Tony Mokbel legal team was still deciding whether to proceed with a possible appeal to the European Court of Human Rights,

Tony Mokbel has hired the lawyer who advised accused war criminal Ratko Mladic - the so-called "Butcher of Bosnia" - to fight his extradition from Greece.
High-profile international lawyer Alexander Lykourezos will represent Mokbel, 42, at a final appeal hearing in the Supreme Court in Athens on Tuesday.
Mr Lykourezos said rumours his new client was ready to roll over and return to Australia were false. "We will exhaust all legal weapons. We have grounds to fight and we are going to fight," he said. Mr Lykourezos said he saw similarities between the media treatment of Mokbel in Australia and the coverage of accused Bosnian-Serb warlord Mladic. The lawyer is friend and one-time legal adviser to Mladic.
Both Mladic and Mokbel had been mistreated by the media, Mr Lykourezos said.
Mladic, one of Europe's most wanted men, has been indicted by a UN war crimes tribunal on charges of genocide and other crimes against humanity.
Mr Lykourezos has a history of accepting tough cases. He was part of an unsuccessful bid in 1999 to prosecute NATO for alleged war crimes over its bombing of Kosovo.
Mokbel was in good shape physically and emotionally, Mr Lykourezos said.
"He has good morale," he said.
Mokbel's legal team was still deciding whether to proceed with a possible appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, he said.

William Hooten, Leeanne Bednaro, his girlfriend, with three counts each of possession with intent to deliver and possession of a controlled substa

Police announced details of the drug bust at a news conference Friday. Police seized the drugs Wednesday in a search that grew out of the investigation of a domestic dispute.Along with the 599 bags of heroin, police found 10 grams of bulk heroin, 80 grams of powdered cocaine and 100 grams of crack cocaine in the house. The total street value of all the drugs was $52,000, police said.Altogether, the bagged and bulk heroin had a street value of $34,000 while the rest of the drugs would have sold for about $18,000, Dacus said. Police also seized $4,004 in cash from the house.Police charged William Hooten and Leeanne Bednaro, his girlfriend, with three counts each of possession with intent to deliver and possession of a controlled substance, and one count each of criminal conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Hooten, 29, was charged Thursday and is in Erie County Prison on $150,000 bond.
Bednaro, 18, was charged with the drug crimes Friday. She had been charged Thursday with having an unlicensed firearm, and obliterating marks of identification on a firearm. Her bond, with the drug charges, is set at $50,000.Police initially arrived at the Custer Drive house at 6:14 a.m. Wednesday after a neighbor reported hearing shots fired from inside.Police extensively questioned Hooten and Bednaro and learned enough to file a search warrant for the house, Dacus said. He said the drugs were in the living room.Dacus said Bednaro had fired the shots during an argument with Hooten.
Erie police are worried that $34,000 worth of heroin found in a house on Erie's west side could mean the powerful drug is returning to Erie.
"Heroin hasn't been as prevalent in Erie," Detective Sgt. Donald Dacus said. "This concerns us a bit, that heroin is starting to make a noticeable comeback."
Police found the heroin in bags and in bulk at the house at 1415 Custer Drive, in the neighborhood south of West 12th Street and west of Lincoln Avenue.
Dacus said police traced the bagged heroin to New York City, and he said those drugs arrived in Erie recently. He would not comment on how the drugs were transported or specifically about when they arrived.Each of the bags was stamped with the word "Juice."

Stanley Chimezie ,Francis Obasi convicted of hiding cocaine in paintings and smuggling them into Cumbria.

Stanley Chimezie and Francis Obasi were caught trying to bring in half a kilo of the Class A drug – with a street value of £39,000 – from South America.
They were sentenced to a total of 12 years behind bars at Carlisle Crown Court and their conviction has sparked a stark warning from police to those involved in peddling lethal drugs.Detective Chief Inspector Paul Duhig said: “This marks the culmination of a thorough investigation by Cumbria police which illustrates that serious and organised crime will not be tolerated.“Those responsible will be actively targeted and brought to justice.”Security guard Chimezie, 23, of Hawes Street, Carlisle, was jailed for five years and three months on Thursday while Obasi, 29, of Abbeywood in London, was sentenced to six years and nine month. Both pleaded guilty to conspiring to import cocaine.They were apprehended during Operation Alston and arrested in July 2007 after police intercepted the paintings being delivered to a house in Chatsworth Square, Carlisle.Judge Peter Hughes QC was told that Chimezie was offered £500 to receive the parcel.The cocaine – of between 68 and 79 per cent purity – was concealed in the back of three paintings sent by express mail with Parcel Force.The parcel, which came from Guyana, was intercepted at customs. It was delivered by a policeman on July 17 last year, addressed to a fictitious name at a flat in Chatsworth Square.

