An international investigation has led to the arrest of a Columbian man in Panama, accused of running a drug operation in the United States while locked up inside a Canadian prison.
Daniel Vivas Ceron, 34, was arrested in Panama on July 17, charged with multiple drug offences surrounding the smuggling and distribution of fentanyl in the United States, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday afternoon.
The investigation, dubbed “Operation Denial” was sparked by the overdose death of 18-year-old Bailey Henke of Grand Forks, North Dakota.
The indictment, released Tuesday by the justice department, accused Vivas Ceron of masterminding the drug smuggling and distribution ring while locked inside The Drummond institution, a medium security prison in Quebec.
Vivas Ceron was in prison at the time but according to the justice department would email people using aliases and various emails including Canada.pharma.labs@gmail.com.
According to the extradition request, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Homeland Security both communicated with Vivas Ceron via email in order to buy drugs.
An undercover DEA agent began communicating with Vivas Ceron via email in August 2014 and over the course of the next several months, sent thousands of dollars via Western Union for four shipments of fentanyl. At least three of the shipments were sent from Canada. The analysis of the final shipment is still pending.
Similarly, an undercover Homeland Security investigator, contacted Vivas Ceron via email and sent nearly $20,000 via bank wire and Bitcoin to get fentanyl.
- 14-year-olds accused in Halifax homicide appear in court, bail hearing set
- B.C. to ban drug use in all public places in major overhaul of decriminalization
- 2 teens charged with murder in case of 16-year-old killed outside Halifax mall
- Cars torched, explosions heard in suspected arson in Montreal neighbourhood
Vivas Ceron, along with nine other people, have all been charged with various charges relating to the sale of fentanyl imported from Canada and China.
The group would allegedly pay for the drugs using money wires, bank deposits and virtual currency in order to “conceal and disguise the nature” of the transaction.
The indictment said some of the fentanyl which led to Henke’s fatal overdose in January was smuggled into the United States from Canada.
The drugs also seriously injured several other people who were identified by initials in the indictment released Tuesday.
Vivas Ceron is currently being held in Panama, awaiting extradition to the United States.
Comments