United States Drug Enforcement Administration

HARTFORD, Conn. - John J. Arvanitis, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration for New England and Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that Raibwar Raouf, also known as “Camel,” of Hartford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Robert N. Chatigny in Hartford to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for attempting to purchase three kilograms of heroin from an undercover officer.

According to court documents and statements made in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration received information that Raouf was a significant distributor of heroin in the Hartford area, and that he was looking for a new source of heroin supply.  On June 12, 2012, Raouf traveled to a diner in the Bronx, New York, to meet with an undercover law enforcement officer who was posing as a large-scale heroin trafficker.  Raouf arranged to purchase three kilograms of heroin from the undercover officer for $55,000 per kilogram.  Raouf agreed to give the officer approximately $120,000 as a down payment at the time of the initial purchase, and would pay the balance of $45,000 within three days of the purchase.  On July 17, 2012, Raouf and the undercover officer met at a diner in Stamford to further discuss the heroin transaction.

Raouf and the undercover officer subsequently agreed to conduct the heroin transaction on July 31, 2012.  On that date, Raouf’s girlfriend, Lillian Compres, withdrew $120,000 from a safety deposit box at a bank in East Hartford and provided the money to Raouf.  Raouf then packed the cash in two VCR cases and placed the VCR cases in the trunk of Compres’s car.  RAOUF then drove his car to the diner in Stamford, and Compres followed Raouf in her car.

Raouf and Compres met the undercover officer at the diner but, after Raouf and Compres feared there was police presence in the area, they and the undercover officer traveled a short distance north on Interstate 95 to a restaurant parking lot.  Raouf and Compres were arrested at that time.

Raouf has been detained since his arrest.  On July 1, 2013, he pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.

Compres has pleaded guilty to a related charge and awaits sentencing.

Raouf was ordered to forfeit $120,000 in U.S. currency that was seized from the trunk of Compres’ car, and an additional $58,000 in U.S. currency that was seized from the safety box held in Compres’ name.

This matter was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration with assistance from the Office of the Special Narcotics Prosecutor for the City of New York.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey M. Stone.