Big second half lifts Baruch men past Raptors

CAMDEN

, N.J

. (

Dec. 9

, 201

) –

Baruch College junior guard Adnan Bajrami scored 25 of his game-high 30 points in the second half to rally the Bearcats past Rutgers University-Camden, 71-59, in a non-conference

men’s basketball game here Monday night.

Baruch improves to 5-2 with its second straight victory, while Rutgers-Camden falls to 3-5 with its fourth consecutive loss.

The Bearcats and Scarlet Raptors have played

a non-conference game for

three straight

seasons, with Baruch winning

all three games.

Behind six points from sophomore forward

Jake Petrik,

the Scarlet Raptors raced to a quick 12-3 lead to open the game. They led by as many as 10 points (15-5) before the Bearcats whittled the lead down to one on two occasions in the opening half (25-24 and 30-29).

Rutgers-Camden took a 32-29 lead into the break, but Baruch came out in the second half and scored the first four points on a layup by Bajrami and a layup by freshman guard Sean Donnellan. That gave the Bearcats their first lead of the night, 33-32. The lead changed hands four more times and the score was tied twice

before a three-pointer by Bajrami gave Baruch the lead for good, 49-46, and sparked a seven-point Bearcat run. Bajrami had five points in that sequence.

Baruch took a double-digit lead at 61-50 on a layup by Donnellan and kept the margin in double figures the rest of the way, with the biggest margin coming at 71-56.

Bajrami shot 12-for-17 from the floor, including 4-for-8 from three-point range, and also led the Bearcats with seven rebounds and a game-high five steals. Donnellan added 14 points for the visitors.

Senior forward

Isaac Destin

paced the Scarlet Raptors with 17 points and a game-high 11 rebounds for a double-double. He also added six assists to tie teammate

Arian Azemi,

a junior guard, for game-high honors.

Azemi finished with 16 points and nine boards, while

Petrik

had 12 points on 4-for-8 shooting from three-point range.

Baruch shot 25-for-55 from the floor (45.5 percent), while Rutgers-Camden shot 20-for-48 (41.7). Although the Scarlet Raptors had a 35-30 edge off the boards, they also made 30 turnovers to the Bearcats’ 20.

The Scarlet Raptors

play one more game before the holiday break. They host Kean University Saturday at 3 p.m. in a New Jersey Athletic Conference contest.

Gray Fox Animal Hospital Gifts A Vest This Holiday Season

Veterinarians to Donate to K9 Unit

Woodbury Heights, N.J.—

One officer in the Woodbury PD will walk the streets a bit safer next week. Recon, a Czech Shepherd being handled by Patrolman Mitchell has just been fitted for his custom K9 Tactical Gear vest. Husband and wife veterinarians, Doctors Lee and Bernadette Spector, VMDs, will present the vest to Recon on December 11 at 12:30 p.m. on the grounds of the animal hospital.

The Gray Fox staff knows how important a ballistic vest can be for the officers of the K9 unit. \”We are thrilled to donate another vest to help protect Recon,” Dr. Bernadette Spector remarked. “We love knowing that the vests protect against knife and bullet wounds while the K9s protect Woodbury.” In 2017, K9 Evo, also of Woodbury City PD received a vest due to the generosity of Gray Fox. The doctors previously donated to a K9 in West Deptford.

The K9 unit of the Woodbury PD has quite a history; it was first established in 1908. Chief Tom Ryan successfully re-established the K9 unit in 2016 and Patrolman Tim Mitchell will join Patrolman Sheehan as the second K9 officer in Woodbury. In fact, Patrolman Mitchell’s ultimate goal in becoming a police officer was to work in the K9 unit. So, this is a dream come true for him. He and Recon graduated from the Atlantic County John “Sonny” Burke K9 Academy in March of this year.

The public, Woodbury mayor, council and others are invited to meet Recon and Patrolman Mitchell on December 11 at 12:30 p.m. at Gray Fox Animal Hospital, located at 207 Glassboro Rd, Woodbury Heights.

What happens when you’re in police custody?

olive-wolverine-471793.hostingersite.com(Dec. 10, 2019)–It may be that, unfortunately, some of us will find ourselves in police custody during our lifetime. It can be a scary experience – not only for the person involved, but for their friends and family as well. So, what can you do?

