Opinion ID: 686771
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The heroin importation scheme

Text: 6 With respect to the heroin scheme charged in the indictment, the government's evidence showed the following: Soon after his termination as an informant, Ralph met with Joseph Danneal to plan the importation of between 1,400 and 2,100 grams of heroin into the United States from Thailand. Simon and Rebecca became involved later. The Abcasises were unaware that Danneal was a confidential informant working with Group 21 of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). 7 According to the plan, Danneal and a married couple would travel to Thailand, bringing similar suitcases. The married couple would go on an organized tour of the country, and Danneal would travel separately. Danneal would buy the heroin, place it in a false bottom of one suitcase, meet with the married couple and switch suitcases. The couple would resume the tour and return with the heroin-filled suitcase. Danneal, a supposed illegal alien, would fly to Canada carrying internally a portion of the heroin, where Simon would meet him to smuggle him back to the United States. 8 The scheme involved considerable complications and the use of several confederates, which are not explained in detail because they are not pertinent to the issue at hand. One Givenchi, enlisted as a courier, was arrested in Thailand with a considerable quantity of heroin as he attempted to board his return flight to the United States. The same day, Danneal began his return voyage to New York.