Ten Panda Bears

[EL085]

Oh wow. Crazy stuff!

[Orange rabbit]

Operation Lionfish started
30 May 2017
New drug trafficking routes and smuggling methods identified in INTERPOL-led operation

SINGAPORE – An INTERPOL-coordinated operation targeting drug trafficking across Asia and the Pacific has identified emerging smuggling routes and concealment methods.
Operation Lionfish – ASEAN, which involved more than 2,000 police and customs officials across 14 countries, revealed a network of West African and Asian organized crime groups behind trafficking in methamphetamine – one of the most smuggled drugs in the region.
Of the 59 seizures reported so far, nearly a quarter were methamphetamine – totalling approximately 121kg, of which 94 kg was crystalline, known as ‘Ice’.
In total some 350 kg, 50 litres and 2,175 tablets of illicit drugs including cocaine, cannabis, heroin and amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) worth an estimated USD 18 million were seized during the two-week operation.
In one case, following the discovery of nearly 9 kg of methamphetamine hidden inside a consignment of soft toys, a controlled delivery coordinated by law enforcement in the two countries resulted in the arrest of 13 individuals – seven from various African countries, two Mongolian nationals and four Chinese nationals.
During the first week of the operation, authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) identified an increasing trend of liquid cocaine being trafficked. Smugglers would swallow condoms packed with liquid cocaine but unlike other drugs, this type of concealment is harder to detect by traditional x-ray or computed tomography imagery.
At the request of the UAE, an INTERPOL Purple Notice has been issued to all 190 member countries outlining this modus operandi and methods for detection.
Many of the arrests made during Operation Lionfish – ASEAN resulted from specific intelligence-sharing, which helped identify a cocaine trafficking route via Ethiopia to destinations in the Middle East, Asia and Pacific.
“Operation Lionfish – ASEAN marks a new beginning in our approach to combating illicit drug smuggling through airports in the region. It shows the importance of timely information exchange and it is through such a platform that participating countries come together as one strong force, acting in unison,” said Abdul Halim Rahman, Senior Officer-In-Charge of the Central Narcotics Bureau at Changi Airport in Singapore.
An Operational Coordination Unit at the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation in Singapore, was the hub for Lionfish – ASEAN activities, bringing together representatives from the involved countries and the World Customs Organization. Strong support was also provided by INTERPOL National Central Bureaus in the Americas and Africa.
“Operation Lionfish has served as an example of countries cooperating to serve society on both a national and international level. We can do more when we work together,” said Superintendent Efren L Fernandez II, Director of Operations at the Philippine Center on Transnational Crime.
With drug trafficking often facilitated by ‘internal’ contacts in the aviation and maritime areas, a baggage handler in Nigeria was arrested for attempting to import illicit substances.
“It was a great honour for Malaysia to participate in this operation, where full cooperation and the sharing of vital information with other countries showed significant benefits in combating drug trafficking,” said M Navamany M Rethnam, Assistant Superintendent with the Royal Malaysia Police.
Other illicit goods were also seized during the operation including in Vietnam where authorities stopped an Angolan national who had hidden ivory inside frozen salmon.
This first two-week (1 – 14 May) leg of the operation focused specifically on airports with a second phase to target land and sea borders.
Operation Lionfish – ASEAN was conducted under the umbrella of INTERPOL’s Project AMEAP (Africa-Middle East-Asia Pacific), supported by funding from the UAE via the INTERPOL Foundation for a Safer World.
A five-year project, AMEAP provides a coordination platform for a range of anti-drug trafficking initiatives either led by, or involving, INTERPOL including;
Interflow - aimed at helping police forces detect, identify and arrest drug traffickers across Africa;
CRIMJUST - managed jointly with the UNODC and Transparency International and funded by the European Union to strengthen criminal investigations and cooperation along cocaine routes in Latin America, the Caribbean and West Africa;
Airport Communication Project (AIRCOP) - funded under the European Union Cocaine Route Programme aimed at fighting illicit trafficking and transnational organized crime.
Operation Lionfish – ASEAN was supported by law enforcement from the 10 ASEAN countries Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam as well as Australia, Brazil, China, Hong Kong (China), Qatar, Togo and the United Arab Emirates.
Photos : 8


SEE ALSO
Drugs
Organized crime
Australia profile page
Brazil profile page
Brunei profile page
Cambodia profile page
China profile page
Hong Kong (China) profile page
Indonesia profile page
Laos profile page
Malaysia profile page
Myanmar profile page
Philippines profile page
Qatar profile page
Singapore profile page
Thailand profile page
Togo profile page
Vietnam profile page
United Arab Emirates profile page


OR

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I added the above as a new thread also. Could this be the panda bear for this year?
OR

[luckydate]

In a word, no. At least not if we base that answer on history. Pangda is hits the vendor vs the airport smuggler. They branch these things off and tie them together with a nice bow to make legitimate medication seem illicit. Look at the substances they confiscated according to this article, the duration of the operation and in what facilities. For example, Ice. I see ice as an issue yes, but no one with longevity on this forum is looking for these substances.


**please note my typo herein was intentional**

[Orange rabbit]

Well I was just thinking that they are starting. It may not be the vendors but I think this is a start.
OR

[luckydate]

Good point - could be a collab lol Thanks for the post Orange Rabbit!!! We need to know! xo

[Bishop]

Yeah sounds like the start to me. Looking for pipelines and tracing them back to their origins. Looks like one hell of a start.

[Believe473]

Great info, but I do find it curious that their isn't any data on last year's panda watching. Operation L fish, does look like it's going after more organized crime type stuff, and you would think with all the stuff going on with terror attacks, they would be putting as much as possible into stopping these. I'm mean I'm sure the world would be more impressed with some high level terrorist arrested, or plots stopped. Then announcing "Hey we shut down some internet pharms!" Yea! Hopefully this too shall pass

[Orange rabbit]

FYI another reason to use a vpn or private search engine

The participation of Google, one of the world’s largest Internet companies, underscored the importance of collaboration between law enforcement and the private sector in combating online pharmaceutical crime.
“Google has long recognized the importance of working with law enforcement and others to collectively frustrate the business operations of rogue online pharmacies. Our involvement in Operation Pangea is yet another way to make it even harder for rogue actors to harm Internet users,” said Adam Barea, Legal Director at Google.

OR

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Found this on a website I never heard of however information about panda bear seems real.

Posted 5/18/2017

Interpol Pangea 2017 has started.
To protect our customers we will not send out orders for the next 10 days .
Best wishes
Shopowner : Stoperectionproblem.cc

OR

[Believe473]

Dang that doesn't sound good!, thanks OR

[solarpunch]

I always act as if someone is paying more attention to what I am getting sent to me. But in the end it's like drawing straws. Every now and then you draw the short one. So just play it safe and smart and read up on ways of protecting your activities.