2.The Province

Thursday, December 13th, 2007

Cops crack global drug-trade ring

By Andy Ivens

Yong Long "Sam" Ye is now accused of heading "the biggest criminal conspiracy in B.C. history -- a $168-million enterprise with tentacles reaching into eight countries on three continents involving tonnes of drugs." Ye is 40 years old and first caught the eye of the police when he was charged with two counts each of extortion and trafficking in 2003. He is now in a Vancouver jail and he is facing 16 counts, including conspiracy, trafficking and money laundering. He apparently uses Vancouver's hot real-estate market to finance drug shipments. "Nine luxury homes worth $6 million that were bought by Ye were seized under proceeds-of-crime legislation as part of Project E-Paragon," said police at a news conference on Wednesday. A source also said, "Ye would renovate the homes and secure large mortgages on them to finance myriad drug shipments." The cocaine was shipped from Los Angelas to Vancouver, "methamphetamines went from Vancouver to Australia in specially constructed suitcases and boxes, and heroin came into Canada from India and Pakistan. Money was funnelled back to Vancouver through 38 bank accounts in China controlled by Ye," said police. 36 people have already been charged and about 70 more are going to get charged in the near future.

I do not understand why people get into this business. Obviously money is a plus, but the consequences of getting caught are not worth it. All I have to say to people who traffic drugs is get a real job, you're cheating. All they are doing is adding and contributing to the growing problem of drug abuse in Vancouver and the rest of the world. I do not understand how it is possible for these people to live when they know in the back of their minds that they are killing people and ruining families and lives. Drugs are a huge epidemic in all of the world. If you cut off their source for how they get them, then they can't get them and it wouldn't ruin their lives. So, why don't people stop trafficking drugs, it is un-necessary and against the law. I have no respect for anyone in this business what so ever and believe that what they are doing is negatively effecting our community.

The amount of drugs that were seized in this drug bust was extremely high: "640 kilograms of cocaine; 111 kg of methamphetamines and 83 kilos of MDMA; 26 units of heroin; 1,202 kg of ephedrine or MDP2P; 7,832 pounds of marijuana bud; charges anticipated for more than 100 people internationally; over $2,100,000 cash seized from various locations; 17 guns (mostly handguns, some prohibited weapons); nine real-estate properties worth $6,000,000; Six high-end vehicles worth $300,000; seizures in eight countries (Canada, U.S., Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, China, India). That is definitely one big drug bust and thank God they are getting what they deserve.