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A 38-YEAR-OLD Colombian vet appeared in a New York court this week, accused of injecting liquid heroin into puppies to evade border control in a drug smuggling ring.
Andres Lopez Elorez was arrested in Spain on a US warrant and extradited to the United States on Monday. If convicted on conspiracy charges, he risks spending at least 10 years and potentially life behind bars.
His arrest was part of a 12-year DEA investigation and he was remanded into custody, pending trial, US officials said.
Prosecutors say he used his vet skills to surgically implant packets of liquid heroin into the bellies of puppies transported from Colombia to the United States. Once in America, the heroin was surgically removed, officials said.
Ten puppies were discovered in a raid on a makeshift clinic in Colombia in 2005. The New York Times said three of the dogs later died as a result of infections.
“As alleged in the indictment, Elorez is not only a drug trafficker, he also betrayed a veterinarian’s pledge to prevent animal suffering,” said Richard Donoghue, the US Attorney based in Brooklyn.
Dogs are mans’ best friend and, as the defendant is about to learn, we are drug dealers’ worst enemy.
US officials say Elorez was part of a Colombian-based conspiracy from September 2004 to January 2005 that smuggled heroin into the United States using various methods to conceal the narcotics from detection.
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Why are comments opened on this and never on the Anglo stories or even cases happening in the US. Makes no sense.
@B9xiRspG: no one is charged
@B9xiRspG: it’s not before the courts
@Michael Geraghty: It’s a suitably broad section to cover any number of offences. Pathetic trolling attempt.
@Matt Connolly: sorry – meant for Phil below.
@B9xiRspG: Seriously Jim, why don’t you read up and the court system in Ireland and stop trying to derail every single comment section. It’s juvenile.
Where is Veronica to tell us men are the only ones attacking people
@Kal Ipers: Ah don’t do that. It’s really tacky.
@Kal Ipers: say her name 3 times and she will appear.
#FemaleViolence
#FeminineToxicity
@Unpersoned: It’ll never be as tacky as her misanderous ways
@Kal Ipers: you guys would seriously want to consider getting some lives and getting me off your mind.
@Kal Ipers: Also, I’m not sure if you can either read or count, but I’ve never said “men are the only ones attacking people”, I’ve consistently said that the vast majority of violent crimes are committed by men. Good grief, go back to school.
@Veronica: Perhaps their online interaction with you is the only time they get any attention from a woman, you’re keeping them warm at night. ;)
@Veronica: I’ve been trying to get you off my mind but I just can’t. I need you tonight, cos I’m not sleeping. There’s something about you girl, that makes me sweat. So slide over here and give me a moment ♡♡
@Lisa Saputo: :shudder:
@Kal Ipers: Kal, did you read the article because these women weren’t arrested for stabbing this poor boy?
To have a dig at someone, using a tactic of theirs that you disapprove of, is silly and counterproductive. Let’s build bridges lads and ladies. We’re all in this together whether we like it or not.
@Veronica: You have dismissed women committing violence and hid behind saying men are vastly more responsible. While doing this you ignore they are more likely to be the victim. You amuse me as an example of sexist person who is convinced they are correct by ignoring reality.
If you expressed these views in a paying job you would be rightly fired.
You are a terrible hypocrite who calls out people for not posting comments on other articles but don’t like it when done to you.
have your say