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News
Release
November 3, 2003
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Elizabeth Jordan
Drug Enforcement Administration
(212) 337-2906
3
DEFENDANTS EXTRADITED FROM ISRAEL TO STAND TRIAL FOR CONSPIRING TO DISTRIBUTE
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ECSTASY PILLS
NOV 3--ANTHONY
P. PLACIDO, Special Agent-in-Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration,
New York, today announced the extradition from Israel to the Eastern District
of New York, three Israeli citizens who are accused of conspiring to distribute
hundreds of thousands of tablets of MDMA (commonly known as "ecstasy")
in the New York area, including 500,000 pills that were seized by law
enforcement in Brooklyn in late 2000. The defendants, ITZHAK COHEN, AVRAHAM
HEKSCH and YAIR COHEN, were flown to New York in the custody of officers
of the Israel National Police ("INP") late last week. Their
preliminary appearances are scheduled today before United States Magistrate
Judge Viktor V. Pohorelsky, at the U. S. Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza
East, Brooklyn, New York.
The defendants have
been in custody in Israel since October 31, 2001, when they were arrested
at the request of the United States pursuant to an extradition treaty
with Israel. In 1999, Israel amended its laws to permit the extradition
of its nationals to other countries to stand trial for crimes committed
overseas. The extradition proceedings in this case were among the first
to the United States following that amendment to involve Israeli nationals
accused of narcotics trafficking.
In November 2000,
DEA Special Agents, NYSP Investigators and NYPD Detectives assigned to
the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force were surveilling an individual
on suspicion of MDMA trafficking, and at various times during a 24-hour
period observed the defendants enter the coconspirator's residence in
Brooklyn and then depart. Shortly thereafter, agents seized approximately
5,000 ecstasy pills contained in a shopping bag carried by the coconspirator,
and nearly 500,000 ecstasy pills -- the second largest seizure ever in
New York City -- from his house and car. According to the complaint and
other court submissions, following these seizures, the defendants immediately
fled to Israel.
Subsequent to his
arrest, the coconspirator identified ITZHAK COHEN and AVRAHAM HEKSCH as
his drug suppliers, and YAIR COHEN as his customer/distributor. The complaint
and court documents allege that since early 2000, ITZHAK COHEN and AVRAHAM
HEKSCH supplied the coconspirator with hundreds of thousands of ecstasy
pills on consignment, including the 500,000 pills seized in November,
2000.
In May 2001, arrest
warrants for the defendants were issued in the Eastern District of New
York. On October 31, 2001, INP officers, accompanied by Task Force agents,
apprehended all three defendants at their homes in Givat'ayim, a suburb
of Tel Aviv.
During nearly two
years of extradition litigation in Israel, the defendants unsuccessfully
appealed twice to the Israel Supreme Court. Following the second of the
two appeals, on August 7, 2003, the Israel Supreme Court held that the
evidence submitted by the United States was more than sufficient under
the terms of the treaty and upheld the lower court's order of extradition.
"We congratulate
the government of Israel for its cooperation in this case," stated
DEA Special Agent-in-Charge, ANTHONY P. PLACIDO. "Only through such
cooperation can the fight against transnational crime succeed. This case
provides a concrete example and puts transnational criminals on notice
that we will take all the lawful steps necessary to bring drug traffickers
to justice."
The defendants are
charged with possessing with intent to distribute MDMA and conspiracy.
If convicted, they each face a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment
and a fine of $1 million.
The government's
case is being prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office Eastern
District of New York. Assistance in the extradition requests was provided
by Blair Berman, a Trial Attorney in the Office of International Affairs,
United States Department of Justice.
The Defendants:
ITZHAK COHEN, a/k/a
"Isaac"
DOB: 03/06/69
Givat'ayim, Israel
AVRAHAM HEKSCH, a/k/a
"Schultz"
DOB: 07/17/68
Givat'ayim, Israel
YAIR COHEN
DOB: 07/11/47
Givat'ayim, Israel
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