Thursday, December 30, 2010
URGENT MILITARY NEWS: RETROACTIVE STOP LOSS PAY EXTEDED
ICE deputy director and world leaders pool resources at BCASS Conference
ICE deputy director and world leaders pool resources at BCASS Conference
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) role in national security extends far beyond our country's borders. The agency relies on partnerships with other countries to investigate and dismantle criminal networks across the globe. Earlier this month, military, political and law enforcement leaders from across the world traveled to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the inaugural Border Control, Airport and Seaport Security (BCASS) exposition. The conference focused on how nations can pool knowledge and resources to make the world a safer place.
ICE Deputy Director Kumar Kibble spoke at the event and highlighted how ICE combats criminal networks by building partnerships with countries across the world.
"Sharing law enforcement intelligence with our international partners and conducting joint transnational investigations leads ICE to unfathomable criminal networks," said Kibble." "We intend to share best practices in law enforcement techniques, arrange joint investigative teams and offer investigative and prosecutorial assistance in the pursuit of convictions and prosecutions of customs violators."
Kibble shared successes from a recent investigation called Pacific Rim where ICE and its foreign counterparts disrupted an international money laundering and drug trafficking network that spanned every continent on Earth except for Antarctica. Drug smugglers - responsible for 42 percent of Colombian cocaine entering the United States from 2003 to 2009 - brought tons of cocaine into the United States on yachts and semi-submersibles along the Mexico/United States maritime border. As the result of international cooperation, Pacific Rim netted five guilty pleas, 16 indictments and 18 arrests along with seizures totaling approximately $155 million in currency, 3.3 tons of cocaine, $37 million in criminal forfeitures, and $179 million in property. These seizures helped to identify previously unknown smuggling routes. In addition, the operation's success significantly impacted the flow of drugs into the United States and smuggling of illegal proceeds out of the country.
"Pac Rim exemplifies how smuggling and laundering illicit cash is the grease that keeps these slick operations running, and how important our global partnerships are to stopping them. ICE is determined to dry up and deprive these criminals and criminal organizations of their sole motivator-money," said Kibble.
Kibble also discussed establishing similar partnerships in the UAE to bring down criminal networks. New this year, ICE established a partnership with the Abu Dhabi Customs Administration (ADCA) and the UAE Minister of the Interior for a new immigration academy.
Major General Khamis bin Hasher Al Mehrezi from the UAE Ministry of Defense echoed Kibble's call for global partnerships, "Modern technologies have recently played an effective and very important role in detecting threats, defining them, tracking them, tackling them and preserving security. Yet cooperation and coordination on both national and international levels is equally important."
'BEST' team arrests 2 illegal aliens for allegedly making, selling fake documents
'BEST' team arrests 2 illegal aliens for allegedly making, selling fake documents
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Two Mexican citizens remain in custody facing federal criminal charges following the execution of a search warrant in a local trailer park Dec. 15 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents.Rafael Montiel-Melendez, 35, and Hector Melendez-Segura, 44, were arrested Dec. 15 after ICE HSI special agents assigned to the ICE-led Border Enforcement Security Task (BEST) force executed a search warrant at a mobile home in the 9000 block of Zuni Road. The men, who are both in the country illegally, are charged with manufacturing and selling fraudulent identity documents.
They allegedly made and sold documents such as Social Security cards and alien registration cards, commonly known as "green cards." Both are charged with fraud and related activity in connection with identification documents, authentication features and information.
The arrests resulted from a five-month investigation by BEST members.
ICE HSI special agents seized materials used to produce phony immigration and identity documents including blank card stock, a computer, a scanner, and other electronic media.
"Identifying individuals who make and sell fraudulent documents, as well as disrupting their criminal operations, is an enforcement priority for HSI special agents," said Manuel Oyola-Torres, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in El Paso. "Counterfeiters place the security of our communities as well as that of our country at risk, and HSI pursues them aggressively."
BEST is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE-led initiative that operates along the U.S.-Mexico border. BEST in Albuquerque was formed in August 2010, and is one of 21 BEST teams in the United States and Mexico. ICE is charged with enforcing a wide array of immigration and customs laws, including those related to securing the border and combating criminal smuggling.
Albuquerque's BEST members include the following law enforcement agencies: ICE HSI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Office of Border Patrol, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, the Albuquerque Police Department, the New Mexico Army National Guard, the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, the U.S. Secret Service, and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New Mexico.
BEST members are co-located so that they can effectively share information. Close coordination among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies helps to identify and eliminate cross-border criminal organizations and the infrastructures that sustain them.