Fortitude Valley nightclub owner Todd Sean Filippa aka Mr T is facing a possible 12 to 16 years' jail

Fortitude Valley nightclub owner Todd Sean Filippa, 44, is facing a possible 12 to 16 years' jail after pleading guilty in January to drug trafficking over a two-year period in 2003-04.In a "contested hearing" that has so far run for several weeks, Filippa is challenging the Crown's assertion that he was the co-ordinator and financier of the syndicate.He also has been accused of being personally involved in the "cooking" of large quantities of methylamphetamine at Miles in August 2004, and organising others to do so on other occasions.Filippa, a tall, thickset man with big broad shoulders and long, slicked-back black hair tied in a ponytail, on Thursday accused prosecutor Don McKenzie of making him out to be "Pablo Escobar", referring to the Colombian drug lord, and "the boss of all bosses of the entire world".
Filippa, or "Mr T" as he is known to his drug criminal associates, is a member of the Bellino family that became infamous during the Fitzgerald inquiry in the late 1980s.His uncle Geraldo Bellino, who was accused of running an empire of illegal brothels and gambling dens in Fortitude Valley in the '80s, was jailed in 1991 for almost seven years after being convicted of paying bribes, worth $17,000 a month, to police.Filippa's father, Tony Bellino, a former nightclub owner who still runs a Valley restaurant, was questioned during the inquiry but not charged.
The CMC began its operation in December 2003 after identifying suspected criminal activity near Scores and Rockafellas – Fortitude Valley nightclubs owned and operated by Filippa.Earlier, police had found five publications detailing how to make methylamphetamine in a shed at Albion linked to Filippa's de facto. Although Filippa denied knowledge of the publications, they had been paid for with his credit card.In September 2003 the CMC set up a hidden video camera in the Valley's Ranwell Lane, behind Filippa's nightclubs. The camera captured alleged key syndicate members and friends Christopher Plaszewski and Filippa and other "persons of interest" having regular conversations in Plaszewski's red BMW and in the lane.The CMC then installed a listening device and tracker in the car and further devices were put into his home and another vehicle.The operation leaders, CMC detectives Acting Inspector Mitch Castles and Sen-Sgt Tony Morgan, believed there was evidence that Filippa and some of his associates were heavily involved in methylamphetamine production and trafficking.They also learned there was a clandestine drug laboratory operating somewhere in western Queensland, the Supreme Court has heard.
From July 2004 the Australian Crime Commission began making legal telephone interceptions of phone conversations between members of the syndicate. Listening devices also were installed at Filippa's Warner home.
Police and the CMC then identified a property, bought by Filippa, in Ryalls Rd, Miles, as the suspected site of large-scale production of methylamphetamine.
Filippa, a father of three, claimed in court he was a successful nightclub owner who never allowed drugs on his premises but had friends and associates involved in drug production.He said the Miles property was simply bought by him so his partner and daughter could go horse and motorbike riding.A search in late July that year uncovered industrial chemicals and drug-making equipment. Investigators installed a listening device.Between August 22 and 27, conversations between Filippa, Warren Bourke, Lee Keily, Steven Jenkins and Trent Evans were recorded during a methylamphetamine "cook" at the property.In one taped conversation Filippa was heard to say: "I've been cooking for 12 years mate. They've never f---in' come to a place where I've been f---in' cooking."In another conversation he says: "This is a great job, great business, the most profitable business in crime."At 5am on August 27 the property was raided, with investigators finding about 2.5kg of pure crystal methylamphetamine and another half-litre of liquid methylamphetamine.
five were arrested and charged, but later were released on bail.The Crown alleges that Filippa, Christopher Plaszewski, Scott Adams, Tony Lalli-Cafini and Warren Bourke were key members of the syndicate.Other criminal associates were sourcing the cold and flu tablets to make the precursor pseudoephedrine for methylamphetamine production.The court heard one person supplied enough pills to make 20kg of methylamphetamine.In court on Wednesday, Filippa claimed he only got involved in the extraction process at Ryalls Rd that August, spending days making the precursor pseudoephedrine.