This is just some of the information that you might find useful if you or a loved one has been placed under arrest. It may be helpful to you in some situations, but you may also wish to consult a lawyer before you decide on your next course of action.

What is detention?

This is typically when

law enforcement officers temporarily stop someone in a public place

, and don’t move them to another location. This can be to:

Ask the person to justify their presence and activity at that location

Identify themselves

This may happen if, for example, someone is loitering or acting suspiciously in an area that’s known for drug sales – so the officers may detain this person for questioning. If the officers have reasonable suspicion that the person may be dangerous, they may do a ‘pat down’ to search for weapons. They can go into pockets or bags without permission but, if they feel something, they may believe is a weapon, they can reach for it.

Other ways to search someone may include sniffer dogs, a metal detector, or a computer search for any outstanding warrants. A detention stop allows law enforcement officers to determine whether a suspect should be arrested, investigated further, or take no action. The officers don’t have to inform someone of their rights.

What does being arrested mean?

Law enforcement officers need probable cause to arrest someone, and a reasonable person would not feel free to leave because of the actions of the officers. The person is then taken into custody, and this could mean the person is taken to a police station or the person believes they will not be able to leave within a short time period.

Once arrested, the person must be advised of their rights by the officers before being questioned. This will include their right to remain silent, to have an attorney present during questioning, and to have an attorney provided by the state if they cannot afford one themselves.

A person also has rights to having a reasonable bail imposed

, to see a judge promptly, and to know about the charges against them.

When are you in custody?

Circumstances that suggest you’re in custody include:

Being physically restrained or handcuffed

Whether an officer informs you that you’re free to leave

Your personal property is retained by an officer (e.g. driver’s license)

If there’s a show of force, e.g. loud comments, drawn weapons

If you are in custody, and bail has been set, then you may wish to use a

bail bondsman

. This means that you can get help to post a bond and deal with the other expenses related to incarceration – and you can be released from custody within one to three hours after the bond is posted.

Being in custody isn’t a pleasant experience, but by understanding exactly what it means and what you and your loved ones can do to help, you can hopefully move past the troubling experience sooner rather than later.

NJ Senator Declan O’Scanlon Wants Stronger Animal Cruelty Law

TRENTON, NJ –Senator Declan O’Scanlon (R-Monmouth) called for action on stricter animal cruelty laws following news that the man who left a pit bull named River in a cage to drown in the Shrewsbury River was found not guilty of attempting to kill the dog.

“Something clearly needs to change when a person can leave a dog trapped in a cage to be drowned by the rising tide but not be convicted of attempting to kill that animal. It is simply barbaric,” said O’Scanlon. “While I’m glad he was found guilty of fourth-degree animal cruelty at the very least, we need to do more. What happened to River and the outcome of this case highlights that action must be taken.”

Following last year’s news of River’s case, O’Scanlon introduced “River’s Law”,

S-3453

, in February. His legislation establishes a second degree crime of aggravated animal abuse.

“We have a good starting point with River’s Law but there are further changes that need to be made to help clarify existing statutes so that we don’t have this sort of legal confusion surrounding the ‘attempt to kill,’” O’Scanlon added. “Even though It’s clear to many of us what this attempt was, it seems it’s not as clear on the legal end. We are going to work with the SPCA to reintroduce a new version of River’s Law to deal with the issues that came out of River’s case. I hope that my legislative colleagues will join me in the effort.”

WINNERS OF ANNUAL PATH HOLIDAY POSTER CONTEST

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP, PATH AND THE JERSEY CITY BOARD OF EDUCATION

A poster depicting a PATH train encircled by a holiday wreath was selected as the grand-prize winner in this year’s PATH Holiday Poster contest – the 30th year the annual contest has been held as part of a vibrant partnership between PATH and the Jersey City Board of Education.

The winner, sixth-grader Lawrence Ballesteros from M.S. 7, will have his artwork featured in PATH stations and in rail cars throughout the holiday season. He was selected in the 6th-8th grade category, one of three categories used to judge contestants.

The other finalists were Polina Sobolev, a second-grader from P.S. 3, representing the K-2nd grade group, and fifth-grader Caidence Ramirez of P.S. 38, who took home the prize in the 3rd-5th grade category. They will also have their seasonal depictions displayed in PATH stations during the holidays.