EVERYONE IS A RECRUITER INCENTIVE PROGRAM FY11
R 191828Z AUG 10
ALCGRECRUITING 008/10
SUBJ: EVERYONE IS A RECRUITER INCENTIVE PROGRAM FY11
A. RECRUITING MANUAL, COMDTINST M1100.2 (SERIES)
B. COAST GUARD DIVERSITY ACTION PLAN
C. MEDALS AND AWARDS MANUAL, COMDTINST M1650.25 (SERIES)
D. PERSONNEL MANUAL, COMDTINST M1000.6 (SERIES)
E. EVERYONE IS A RECRUITER USER GUIDE
1. IAW REF A, THE INTENT OF THE EVERYONE IS A RECRUITER INCENTIVE
PROGRAM IS TO ENCOURAGE CG PERSONNEL TO SUPPORT RECRUITING EFFORTS,
DIRECTING THAT SUPPORT TOWARD CRITICAL RECRUITING NEEDS, AND
PROVIDING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF RECOGNITION BASED ON THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE CONTRIBUTION.
2. IN ORDER TO EFFECTIVELY ADMINISTER THIS PROGRAM, COMMANDING
OFFICER COAST GUARD RECRUITING COMMAND (CGRC) IS AUTHORIZED TO
DESIGNATE CRITICAL RECRUITING MISSION AREAS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
RECOGNITION UNDER THIS PROGRAM. CRITICAL RECRUITING MISSION AREAS
ELIGIBLE FOR RECOGNITION UNDER THE EVERYONE IS A RECRUITER INCENTIVE
PROGRAM FOR FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2011 ARE DESIGNATED BELOW.
3. CGRC OBJECTIVES AIM TO MEET ACCESSION REQUIREMENTS, MAINTAIN HIGH
QUALITY ACCESSIONS AND STRENGTHEN DIVERSITY IN THE ACTIVE DUTY AND
RESERVE, OFFICER AND ENLISTED WORKFORCES IAW REF B. CRITICAL
RECRUITING NEEDS FOR FY11 INCLUDE:
A. PRIOR SERVICE/TRAINING
B. EDUCATION, POST SECONDARY WITH STEM (BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL)
C. WOMEN
D. LANGUAGE AND SPECIAL SKILLS
E. MINORITIES (RACIAL AND ETHNIC)
4. PERSONAL AWARDS AND SPECIAL RECOGNITION WILL BE PRESENTED TO
MEMBERS WHO HAVE PROVIDED SUBSTANTIAL SUPPORT TOWARDS RECRUITING
DURING OFF-DUTY HOURS AS OUTLINED BELOW:
A. PERSONAL AWARDS: THIS PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO MEET THE HIGH
STANDARDS ESTABLISHED BY REF C. COMMANDING OFFICER, CGRC, IS
THE APPROVING AUTHORITY FOR ALL PERSONAL AWARDS ASSOCIATED WITH
THIS PROGRAM. BASED UPON CRITICAL RECRUITING NEEDS, ALL PERSONAL
AWARDS REFERENCED IN PARAGRAPH 4.C WILL BE APPLY TO:
(1) ALL CG RESERVE ACCESSIONS (BOTH ENLISTED AND OFFICER).
(2) ALL DIRECT COMMISSION OFFICER (DCO) PROGRAM ACCESSIONS (SEE
REF A, CHAP 4.F FOR APPLICABLE DCO PROGRAMS).
(3) ENTRY INTO THE CG ACADEMY CORPS OF CADETS WITH SUCCESSFUL
COMPLETION OF SWAB SUMMER (NOTE: TO BE ELIGIBLE, THE CADET MUST MEET
TWO OF THE FIVE CRITICAL RECRUITING NEEDS OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH 3).
(4) OCS ACCESSIONS (NOTE: TO BE ELIGIBLE, OCS ACCESSIONS MUST MEET
TWO OF THE FIVE CRITICAL RECRUITING NEEDS OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH 3).
(5) ACTIVE DUTY ENLISTED ACCESSIONS (NOTE: TO BE ELIGIBLE, THE ACTIVE
DUTY ENLISTED ACCESSION MUST MEET TWO OF THE FIVE CRITICAL RECRUITING
NEEDS OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH 3).
B. SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF INITIAL TRAINING BY THE APPLICANT
(RECRUIT TRAINING, DIRECT ENTRY PETTY OFFICER TRAINING (DEPOT),
DIRECT COMMISSION OFFICER (DCO), OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL (OCS),
ACADEMY SWAB SUMMER, ETC) IS REQUIRED FOR A CG MEMBER TO RECEIVE
CREDIT FOR AN APPLICANT.
