Oooh! Drug Bust on the Magic!

[TigH]

Just saw this on a local news website! (http://www.wftv.com) Ok, and technically the bust didn't happen ON the ship...

09/17/02) There's a major drug bust in South Florida involving the Disney cruise ship, "Magic." We're told the "Magic" left Port Canaveral on Saturday. But, on Sunday as it docked in Key West, a passenger was arrested, carrying more than 30 pounds of cocaine. The U.S. attorney's office confirms 2 arrests. They say a man by the name of Richard Fontenot boarded the ship at Port Canaveral with the drugs. U.S. customs officials got a tip that he may be involved in a drug deal. Authorities say Fontenot got off the ship in Key West, wearing a backpack. He met another man in a vehicle. Both consented to a search, and that's when customs officials seized the cocaine, valued at about a quarter of a million dollars on the street. Customs officials would not comment, except to say the investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are pending.

WOW! It's amazing what people will try these days! The guy should have just driven to Key West if he didn't want to get caught. Sheesh!

I'm sure this will be the talk of the ship, especially when he doesn't show up for dinner.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

Yep, some people will do anything! This would make more sense if he were coming BACK from out of the country. What sort of moron "smuggles" cocaine from US port to US port using a cruise ship?

Oh wait, I think I just answered my own question!

Deb

 

[4nana]

Yikes....looks like someone has some questions to answer. How did he even board the ship on Saturday w/ quarter million dollars in drugs on him/or in his luggage?

 

[Willowwind]

Sounds to me like the customs officials and the Magic knew exactaly what they were doing. If they hadn't let him on the ship, they couldn't have followed him to make the bust for anything more than possession. This way they knew just where he'd be, were able to follow him, caught his cohort as well and I'm sure were able to level more serious charges.

 

[mmouse37]

WoW!!!!!!

 

[BeanoC]

Maybe we'll get to see this one on "World's Dumbest Criminals"

LOL




'Beano'

 

[DreamsDoComeTrue]

and they didn't try pulling the ol' "No, this is just our Pixie Dust" line ???

 

["Ginger"]

Nothing like taking your work on vacation with you. I hope there were no kids left behind. Wonder why he did Fed Ex it???? LOL

 

[taswira]

Willowwind - On the one hand I agree with you that DCL knew what it was doing, that the drug-sniffing dogs maybe caught it in checked luggage, and that they arranged for him to be caught in Key West. But on the other hand, that doesn't make sense. Suppose he had been dealing with someone else on the ship, passing it on to another guy, or (far less feasible) putting it in something and throwing it overboard for someone else to pick up in a certain area. I don't know. It's just strange.

 

[cruisinpenguin]

The new line of cocaine......Pixie Dust!! that is too funny. People just don't think I guess...or feel that are untouchable. I'm glad customs caught him....it's just too bad he had to be a passenger on the Magic.

 

[4nana]

taswira ~ that's what I was thinking....
Remember, just last May they arrested 3 CM's w/cocaine on Magic

 

[taswira]

That's right, 4nana. With all the international CM's onboard, well, who knows? I'm sure DCL tries to keep a close watch on everyone.

 

[Samsma]

Let's use this to remind ourselves that not everybody on the Disney Ships are nice people, and that maybe we shouldn't let our children have quite so much freedom as they would like.

 

[Fawn]

Originally posted by Samsma
Let's use this to remind ourselves that not everybody on the Disney Ships are nice people, and that maybe we shouldn't let our children have quite so much freedom as they would like.

Great point!! I treat the ship as I do a neighborhood...good and bad everywhere, and I'm still very careful with my kids' safety.

As far as drugs go, I had already counseled all of our kids on the streets of Mexico...never thought I had to mention the people on board also! Geeeshhh...

 

[rae519]

Right-o Fawn! We all need to remember to watch our children - even those that are in the double digits!

Rae

 

[nearlychildless]

Most certainly those in double digits!

 

[zurgswife]

WOW!!!!!

 

[RellingTwin]

I will bet when the story comes out, that the man boarded in PC picked up the drugs on board from a crew member, then got off in KW to pass the drugs on. They probably thought they were being very sly. I'll bet the man had no intention of re-boarding. With that quanity of drugs, this was a planned operation (maybe one that has worked before??). I'm glad they stopped the drugs from getting on the street.

 

[taswira]

Good thinking, RellingTwin! If there was not a CM involved, it would seem pointless to have taken a Disney ship!

 

[4nana]

RellingTwin...
That was my first thought too, but I'm trying to think positive.
Would not like to think one of the CM's who serves our family or plays with my grands would be doing, selling drugs