Click

here

to view the winning posters.

This year’s event held this morning in the concourse area of PATH headquarters at Journal Square, featured presentations by PATH leaders and representatives from Jersey City, as well as a musical performance by the Psaltis Chamber Choir of the Jersey City ARTS Vocal Program. The competition this year was fierce, with more than 500 entries reviewed by a panel of judges.

“This is an annual highlight for PATH,” said PATH General Manager/Director Clarelle DeGraffe. “We’re grateful to all of the talented students, their teachers and our partners at the Jersey City Board of Education who have helped us make this event a holiday season highlight for three decades.”

“PATH has honored the Jersey City Public Schools in supporting and providing this wonderful experience annually during the most joyful season of the year, the holidays,” said Ann Marley, the Jersey City board’s District Supervisor for Visual and Performing Arts. “On behalf of the thousands of students guided by their art teachers who have participated over the past 30 years in the PATH Holiday Poster Contest, thank you for affording them to the opportunity to share the beauty of art.”

Each of the winners received four tickets to the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and complimentary 10-trip PATH SmartLink cards provided by the Port Authority to get the winners and their families to and from the show. The winners also were awarded $50 American Express gift cards and art supplies from the Jersey City Visual and Performing Arts Department.

Contact:

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

212-435-7777

Founded in 1921, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey builds, operates, and maintains many of the most important transportation and trade infrastructure assets in the country. The agency’s network of aviation, ground, rail, and seaport facilities is among the busiest in the country, supports more than 550,000 regional jobs, and generates more than $23 billion in annual wages and $80 billion in annual economic activity. The Port Authority also owns and manages the 16-acre World Trade Center site, where the 1,776-foot-tall One World Trade Center is now the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere. The Port Authority receives no tax revenue from either the State of New York or New Jersey or from the City of New York. The agency raises the necessary funds for the improvement, construction or acquisition of its facilities primarily on its own credit. For more information, please visit

http://www.panynj.gov

The Best CBD Gummies – Review and Buying Guide

(olive-wolverine-471793.hostingersite.com)(Dec. 10, 2019)–We, here at

MarijuanaBreak

, will stop at nothing to find the

best CBD gummies

out there. We recognize that there are a lot of great brands with top-quality products to choose from. However, in our opinion, the CBD gummies in this article represent one of the best

CBD Products

available.

What makes these CBD gummies great? Well, for starters, they are made by some of the most successful brands in the CBD industry. Also, they tick a lot of boxes when it comes to quality and purity. These brands are big believers in transparency; that’s why they provide independent third-party lab-testing results for all of their products.

While transparency is hugely important, there are some other vital factors that potential buyers should consider before making a purchase. We recommend opting for brands whose products contain less than 0.3% THC. Ideally, you should look for CBD gummies made from CBD isolates, which are 100% THC-free.

We also recommend that you choose companies that use solventless extraction methods, such as supercritical CO2 extraction. This ensures that you won’t have to be concerned about any residual solvents in the CBD gummies you are eating.

All of the CBD gummies in this list are sourced from organically-grown, non-GMO hemp, which means they are free from herbicides and pesticides too.

When making your choice, you will also need to consider why you want to consume CBD gummies in the first place. Are you looking for the best CBD gummies for pain? Are you looking for CBD gummies to help you sleep? Or do you simply want to consume CBD gummies as a dietary supplement?

Whatever your needs might be, we hope that this list will help you to make up your mind. Check out these tasty CBD gummies from some of the top brands out there.

Green Roads – CBD Froggie 25mg ($4.95)

If you are looking for a reputable brand, then a great place to start is with Green Roads. They are an award-winning CBD company with over 10,000 retail locations. Not only that; according to the Brightfield Research Group, Green Roads is the largest privately-owned CBD company in America.

Green Roads offer a wide range of CBD gummies, which come in a variety of different shapes, flavors, and CBD concentrations. Many of these are formulated to help relieve specific conditions. For example, Green Roads CBD Sleepy Z’s contain 0.5mg melatonin per gummy and are intended for nighttime use as a sleep aid.

