TEB Drug Bust

[Brett Hull]

Feds bust jet cocaine ring into Teterboro


August 13, 2004, 8:54 AM EDT

TETERBORO, N.J. -- Federal agents say they have broken up a Mexican drug ring
that was smuggling cocaine on private jets into Teterboro Airport.

Six men from Mexico and the Dominican Republic were arrested this week, and
three Learjets were seized, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said.

The suspects used planes to fly about 800 kilograms of cocaine from airports
in Texas and Arizona to Teterboro. From there, it was driven to a Manhattan
hotel and sold to the organization's leader and others, according to court
documents.

The jets then flew to Texas, California and Arizona with the cash proceeds
from the sales.

"It's likely this cocaine remained and was sold in the New York-New Jersey
area," Assistant U.S. Attorney Marion Percell told the Record of Bergen County.

On each trip into Teterboro, the smugglers brought in between 50 and 90
kilograms of cocaine. On each trip out, they left with between $300,000 and $3
million in cash, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Newark.

The jets seized by federal agents are worth $5 million. Also seized in raids
earlier this week were 64 kilograms of cocaine, an AK-47 assault rifle, two
handguns and $700,000 in cash.

A federal magistrate ordered the suspects held without bail during a hearing
Thursday in Newark. Each could get life in prison if convicted.

"Not only did we arrest the individuals responsible for the importation and
distribution of cocaine, but their multi-million-dollar transportation
infrastructure was also removed," said Michael Pasterchick, special agent in charge of
the Newark DEA office.

Yikes! Anyone have any other info on this? I was there yesterday, but I didn't notice anything suspicious.

 

[Flyinjunk]

Yikes! Anyone have any other info on this? I was there yesterday, but I didn't notice anything suspicious.

Not to nitpic , but if you were in TEB and didnt notice anything suspicious you must be a very trusting person!

 

[joelo88]

Not the first time this has happened. Saw another bust a few months ago with a LRjet on the Millionair ramp.

 

[FracCapt]

Yikes! Anyone have any other info on this? I was there yesterday, but I didn't notice anything suspicious.

Hmm....you're a LEAR driver, who was in TEB the day of a major bust of 3 LEARS, and you're alarmed by the bust.....something you want to tell us?!

 

[Brett Hull]

Hmm....you're a LEAR driver, who was in TEB the day of a major bust of 3 LEARS, and you're alarmed by the bust.....something you want to tell us?!

Just that I'm not going back to TEB for a while....uhhhh....I mean no!

 

[SenorSpielbergo]

Golden Brett to the Dogs

Hey Brett, just wondering if you are going to change your avatar since Hullie signed a 2-year deal with the Dogs (must've been for the golf)?

 

[Brett Hull]

Hey Brett, just wondering if you are going to change your avatar since Hullie signed a 2-year deal with the Dogs (must've been for the golf)?

Yea, just gotta wait until there's a good action picture of him in his new duds.

Now if I could just get a job back in the town that the guy in yours plays in, all would be well in the world.

 

[SenorSpielbergo]

It's optimistic to think that he'll ever play again (eye injury), but if he does, it would most likely be with the Blues. But, I get your point. I wish Hullie well, he was (and still is, maybe not by some, but by fans who know class when they see it) loved in STL.

 

[Brett Hull]

Chopper's a class guy, both on and off the ice. He's one of my favorite players in the league, after Hullie of course. It stinks to see such a great career come to an end like that, if it is in fact the way it does end.

I didn't see Hull signing with Phoenix. I thought it would come down to him going back to Dallas to play with Modano, or back to STL. I think the Dallas dealbreaker was they only were offering a 1 year contract and he wanted 2. Don't know about STL, though. Like you said, the lure of 300+ days of golf (especially with the lockout looming), along with Gretzky in the front office and his old agent as GM must have been enough.



*Back on topic message for everyone else: Drugs are bad, mmkay. You shouldn't use learjets to run drugs.

 

[SenorSpielbergo]

Ya, I had the privilege of flying him (and his family) 2 years ago. Great guy, he gladly signed my Team Canada jersey of his (coincidentally, the year they won Olympic gold) after the flight. I'd love to see him become involved with the organization in a coaching capacity.

 

[mike1mc]

I have an idea of who this might be, but don't want to start any rumors. Can anybody confirm the operator? I have an operator calling more than they would normally and we don't want to do business with them until we confirm our information. Please PM me, do not post this info on a public forum.

 

[Groundpounder]

AIN Online says it was N38PS, N354PM and N354LQ

 

[irapilot]

N38PS
Aircraft Serial Number : 206
Aircraft Manufacturer : GATES LEARJET CORP.
Model : 35A
Engine Manufacturer : GARRETT
Model : TFE 731 SER
Aircraft Year : 1979
Owner Name : SULLIVAN LEASING CO INC
Owner Address : PO BOX 537
DURANT, OK, 74702-0537
Type of Owner : Corporation
Registration Date : 08-Mar-2000
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Standard
Approved Operations : Transport
N354PM
Aircraft Serial Number : 015
Aircraft Manufacturer : GATES LEAR JET
Model : 35
Engine Manufacturer : GARRETT
Model : TFE 731 SER
Aircraft Year : 1975
Owner Name : ADDISON EXPRESS LLC
Owner Address : 4500 CLAIRE CHENNAULT ST
ADDISON, TX, 75001-5321
Type of Owner : Corporation
Registration Date : 21-Aug-1998
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Standard
Approved Operations : Transport

N354LQ
Aircraft Serial Number : 055
Aircraft Manufacturer : GATES LEAR JET
Model : 35
Engine Manufacturer : GARRETT
Model : TFE 731 SER
Aircraft Year : 1976
Owner Name : ADDISON EXPRESS LLC
Owner Address : 4500 CLAIRE CHENNAULT ST
ADDISON, TX, 75001-5321
Type of Owner : Corporation
Registration Date : 23-Aug-1999
Airworthiness Certificate Type : Standard
Approved Operations : Transport

 

[Otter]

.

The information posted just above is correct to the best of my knowledge.

 

[barnyard]

Did the pilots get busted too or were they just bystanders???

Where do i send a resume, i always wanted to get into the drug-running business.

 

[Brett Hull]

According to the article on AIN online, no pilots were arrested.

Nice avatar, btw.