LEXINGTON August 3, 2005
Police Seize 163 Illegal Drug Shipments At Fed Ex Hub

Attorney General Greg Stumbo announced Wednesday that agents of the Kentucky Bureau of Investigation (KBI) have seized163 drug shipments from a Federal Express hub in Lexington. Alert FedEx employees contacted the KBI when the packages arrived at the hub from an unlicensed pharmacy in Florida.

"In total, approximately 10,000 highly addictive hydrocodone tablets were taken off the streets and out of the hands of addicts and dealers," Stumbo said. The Attorney General worked with the DEA, Kentucky's prosecutors, Kentucky State Police, Lexington and Louisville Police, The Justice Cabinet and the Board of Pharmacy to target rogue internet pharmacies through creation of Senate Bill 63.

"Together, we drafted one of the strongest laws in the nation to protect Kentuckians from this danger," Stumbo added. "And Federal Express is to be commended for its vigilance in recognizing that the packages arriving at the hub were not from a registered internet pharmacy."

The new law, which recently went into effect, forbids the sale and shipment of drugs by unlicensed Internet pharmacies. Already, many unlicensed pharmacies refuse to ship to Kentucky due to the penalties now in place. Attorney General Stumbo's initiative ensures that prescriptions will be filled by legitimate, reputable pharmacies, while pushers will face felonies for selling drugs illegally. The KBI is now actively enforcing this law.

The new law requires Internet pharmacies to abide by the rules or face felony charges. Drug sellers must obtain a permit from the Board of Pharmacy. A toll-free number where patients can consult with a qualified pharmacist must be maintained. Pharmacies must also comply with the KASPER monitoring system and display certification that it is a "Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site."

The KBI is providing commercial carriers like FedEx, UPS and DHL with a list of approved pharmacies to help them recognize those that are not licensed and are breaking the law. The Kentucky Board of Pharmacy maintains the list.

"We urge these carriers to be alert to what is passing through their hubs and call upon them to alert the KBI of suspicious packages from unlicensed pharmacies," Stumbo said.

Fayette County Commonwealth's Attorney, Ray Larson, also attended the press conference. "I have worked for years to stop the flow of drugs into Fayette County," Larson said. "I'm happy to have Senate Bill 63 as a new tool in my arsenal to combat the influx of drugs to abusers and sellers."

http://www.lex18.com/Global/story.asp?S=3677131&nav=EQlpcu9b

And what about the pain patients? I am disgusted that a private company is cooperating with the KBI, I wonder if this borders on entrapment?
<----irate katerina

I don't think it's entrapment, Kat, not unless they set them up to deliver there in the first place.
But I do think it's a big old pile of bs.
This Stumbo guy sure seems to love himself and promote himself at any cost without looking at the other side of the issue, the one you mentioned: PAIN.
That was also a horribly biased article.
Why don't the reporters just bend over and kiss those guys big white butts?
Geez.

No, I don't think so because Entrapment only comes into effect if a person was persuaded to do something they would never normally do. So, I guess as long as they can show that a person has done it before, they would be predisposed to do it again? That would be my guess anyway.

Here is the legal definition of Entrapment:

ENTRAPMENT - A person is 'entrapped' when he is induced or persuaded by law enforcement officers or their agents to commit a crime that he had no previous intent to commit; and the law as a matter of policy forbids conviction in such a case.

However, there is no entrapment where a person is ready and willing to break the law and the Government agents merely provide what appears to be a favorable opportunity for the person to commit the crime. For example, it is not entrapment for a Government agent to pretend to be someone else and to offer, either directly or through an informer or other decoy, to engage in an unlawful transaction with the person. So, a person would not be a victim of entrapment if the person was ready, willing and able to commit the crime charged in the indictment whenever opportunity was afforded, and that Government officers or their agents did no more than offer an opportunity.

On the other hand, if the evidence leaves a reasonable doubt whether the person had any intent to commit the crime except for inducement or persuasion on the part of some Government officer or agent, then the person is not guilty.

In slightly different words: Even though someone may have [sold drugs], as charged by the government, if it was the result of entrapment then he is not guilty. Government agents entrapped him if three things occurred:

- First, the idea for committing the crime came from the government agents and not from the person accused of the crime.

- Second, the government agents then persuaded or talked the person into committing the crime. Simply giving him the opportunity to commit the crime is not the same as persuading him to commit the crime.

- And third, the person was not ready and willing to commit the crime before the government agents spoke with him.

On the issue of entrapment the government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was not entrapped by government agents.

_______________________________

Are they saying in this article that the packages are actually marked as medication?

"display certification that it is a "Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site."

Or are they speaking about the website? How is FedEx or UPS supposed to look up all these sites on the interent to verify them?

I'm Confused! lol It's common though..

PINK

It seems like they couldn't wait to actually get some facts before going to print!

PINK

Anybody want to bet me that Stumbo isn't running for governor or senator from Kentucky in the next few years?
Pb

Yeah, PB, that's EXACTLY what I meant about Stumbo loving himself. This will sure look good for his record. God, what a name for a politician -- it's almost too easy.

Sorry guys, I was so ticked at first sight of this, that I just started typing...
mea culpa...

And another child molester and another rapist rome free. There prioreties make me sick.

to last post, surly we have more pressing problems other than who gets what off the net i think the laws for the exploited children and soal securiy iddues are just going to fi themselves, just my 2 cents i

The "war on drugs" has been a hot button for politicians for a long time. I agree, our politicians (as far back as I can remember) seem to neglect what should be the right priorities. Of course, the reason for that is that they are so difficult and hazerdous, from a political point, to pursue. I am not going to go into the political thing though, because it will just get everybody's blood boiling, which is exactly my point.
PB

Someone did the math on the number of pills and it sounds impossible. I mean thousands shoved into a FedEx envelope?

I wonder how they figured out they were unlicensed ? I meen fedex ? Maybe looking at the return address's ? Man, it must be tough to be a kentuck resident and be in pain as they really seem to make it tough for them to get meds.

the math is about right. at 60 pills per bottle, and 163 bottles, that's 9,780 pills. sounded like a lot to me when i read it, too. makes ya wonder how many of those 163 people are in horrible pain right now due to kentucky's "joyful victory"??? the unfair classification that everyone who ordered from that pharmacy(ies) is ignorant and close-minded!

i'm in no way defending the drug addicts and sellers! i'm sure many of those packages were for illegal use. it unfortunately looks like chronic pain sufferers in KY will soon have few options beyond moving to different state!

This is just such a cheap & easy way to get great press. No dangerous meth labs to mess with, or armed Real dealers. Just decent, undertreated pain patients, and and some who've gotten addicted, sure, but not hurting anybody but themselves. It's not like KY has great rehab pgms for people who want to get off the treadmill.
Wish we could find out more about the FedEx involvement, tho. Are there undercover agents, or are the employees who report these packages getting raises or what?

OTOH, why don't the companies wise up & start using cotton, boxes, professional-looking labels? Except for a few of the ROPs, the packing is a dead give-away, esp. if it's COD.