Federal authorities on Monday held a press conference announcing that they infiltrated what they’re calling an international drug trafficking ring focused on Methylone, often referred to as molly. The investigation resulted in 54 arrests with subjects located in Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Oregon, California and Texas. Eight defendants in Rochester, NY were charged by criminal complaint for their participation in the conspiracy to import and distribute significant quantities of Methylone which is a Schedule I controlled substance.
The drug Methylone has been in the news this summer after two confirmed deaths related to the drug in New York City both connected to electronic music events. Jeffrey Russ died at Electric Zoo in New York City after taking a combination of MDMA and Methylone. Earlier this summer another New Yorker, Matthew Rybarczyk, died after attending an event on Governors Island. Jeffrey Russ was from Rochester, NY which is where eight of the 54 arrests took place.
Investigators intercepted an email from China that contained a tracking number for 3.5 kilograms of methylone that was being shipped to Rochester. The package arrived, was intercepted, authorities tested it and then delivered it to individuals at which point they were arrested.
Press release from the United States Attorney’s Office:
DEA Special Agent in Charge Brian R. Crowell stated, “There has been a 300% increase in poison centers nationwide responding to calls related to synthetic drugs and 60 percent of the cases involved patients 25 years old and younger. Our youth are the targets of drug trafficking organizations distributing synthetic drugs like Methylone under the guise of it being molly or ecstasy. Today’s arrests are of members of a molly distribution crew responsible for spreading this dangerous poison throughout the northeast. Kids need to know they are not taking ecstasy. We are seeing street dealers selling something with a catchy name such as molly, and in fact it’s poisonous synthetic chemicals made in labs in China. Overdoses from ingesting these types of chemicals are extremely dangerous and unforgiving. I commend the investigators from the DEA Rochester Resident Office, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Border Patrol, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, U.S. Postal Service, and the New York State Police for doing all they can to keep our children and young adults safe from this poison.”
Here’s a News 10 report from Rochester on the arrests:
These aren’t the first arrests related to importing Methylone and probably won’t be the last. A quick search found the news of a 20 year old from Alaska that was arrested in August 2013 (source) and in October 2012 two men, aged 18 and 24, were arrested in Virginia on similar charges (source). There’ll continue to be drug busts daily all around the world, this is just the most recent headline worthy discussion.
All drugs have risks whether it’s pure MDMA, Methylone, cocaine and the list goes on and on. We suggest that anyone who is going to be involved with any kind of drugs to do research on the substances and educate yourself. One of the best ways to know what you’re taking is to purchase a testing kit from Dancesafe via http://dancesafe.org/products/testing-kits. A $65 testing kit is worth the investment for yourself and your friends.
We don’t support or condone drug use but we do support harm reduction efforts. Dancesafe, Erowid and Bunk Police are great places to begin.
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