Green Roads describe its CBD Froggies as their “flagship edible product.” According to Green Roads, its 25mg On The Go! Froggies are pharmacist-formulated, supercritical

CO2-extracted

and triple

lab-tested

to ensure what’s on the label is what’s in the package.”

These On The Go! Froggies are a great place to start if you are trying out CBD gummies for the first time.

Pure Kana – CBD Vegan Gummies 500mg Bottle ($40)

As you can see from the price, these CBD gummies by Pure Kana are at the premium end of the market. So, what are you getting for your hard-earned money? Well, this bottle contains 20 gummies, and each one is packed with 25mg of CBD.

All of Pure Kana’s CBD gummies are sourced from a 99% pure CBD isolate, which is 100% THC-free. They are 100% vegan, and non-GMO, too.

Premium Jane – CBD Gummies 750mg ($55)

These premium-end CBD gummies are from the appropriately-named Premium Jane company.

The reason for the higher price is that Premium Jane’s bottle contains 750mg, whereas Pure Kana’s contains 500mg. In simple terms, Premium Jane’s bottle contains 30 CBD gummies, and Pure Kana’s contains 20 CBD gummies.

Premium Jane’s CBD gummies, just like Pure Kana’s, are made from a 99% CBD isolate, which is 100% THC-free. Also, like Pure Kana’s CBD gummies, each Premium Jane gummy contains 25mg CBD.

The similarities between these two brand’s CBD gummies do not stop there either. Premium Jane’s CBD gummies are also 100% vegan and non-GMO. They are organic and free from pesticides, solvents, and chemical fertilizers. Furthermore, Premium Jane’s CBD gummies are lab-tested for safety, purity, and potency.

Whether you opt for Premium Jane’s CBD gummies is largely a matter of personal taste. You may choose Premium Jane’s CBD gummies if you are looking for a slightly larger bottle with more gummies inside.

Hemp Bombs – High Potency CBD Gummies 750mg ($79.99)

As you may have noticed, Hemp Bombs High-Potency CBD gummies are more expensive than both Premium Jane’s and Pure Kana’s. Like Premium Jane’s CBD gummies, Hemp Bombs High-Potency CBD gummies come in a 750mg bottle containing 30 gummies.

Hemp Bombs High-Potency CBD gummies also contain 25mg of CBD per gummy. However, they do offer a less expensive variety, i.e., Original CBD gummies. These contain a lower amount of CBD, with 15mg per gummy. If price is an important deciding factor, then you can always opt for these instead.

Hemp Bombs CBD is extracted from industrial hemp that contains no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. Similar to Green Roads, Hemp Bombs offers a wide variety of CBD gummy products. These include the aforementioned Original and High-Potency variety, as well as CBD Sleep Gummies. Each of these three varieties are sold in packs containing 5, 15, 30, or 60, CBD gummies.

CBDISTILLERY – CBD Gummies 750mg ($55)

Introducing the new and improved CBD Gummies by CBDistillery. CBDistillery’s 750mg bottle contains five fewer gummies (25 as opposed to 30) than Premium Jane’s and Hemp Bombs’ 750mg bottle. While there are only 25 gummies in CBDistillery’s 750mg bottle, each gummy is packed with an additional 5mg per gummy (30mg of CBD per gummy as opposed to 25mg of CBD per gummy).

As is the case with the other brands in this list, CBDistillery’s CBD Gummies are made from 99% pure CBD isolate, which is 100% THC-free. Not only that, they are gluten-free, allergen-free, vegan, and kosher. Each bottle of CBD gummies contains a variety of flavors, including raspberry-lemon, raspberry, and strawberry.

Census Bureau has Increased Pay for Positions in Camden County

Camden City, NJ)(December 2019)– The United States Census Bureau is continuing to recruit and hire individuals from hard-to-count communities for the 2020

Census. In response to the continued demand for workers in our area, the Bureau recently announced an increase to the minimum hourly rate for census positions in Camden County, from $16.50 to $17.50, and is paying over $20 an hour for certain positions.

Some communities have historically been more difficult to count than others, including those with large populations of those living in poverty, the homeless, children, and racial and ethnic minorities. The Bureau is prioritizing hiring members of these communities to help collect Census data in the neighborhoods they know.