He denied he was involved in the drug "cook", saying he only wanted to get 30g of methylamphetamine to give to his drug-using partner.After the raid the operation continued, and later some syndicate members were arrested with a pill press machine allegedly bought for $30,000.There also was evidence that some members were involved in another 2kg methylamphetamine cook, and further arrests were made before the operation was closed in December that year.In March 2005 CMC investigators, with the help of the ACC, intercepted Filippa's emails, which led them to suspect he was intending to flee overseas.
He had transferred more than $28,000 to the South American country of Suriname, which had no extradition treaty with Australia.
In May 2005, Filippa was arrested after he lodged an application to obtain a passport in a false name. He has pleaded guilty to charges in relation to the passport application.
Warren "Stumpy" Bourke, the syndicate's methylamphetamine cook now serving 10 years' jail for drug trafficking, denied Filippa was the boss of any drug syndicate.
In court he described Filippa as someone who came across as "the up-front man" and who could appear to be "pretty bloody scary" or "as kind as a kitten".
"My saying is – he watched too many mafia movies," Bourke said.The CMC found a collection of mafia books at Filippa's house.
Justice Ann Lyons will make a finding about Filippa's level of involvement in the drug operation and sentence him within the next few weeks.

Kai Ming Fung,Ka Wah Chan, Patrick Dan Chang ,Tik Sheun Dison Ngai guilty.

50-year-old Kai Ming Fung, 47-year-old Ka Wah Chan, 34-year-old Patrick Dan Chang and 32-year-old Tik Sheun Dison Ngai - guilty.The four have now been given heavy sentences.Chang, who was found guilty of two counts each of production of a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking, along with one count of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, has been in custody since his arrest.He got an eight-year jail sentence, with credit for 58 months already served.
According to Brad Smith, a federal Crown lawyer, this is the longest jail term ever given for this type of offence.Crown asked for six years for Ngai, who was found guilty of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and production of a controlled substance, but the judge sentenced him to five years.Similarly for Fung and Chan, the judge gave sentences of one year less than the five years that Crown asked for.
Both of them had been found guilty of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence and production of a controlled substance.A fifth man has been acquitted of all charges.
The waterfront joint forces operation is a team of officers from the Vancouver and Delta police departments, the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency.
In this case, in addition to the Burnaby RCMP, they were helped by Richmond RCMP, Transport Canada, the Richmond Fire Department, the Lower Mainland Forensic Identification Unit, the B.C. Ambulance Service, the RCMP's major crime unit, the RCMP clandestine lab team, the Vancouver Police drug section, the Department of Public Prosecutions and Health Canada.

Mexican national and alleged gang member was arrested carrying large bags of marijuana

Mexican national and alleged gang member was arrested Tuesday near the Ysleta port of entry after Border Patrol agents observed him allegedly crossing the country carrying large bags of marijuana, officials said.Agents said that they saw two people crossing the Rio Grande about a half-mile west of the Ysleta bridge. While pursuing the two people, agents saw one drop a large bag and run back into Mexico.
The second person also dropped a bag while climbing out of the north side of the American Canal, then was caught by Border Patrol agents. The suspect's name was not released. Border Patrol officials said they recovered both bags, which contained 107 pounds of marijuana valued at $86,160.

Bobby Brown ex-hubby of pop superstar Whitney Houston doing community service instead of going to jail for cocaine possession

Former golden boy and snappy dresser Bobby Brown doesn't look so hot these days..
Bobby Brown, the Grammy Award-winning ex-hubby of pop superstar Whitney Houston, will be doing community service instead of going to jail for cocaine possession - but not everyone is happy about it, the Boston Herald reported Wednesday. His attorney Stephanie Soriano told the Herald that no criminal charges would be issued.
"Mr Brown will be accepting the recommendation of the court," she said.
Brown is to work with children and young adults in the city of Brockton outside Boston, where poverty and crime are rampant.But Brockton city councilor Timothy Cruise told the Herald it might not be such a good idea."I dont know a lot about Bobby Brown, but what Ive seen makes me think we dont need him working with the kids," Cruise was quoted as saying.The 39-year-old singer, songwriter and dancer has been charged in the past with nonpayment of child support, kicking a hotel security guard, drug and alcohol abuse and allegedly physically abusing Houston.
State police wanted Brown to be charged with cocaine possession, but Brockton District Court Clerk Magistrate Kevin Creedon thought otherwise and proposed the community service.Police say they found Brown with cocaine inside a car while investigating a fight at a local motel.

