were then smuggled into Tijuana, Mexico, where they were sold to unlicensed or unauthorised pharmacies. The traffickers smuggled the money back into the United States and used it to continue financing criminal activities.

Additionally, approximately USD66,200 has been seized from members of the drug trafficking organisation upon re-entry into the United States and Fatina Hicks and Derrick Belser were arrested on felony warrants for the transportation of controlledsubstances pharmaceuticals.

Other agencies participating in the investigation include Homeland Security Immigration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California, the Los Angeles and San Diego Counties District Attorney’s Offices, the California Department of Health Services, California Board of Pharmacy, and Los Angeles Police and Oceanside Police Departments, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, California Medical Board, Drug Enforcement Administration and the LA County Sherriff’s Office.

This leaves open the possibility of federal money laundering charges in respect of the cash smuggling.