The US Treasury has sanctioned an Australian man linked to global narcotics trafficking, highlighting ongoing international drug trade issues.
Wellington: So, here’s the scoop. An Australian guy named David Jonathan Thackray just got hit with sanctions from the US. They say he’s involved in the global drug trade, which is a pretty big deal.
Thackray, along with a New Zealander named Ho Kai Leung, is one of 12 people and eight entities that the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac) has sanctioned. They’re cracking down on what they call “global narcotics traffickers.”
Now, Thackray isn’t the only Aussie on this list. He’s one of three Australians currently facing these sanctions. The thing is, you don’t need to be convicted of a crime to end up on this list, which is a bit wild.
According to Ofac, Thackray has been involved in activities that could seriously contribute to the spread of illegal drugs. They even mentioned a past incident where he tried to bring nearly a kilogram of cocaine into New Zealand back in 2014, which landed him in jail.
Leung, the New Zealand guy, has his own issues too. He’s been convicted for dealing with meth and amphetamines and is linked to two companies that are also facing sanctions.
Ofac didn’t stop there. They also went after some Lithuanian nationals who are allegedly involved in trafficking cocaine and meth, along with money laundering. It’s a whole network they’re trying to dismantle.
They pointed out that drug traffickers make a lot more money by moving drugs to places like Australia and New Zealand, which makes the risks worth it for them.
These guys have been coordinating big shipments of narcotics from Central and South America to various places, including Europe and the US. It’s a serious operation.
One of the Lithuanian guys, Karpavicius, has been arrested multiple times for drug-related stuff since the 90s. He’s also been accused of laundering money from drug trafficking. The other guy, Labutis, was recently arrested on an Interpol notice for drug trafficking.
With these sanctions, any of their properties or businesses in the US are now blocked, and any transactions involving them are off-limits. It’s a tough stance, but it’s all part of the fight against drug trafficking.