C. CG MEMBERS SUBMITTING REFERRALS FOR APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE
CRITERIA AS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPHS 4.A AND B MAY EARN THE FOLLOWING
AWARDS, ALL OTHERS MAY BE CONSIDERED FOR SPECIAL RECOGNITION AS
OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH 4.C:
(1) THE COMMANDANT'S LETTER OF COMMENDATION (LOC). A LOC WILL BE
AWARDED TO ACTIVE OR RESERVE CG MEMBERS FOLLOWING AN APPLICANTS
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF INITIAL TRAINING. THE AUXILIARY COMMANDANTS
LETTER OF COMMENDATION (ALOC) WILL BE AWARDED TO AUXILIARY MEMBERS.
(2) THE COAST GUARD ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL. AN ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL WILL BE
AWARDED TO ACTIVE OR RESERVE CG MEMBERS FOLLOWING THREE OR MORE
APPLICANTS SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF INITIAL TRAINING WITHIN A 3 YEAR
PERIOD. AUXILIARISTS WILL BE AWARDED THE AUXILIARY ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL
(AAM).
D. SPECIAL RECOGNITION: ACTIVE DUTY MEMBERS WHO SUBMIT REFERRALS FOR
FY11 THAT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR A PERSONAL AWARD BUT MEET AT LEAST ONE
OF THE CRITICAL RECRUITING NEEDS OUTLINED IN PARAGRAPH 3 MAY BE
ELIGIBLE FOR 72 HOURS OF SPECIAL LIBERTY AUTHORIZED IN REF D, ARTICLE
7.B.3. LIBERTY WILL BE AUTHORIZED FOLLOWING THE APPLICANTS SUCCESSFUL
COMPLETION OF INITIAL TRAINING (RECRUIT TRAINING, DEPOT, DCO, OCS,
ACADEMY SWAB SUMMER, ETC). RESERVE MEMBERS INSTRUMENTAL TO AN
APPLICANTS SUCCESSFUL ACCESSION WILL HAVE THEIR NAMES LISTED IN THE
RESERVIST MAGAZINE. CIVILIAN PERSONNEL ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A LETTER OF
COMMENDATION AND AUXILIARISTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE AUXILIARY
CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FROM CGRC FOR EACH SUCCESSFUL ACCESSION,
UP TO ONE PER QUARTER PER FISCAL YEAR. CGRC WILL NOTIFY THE MEMBERS
COMMAND VIA EMAIL OF THIS ACCOMPLISHMENT AND ENTITLEMENT. ACTIVE DUTY
MEMBERS THAT RECEIVE PERSONAL AWARDS FOR AN ACCESSION AS OUTLINED IN
PARAGRAPH 4.B ARE NOT ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE SPECIAL LIBERTY FOR THE
SAME ACCESSION.
5. IN ORDER FOR A MEMBER TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR AN ACCESSION, THE
APPLICANT MUST PROVIDE THE RECRUITER A COMPLETED REFERRAL CONTACT
SHEET DURING THEIR INITIAL MEETING.
6. ALL FY 2011 REFERRALS MADE PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF THIS MESSAGE
WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR AWARDS AND SPECIAL RECOGNITION. ALL FY 2011
REFERRED APPLICANTS WHO PREVIOUSLY CONDUCTED THEIR INITIAL RECRUITER
MEETING PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF THIS MESSAGE, MAY PROVIDE A COMPLETED
CONTACT SHEET TO THEIR RESPECTIVE RECRUITER NO LATER THAN 15
SEPTEMBER 2010 FOR CREDIT TO BE AWARDED. THE REFFERAL CONTACT SHEET
AND COMPLETE AWARD PROCESSING GUIDANCE FOR MEMBERS AND RECRUITERS CAN
BE FOUND IN REF E AT CG PORTAL
HTTPS://CGPORTAL.USCG.MIL/DELIVERY/SATELLITE/CGRC/BRANCHES
7. FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVERYONE IS A RECRUITER
INCENTIVE PROGRAM, CONTACT CGRC ADMIN AT (703) 235-1700 OR
CGR-DG-CGRC-ADMIN (AT) USCG.MIL
8. RELEASED BY CAPT L. A. MATHIEU, COMMANDING OFFICER.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
San Juan CBP Seizes 49 Pellets of Heroin from Swallower
San Juan, P.R. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 0.7 kilograms or 1.54 pounds heroin late yesterday from a U.S. citizen arriving this weekend from La Romana, Dominican Republic.
Ronny Rincon-Pineyro, 27, arrived Saturday at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport on board an American Eagle flight, presenting himself for inspection by CBP.