Rev. Charles Lanier died of a heroin overdose

San Diego clergyman found dead inside his rented Tijuana apartment Wednesday had marijuana in his system in addition to heroin, the Baja California Attorney General's Office said Friday night.
Dr. Maria Guadalupe Licea, who oversees investigations in Tijuana, said an autopsy had determined that the Rev. Charles Lanier died of a heroin overdose that caused the blockage of a pulmonary artery, with heart failure listed as a secondary cause. Lanier had an enlarged heart, according to the autopsy. Authorities believe the drugs were self-administered. A syringe was found near Lanier's body. Police were called to his third-floor apartment near the border after neighbors saw his body through his partially open apartment door.
Lanier was pastor of Unity Fellowship Church in City Heights. His family reported him missing.

Vu Pham pleaded guilty to being concerned in producing a class C drug

Vu Pham (27) was arrested by police in an early morning raid on a drugs factory in Peterborough during the Making A Difference week in Millfield on January 29.He had arrived in Peterborough from Vietnam in November last year as an illegal immigrant, after being promised a job and a better life in the city. He said he had planned to send the money he earnt back to his wife in Vietnam.But after spending all their money travelling to Britain,when he arrived he found he had been misled, and there was no job waiting for him.Instead, he became caught up in the cannabis factory in Millfield, working as a “gardener” so he had a roof over his head and enough food for him to live on.When police raided the semi-detached house in Clarence Road, they found Pham sleeping on a thin mattress on the kitchen floor.He told police he had moved in just a couple of weeks before, and spent all day looking after hundreds of plants, spread between five rooms – the bathroom had even had the fittings removed to make room for smaller seedlings to be grown.Peterborough Crown Court heard that the plants had not yet reached maturity when they were discovered, but after harvest Pham would have been paid £3,000 for his work.The plants ranged from being just two weeks old, to nearly two months, and if they had been harvested would have had an estimated £120,000 street value.Cheryl Williams, prosecuting, said that to convert the house into the factory, with high powered lights and growing systems in the bathroom, would have cost more than £16,000.
Pham, who pleaded guilty to being concerned in producing a class C drug at a previous hearing was sentenced to two years in prison by Recorder Sean Enright.

Ting Fai Lau was flown out of Calgary earlier this week.

Ting Fai Lau, 26, was serving a three-year jail sentence for trafficking cocaine in Calgary last year but had his parole accelerated to speed up his deportation. He was flown out of Calgary earlier this week.Lau had criminal ties to Minh Tri Truong, a known figure in the violent world of organized crime who was gunned down in front of his Calgary home June 1, 2007.Lau denied being a gang member to the National Parole Board, but admitted to making and selling drugs and seeking employment from top-ranking gang members. His involvement in organized crime and the city's drug trade stretch back nearly a decade.He also blamed his trafficking on a serious gambling problem he says forced him to sell drugs for gangsters to pay household bills for him and his wife."You have remained in Canada since then, supporting yourself through criminal activity," the National Parole Board stated in a January decision obtained by the Herald."Reports suggest you display an overly blatant attitude of indifference toward your criminal behaviour."Lau came to Canada on a student visa in 1997. It expired in 2001.He was caught trafficking cocaine and sentenced to three years in jail Feb. 26, 2007."Canada won't be a safe haven for criminals," said Canada Border Services Agency spokeswoman Lisa White."We're committed to removing inadmissible people from Canada, committed to public safety and security."Lau's associate Truong was identified in 2003 as the mastermind of a "dial-a-dope" operation spanning Western Canada.He admitted using violence to collect drug debts. Police arrested him and found large quantities of cocaine, heroin, crystal meth and ecstasy tablets.Truong was in the middle of a six-year, six-month sentence for conspiracy and drug trafficking, but he had been free to live at home since being granted parole. His killing remains unsolved.