Puppies used to smuggle heroin
{{date|February  2, 2006}}
[[Image:Puppies.jpg|200px|thumb|The puppies pictured here were implanted with liquid heroin packets.]]
[[Image:Heroin1.jpg|200px|thumb|Image of some of the bags of liquid heroin removed from the puppies.]]
[[Image:HeroinPacketsDetail.jpg|200px|thumb|Detailed image of two heroin bags.]]
Ten puppies with bags of liquid heroin surgically implanted into their bellies were having seizures in a drug bust in [[w:Medellin, Colombia|Medellin]], [[Colombia]], said authorities.  

"They utilized a wide range of smuggling, the most repulsive of which was the use of puppies," said John P. Gilbride, head of the DEA's New York office.

"There have been cases of animal cruelty that have led to the discovery of drug labs, but not to the extent of an animal being used to carry drugs, especially a puppy," said [[w:ASPCA|ASPCA]] spokeswoman Jo Sullivan.

Investigators believe that the dogs were used to smuggle heroin into New York on commercial flights. The drugs were then to be distributed and sold along the East Coast.

"Ten puppies, including Labrador retrievers, were rescued during a 2005 raid on a farm in Colombia," said the [[w:United States Drug Enforcement Agency|United States Drug Enforcement Agency]] (DEA) on Wednesday. The Agency also announced that they had made more than 30 arrests. 

Authorities believe that a veterinarian, Andres Lopez Elorez (who is also believed to be a fugitive in [[Spain]]), opened the bellies of at least six of the ten puppies, inserted 500&nbsp;mL bags of liquid heroin, and then stitched them back up. Three puppies had died due to infections after the drugs were removed. A total of 3&nbsp;kg of heroin were recovered from six puppies. The bags were found using [[w:ultrasound|ultrasound]].

"The surviving dogs are still alive and well, we're told," said Gilbride. "I think it's outrageous and heinous that they'd use small, innocent puppies in this way. This investigation identified the individuals who were responsible for overseeing and smuggling millions of dollars worth of heroin from Colombia to the East Coast."

The investigation revealed that the smugglers, whose ring was based in Medellin, not only used  people and puppies to conceal their drugs, but also body creams, aerosol cans, and the linings of purses and luggage.

A tipster is said to have led authorities to the puppies.

It is not known how many puppies were actually used in the smuggling operation.

Three dogs were adopted by Colombian police. At least one of those puppies will be trained to sniff for drugs.

About 24 kilograms of heroin was seized in recent raids in Colombia which have resulted in more than 20 arrests and another ten in custody in New York. A total of at least 24 kilograms have been seized in these raids.

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://www.dea.gov/pubs/pressrel/pr020106a.html|title=Update: Heroin Traffickers Used Puppies to Smuggle Drugs
|author=
|pub=DEA
|date=February 3, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,183507,00.html
|title=DEA: Puppies Used as Drug Smugglers
|author=
|pub=Fox News
|date=February 2, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4672708.stm
|title=Colombia smugglers 'used puppies'
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=February 2, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/387831p-329049c.html
|title=The littlest drug mules
|author=John Marzulli
|pub=New York Daily News
|date=February 2, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.forbes.com/business/businesstech/feeds/ap/2006/02/02/ap2494440.html
|title=Update 7: N.Y.-Bound Puppies Used As Drug Couriers
|author=Tom Hays
|pub=Forbes.com
|date=February 2, 2006}}

*{{source|url=http://www.dea.gov/pubs/pressrel/pr020106.html
|title=Heroin Traffickers Used Puppies to Smuggle Drugs
|author=
|pub=DEA
|date=February 1, 2006}}

{{publish}}
{{archived}}

[[category:North America]]
[[category:United States]]
[[category:South America]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Heroin]]
[[Category:Dogs]]

[[es:La DEA y la Policía colombiana desmantelan red de narcotraficantes que utilizaba animales para enviar droga]]
[[pt:DEA e Polícia Colombiana desmantelam rede de narcotraficantes que utilizava animais para enviar droga]]
The puppies pictured here were implanted with liquid heroin packets.
Image of some of the bags of liquid heroin removed from the puppies.
Detailed image of two heroin bags.
Ten puppies with bags of liquid heroin surgically implanted into their bellies were having seizures in a drug bust in Medellin, Colombia, said authorities.  

"They utilized a wide range of smuggling, the most repulsive of which was the use of puppies," said John P. Gilbride, head of the DEA's New York office.

"There have been cases of animal cruelty that have led to the discovery of drug labs, but not to the extent of an animal being used to carry drugs, especially a puppy," said ASPCA spokeswoman Jo Sullivan.

Investigators believe that the dogs were used to smuggle heroin into New York on commercial flights. The drugs were then to be distributed and sold along the East Coast.

"Ten puppies, including Labrador retrievers, were rescued during a 2005 raid on a farm in Colombia," said the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) on Wednesday. The Agency also announced that they had made more than 30 arrests. 

Authorities believe that a veterinarian, Andres Lopez Elorez (who is also believed to be a fugitive in Spain), opened the bellies of at least six of the ten puppies, inserted 500 mL bags of liquid heroin, and then stitched them back up. Three puppies had died due to infections after the drugs were removed. A total of 3 kg of heroin were recovered from six puppies. The bags were found using ultrasound.

"The surviving dogs are still alive and well, we're told," said Gilbride. "I think it's outrageous and heinous that they'd use small, innocent puppies in this way. This investigation identified the individuals who were responsible for overseeing and smuggling millions of dollars worth of heroin from Colombia to the East Coast."

The investigation revealed that the smugglers, whose ring was based in Medellin, not only used  people and puppies to conceal their drugs, but also body creams, aerosol cans, and the linings of purses and luggage.

A tipster is said to have led authorities to the puppies.

It is not known how many puppies were actually used in the smuggling operation.

Three dogs were adopted by Colombian police. At least one of those puppies will be trained to sniff for drugs.

About 24 kilograms of heroin was seized in recent raids in Colombia which have resulted in more than 20 arrests and another ten in custody in New York. A total of at least 24 kilograms have been seized in these raids.

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category:North America
category:United States
category:South America


es:La DEA y la Policía colombiana desmantelan red de narcotraficantes que utilizaba animales para enviar droga
DEA e Polícia Colombiana desmantelam rede de narcotraficantes que utilizava animais para enviar droga
Crime and law Heroin Dogs