Rincon-Pineyro was referred to secondary inspection, where he was further interviewed by CBP officers. During the course of the interview by CBP officers, Rincon-Pineyro admitted that he had swallowed narcotics pellets but did not know how many or what they contained.
The defendant was transported to a medical facility where an X-ray was taken by a certified technician who verified the presence of foreign objects the digestive tract.
Under medical supervision, the defendant finalized yesterday the expulsion of 49 pellets of suspected narcotics, which tested positive for heroin.
The custody of the defendant and the seized narcotics was transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation and presentation of criminal charges.
The U.S. Attorney’s office accepted the case for prosecution.
The estimated street value of the seized heroin is $45,000.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.
National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of December 28, 2010
National Guard (in Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of December 28, 2010 This week the Army, Navy and Marine Corps announced a decrease in activated reservists while the Air Force announced an increase. The Coast Guard announced no change. The net collective result is 778 fewer reservists activated than last week. At any given time, services may activate some units and individuals while deactivating others, making it possible for these figures to either increase or decrease. The total number currently on active duty from the Army National Guard and Army Reserve is 72,143; Navy Reserve, 5,790; Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve, 8,310; Marine Corps Reserve, 5,060; and the Coast Guard Reserve, 779. This brings the total National Guard and Reserve personnel who have been activated to 92,082, including both units and individual augmentees. A cumulative roster of all National Guard and Reserve personnel who are currently activated may be found online at http://www.defense.gov/news/d20101228ngr.pdf . | |
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CE teams with CBP, USPIS to intercept counterfeit NHL Winter Classic sportswear Pittsburgh operation nets $100,000 in fake trademarked NHL, NFL items in international mail
The jerseys, hats, T-shirts and other souvenirs were confiscated by agents in the last month as they came into Pittsburgh through various international mail facilities. Although most of the seized items were purporting to be NHL merchandise, agents also seized counterfeit NFL jerseys and fake Ugg boots and counterfeits of brand name shoes, purses and apparel. The seizures are part of a crackdown on intellectual property rights (IPR) violations in the Pittsburgh area as it prepares for the New Year's Day hockey game."Around every major sports event in this country, these unscrupulous entrepreneurs take advantage of fan fever to sell the whole range of products bearing the trademark and names of the teams involved," said John P. Kelleghan, special agent in charge of ICE HSI in Philadelphia. "They use inferior materials to pump out look-alikes that do not benefit the teams, the players or the associations that have trademarked these goods. Counterfeiting hurts the consumer, it hurts business and it costs American jobs."
"The NHL very much appreciates the efforts of ICE, CBP, and USPIS to protect NHL fans from being victimized by counterfeiters and to ensure that legitimate businesses playing by the rules will not be harmed by these illicit activities," said Tom Prochnow, group vice president, legal and business affairs for NHL Enterprises, L.P., the licensing and marketing arm of the National Hockey League.
"Customs and Border Protection serves as America's leading border security agency charged with intercepting counterfeit merchandise and medications, illicit narcotics and fraudulent identity documents at our nation's ports of entry," said Allan Martocci, CBP Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia, senior port to the Port of Pittsburgh. "CBP remains committed to working with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to protect American consumers against products that hurt us and that hurt American businesses."
"The Postal Inspection Service and Immigration and Customs Enforcement have pooled resources to intercept and investigate the shipment of counterfeit merchandise being sent through the U.S. Mail. Our goal is to protect postal customers from receiving goods that are not authentic and to eliminate the criminal enterprises that utilize the mail in furtherance of these schemes," said Robin Dalgleish, inspector in charge of the USPIS Pittsburgh Division. "The Pittsburgh area is well known for the success of its professional sports teams. With the Winter Classic about to be played here, we anticipated that scammers selling counterfeit jerseys would step up their efforts to defraud area residents, as we also step up our efforts to conduct these interdictions."
In the last month, ICE special agents working with CBP officers and USPIS inspectors, scanned the mails for the counterfeit merchandise and detained them for further investigation.
In 2009, ICE and its partners seized goods with a total domestic value of more than $260 million. Last year, during the holidays, ICE, its federal, state and local partners and the government of Mexico seized more than $26 million worth of products in locations around the United States.
As the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, ICE HSI plays a leading role in targeting criminal organizations responsible for producing, smuggling, and distributing counterfeit products. ICE HSI focuses not only on keeping counterfeit products off U.S. streets, but also on dismantling the criminal organizations behind this activity.
ICE manages the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, which plays a pivotal role in the U.S. government's domestic and international law enforcement attack on IPR violations.
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