Help Sitemap Home Skip Navigation Contact Us Disability Statement


'Aladdin's Cave' of drugs online

Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image
Click on thumbnail to view image

Published Date: 30 January 2008
By KIRSTY URQUHART
A BUSINESSMAN wanted by US authorities who say he sold banned chemicals via the internet has denied running an "Aladdin's Cave" for drug-makers.
Brian Howes, 44, denied using his chemical company as a front for the sale of substances used to produce the Class A drug methamphetamine, or crystal meth.

He also claimed not to know the chemicals, red phosphorous and iodine, were being used to make the drug in the US even though he had a recipe for it on his computer.

Howes and Kerry-Ann Shanks, 29, are fighting extradition to the US, where authorities want to try them on 82 charges. Both deny wrongdoing.

At an extradition hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court yesterday, Howes said he had lived in Texas and Arkansas for four years, but returned to the UK in 1994. The couple moved to Bo-ness, West Lothian, in 2005 and ran the business from Grangemouth, until their 2007 arrest.

Howes said the online chemical business had made $133,000 (£67,000) over a three-year period, and said chemicals he bought for 60p were sold for £20, a 1,500 per cent mark-up.

If convicted in the US, the pair could face 20 years in jail.

The hearing continues.



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 29 January 2008 11:04 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Selgovae,

Scottish Borders 30/01/2008 07:46:28
Leaving aside whether this pair knew what the chemicals were used for, there is an important principle involved. How can we tolerate someone being extradited for an activity that takes place in this country and is not illegal here. It's completely unreasonable.


2

ddmc,

30/01/2008 08:23:24
#1 because we signed a one sided extradition treaty with the US
3

Selgovae,

Scottish Borders 30/01/2008 08:39:09
#2

It's strange that this article is put on the International pages and not the Scottish ones. (Unless I've missed it.) I remember the McKinnon computer-hacking case. It makes me wonder how many other cases may have slipped under the carpet.

On the face of it, it seems such a blatant breach of basic rights that I wonder if I'm missing the "benefits" of this law. Surely our government couldn't agree to something that throws our rights away. :-)
4

Guthrie,

Edinburgh 30/01/2008 09:02:21
Well, there was supposed to be a matching "kidnap anyone you want" agreement for the UK to get people from the USA, but oddly enough, the USA'ians didn't agree to it. Leaving us looking silly.

In this case, I'm afraid that having a recipe for crystal meth on your computer is not a good sign, but then again that does not prove you were willingly selling it to people to make drugs.
5

Selgovae,

Scottish Borders 30/01/2008 09:12:02
Is the one-sided nature of this agreement not a bit of a red herring? Even if both sides agreed to it, the basic injustice is still there. If the activity is not illegal in the country where it took place, how can another country seek extradition?



6

Guthrie,

Edinburgh 30/01/2008 10:59:56
Yes, you have a point there. I don't know much about it all, so classify it as "stuff that isn't right but nobody's quite worked out what to do about it".
I would have thought that this could count as restriction of free trade, or something.
7

Aoda,

Pennsylvania Wilds 30/01/2008 15:50:14
Seems like it will be the lawyers that cross the "T's" and dot the "i's".

What I don't understand is why a country would agree to another to extradite their citizens for a crime and not have the other country recripocate especially if that action is not illegal in the host country.
8

henrymanchester,

UK 30/01/2008 22:08:31
Whats the bet that coward Gordon Brown bends over for the Americans as usual on this?

 

Comment on this Story

 

In order to post comments you must Register or Sign In

 
 
RSS Feed of this article's comments
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
 
  

 
 


Sister Newspapers:
Press Complaints Commission

This website and its associated newspaper adheres to the Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then contact the Editor by clicking here.

If you remain dissatisfied with the response provided then you can contact the PCC by clicking here.