United States Drug Enforcement Administration

MIAMI - The Drug Enforcement (DEA), Miami Field Division working in conjunction with the Palm Beach Sheriff’s (PBSO), Broward County Sheriff’s (BSO), Hendry County Sheriff’s (HCSO), Pembroke Pines Police (PPPD), City of Miami Gardens Police (MGPD), and the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution conducted an investigation into an organized synthetic drug trafficking (DTO).  This eight month investigation dubbed “Operation Synthetic Web” culminated today with the arrests of 15 individuals. These individuals were involved in the sale and distribution of large quantities of leaf based and liquid based synthetic cannabinoid products throughout Palm Beach, Broward, Miami Dade, Marion, Manatee and Hendry counties. 

Since April 2014, agents have conducted 11 undercover purchases of synthetic cannabinoid products from several convenience stores in Broward County.  One of them, Kwik Convenience Store located at 199 W Hillsboro Boulevard, Deerfield Beach, FL, owned and operated by the leaders of this DTO, Durgham Suleiman and his brothers Othman Suleiman and Wakas Suleiman.  This business was utilized as the main base for their operation. 

During the investigation, agents also seized approximately 80 kilograms of leaf based synthetic cannabinoid (spice), with a street value of approximately $200,000, and 4,000 vials of liquid based synthetic cannabinoid products with a street value of approximately $160,000.  Laboratory analysis of the drugs found the substances to contain XLR-11, AB-PINACA and AB-FUBINACA. XLR-11 is a schedule 1 Controlled Substances and both AB-PINACA and AB-FUBINACA were outlawed by an Emergency Order, on October 9, 2013, by Attorney General Pam Bondi.    

During the investigation, agents identified other members of the Suleiman DTO.  Maisar Atalla and Mustafa Abdelhamid are identified as the suppliers of the leaf based synthetic cannabinoid products, namely “Cloud Nine”, “WTF”, and “Bomb Marley” brands.  Israel Chaim Nachmoni has been identified as the supplier of a liquid based synthetic cannabinoid product known as “Diablo.”  Diablo is designed to be used in e-cigarettes/vaporizers.  These synthetic drugs are known to cause psychotic episodes, hallucinations, seizures, paranoia, tremors and more.

Agents also learned that this DTO was dealing in stolen property obtained by Donvelles Cornelius Stone and Charlisa Nicole Franklin from Lowe’s Home Improvement Centers throughout Florida.  Investigators have determined that this organization deprived victims of at least $37,126.84 in stolen appliances and home goods.  

Defendants and Charges -

1.         Durgham (Parkland, 37)

Charge(s):
            Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(3)
            Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(4)
            Money Laundering First Degree, Fla. Stat. §896.101(3)(a)1. & 2.a.
            Sell/Deliver/Possess with Intent a Controlled Substance, Fla. Stat. §893.13
            Grand Theft, Fla. Stat. §812.014
            Dealing in Stolen Property, Fla. Stat. §812.019
            Attempt to Introduce contraband into a detention facility, Fla. Stat. §951.22
            Unlawful use of a two-way communications device, Fla. Stat. §934.215
 
2.         Othman (Boynton Beach, 36) 
Charge(s):
            Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(3)
            Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(4)
            Money Laundering First Degree, Fla. Stat. §896.101(3)(a)1. & 2.a.
            Sell/Deliver/Possess with Intent a Controlled Substance, Fla. Stat. §893.13
            Grand Theft, Fla. Stat. §812.014
            Dealing in Stolen Property, Fla. Stat. §812.019
            Unlawful use of a two-way communications device, Fla. Stat. §934.215  

3.         Wakas ( Greenacres, 38)
Charge(s):
            Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(3)
            Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(4)
            Money Laundering First Degree, Fla. Stat. §896.101(3)(a)1. & 2.a.
            Sell/Deliver/Possess with Intent a Controlled Substance, Fla. Stat. §893.13
            Unlawful use of a two-way communications device, Fla. Stat. §934.215  

4.         Maisar Omar (Pembroke Pines, 52)
Charge(s):
            Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(3)
            Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(4)
            Sell/Deliver/Possess with Intent a Controlled Substance, Fla. Stat. §893.13
            Unlawful use of a two-way communications device, Fla. Stat. §934.215   

5.         Salah Ismail (Ocala, 53)
Charge(s):
            Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(4)
            Sell/Deliver/Possess with Intent a Controlled Substance, Fla. Stat. §893.13

6.         Mustafa Muhammad (Pembroke Pines, 34)
Charge(s):
            Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(4)
Sell/Deliver/Possess with Intent a Controlled Substance, Fla. Stat. §893.13
            Unlawful use of a two-way communications device, Fla. Stat. §934.215)
  
7.         Yihad Atallah (Pembroke Pines, 22)                   
Charge(s):
            Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(4)
Sell/Deliver/Possess with Intent a Controlled Substance, Fla. Stat. §893.13

8.         Thomas Edwin (Broward Co Jail, 46)
Charge(s):       
Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(4)  Attempt to Introduce contraband into a detention facility, Fla. Stat. §951.(1)
            Unlawful use of a two-way communications device, Fla. Stat. §934.215

9.         Ziad Rida (Coconut Creek, 25)
(s):
            Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(3)
            Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(4) 
Sell/Deliver/Possess with Intent a Controlled Substance, Fla. Stat. §893.13 Unlawful use of a two-way communications device, Fla. Stat. §934.215

10.       Ameen Basen (Coconut Creek, 26)          
(s):
            Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(3)
            Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(4)
            Sell/Deliver/Possess with Intent a Controlled Substance, Fla. Stat. §893.13
            Unlawful use of a two-way communications device, Fla. Stat. §934.215

11.       Israel Chaim (Aventura, 23)             
(s):
            Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(3)
            Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(4)
            Sell/Deliver/Possess with Intent a Controlled Substance, Fla. Stat. §893.13
            Unlawful use of a two-way communications device, Fla. Stat. §934.215

12.       Abed (Coconut Creek, 52)             
(s):
            Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(3)
            Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(4)
            Sell/Deliver/Possess with Intent a Controlled Substance, Fla. Stat. §893.13
            Unlawful use of a two-way communications device, Fla. Stat. §934.215

13.       Charlisa Nicole (Riviera Beach, 30)
(s):
            Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(4
            Grand Theft, Fla. Stat. § 812.014
            Dealing in Stolen Property, Fla. Stat. §812.019
            Unlawful use of a two-way communications device, Fla. Stat. §934.215

14.       Donvelles Cornelius (Deerfield Beach, 36)
(s):
            Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(4) (1 Count)
            Grand Theft, Fla. Stat. § 812.014
            Dealing in Stolen Property, Fla. Stat. §812.019
            Unlawful use of a two-way communications device, Fla. Stat. §934.215

15.  Mahmoud Musa (Boca Raton, 34)
(s):
            Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Fla. Stat. §895.03(4) (1 Count)
            Sell/Deliver/Possess with Intent a Controlled Substance, Fla. Stat. §893.13

This investigation was conducted by the DEA, PBSO Narcotics Task Force, BSO, HCSO, PPPD, and the Attorney General’s Office of Statewide Prosecution.