“You know your friends and neighbors better than anyone, and that’s why we need you as a Census taker in your community,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Department of Health and Human Services. “Census jobs are temporary, flexible, and excellent for anyone who needs extra income or is looking to supplement their paycheck after work. This is a great opportunity to support your community while adding to your income.”

Recruiting sessions will be held at two locations in Camden City on Dec. 12, to assist interested applicants in understanding the work that is available and helping them to apply for positions.

The following locations will host recruiting sessions in hard-to-count areas, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

Puerto Rican Unity for Progress (PRUP)

Address:

818 S Broadway, Camden, NJ 08103

Phone:

(856) 541-1418

Additional info:

Bilingual staff will be on site to assist Spanish-speaking/Latino applicants.

Youthbuild Housing Authority Camden City (HACC)

Address:

1700 Federal St, Camden, NJ 08105

Phone:

(856) 756-0241

Staff at all branches of the Camden County Library System, as well as the Camden County One-Stop Center, are also available to assist interested applicants during regular operating hours.

“The Census dictates the size of our community’s representation in Congress and the level of funding we will be appropriated for social services and other projects,” Rodriguez said. “An accurate count is critical to ensuring that we are given the resources we need.”

In preparation for the 2020 Census, the Census Bureau is recruiting more than 400,000 part-time workers across the country, and as many as 3,000 in Camden County, to help collect census data in their communities.

Most openings are for census taker positions. These individuals conduct in-person follow-ups with households that have not completed their questionnaires in order to make sure they are counted.

Census jobs in Camden County pay an hourly rate of $17.50 and offer flexible hours that can include evenings and weekends. The community is especially in need of individuals who speak Spanish and other non-English languages to work with the diverse community in the City.

The Census Bureau is already accepting applications for these positions and encourages prospective applicants to apply as early as possible, so they don’t miss their opportunity.

Census employees must be 18 years or older and have a valid Social Security number, among additional requirements. More information regarding pay, hours, and requirements are available by visiting

https://2020census.gov/en/jobs/job-details.html

For more information regarding participation in the 2020 Census, how to respond to the Census questionnaire, and why every response is critical, residents are encouraged to visit

www.2020census.gov

6 Reasons Why Men Hire Escorts

(olive-wolverine-471793.hostingersite.com)(Dec. 10, 2019)–One of the most common reasons why men hire escorts is because they are not getting sexual satisfaction in their current relationship. However, there are other reasons, and you will be surprised that they are not all about sex. Here are some of the reasons why men hire escorts.

Partners don\’t make them sexually satisfied

Let\’s start first with the most popular reason, which is their partner doesn\’t meet their sexual needs. Men usually have high libidos, and although they love their partners, if they are not

satisfied with their sex life, it could cause them to look for sexual satisfaction elsewhere. It doesn\’t necessarily mean that they no longer love their partners, but they are looking for a way to achieve their sexual fantasies without any strings attached.

London escorts

are professional in what they do. They will provide their service for business, and they will be discreet, so there will be no calling or texting afterwards unless you initiate the communication with them.

One woman is not enough

Some guys are not content having sex with only one woman. No matter how much they love their partners and how attractive they are, they are still looking to experience sex with other women. It doesn\’t mean that all men are like this. As mentioned, there are some who are, and they want variety when it comes to sexual partners and experiences.

They want a deeper connection

Hiring an escort isn\’t always about sex. Sometimes, men want intimacy, which is more on the emotional side. These men and their partners may not have an intimate relationship as before because of various reasons, including tiredness from work and household chores, and taking care of the kids. They need someone that they can talk to and who will listen to them, and this is one of the reasons why some men hire an escort.

It\’s a convenient way to have company

Men have their sexual needs to satisfy, and this is true with those who travel a lot. Instead of having a relationship in every country they go to, which can be a hassle, they go for a professional escort service because of its convenience. Once they leave the city or state, they don\’t have to worry about anything like maintaining a relationship, since it\’s purely business.

The partner becomes more of a mother

In the first stage of the relationship, things may be running smoothly, and there\’s sweetness all over. However, as time passes by, things gradually change. That once sweet partner is now nagging about everything, including small issues. Men can get frustrated over this, and this might push them to look for an escort who will not nag at them during the duration of the service.

Men feel unnoticed

When men feel that they are not prioritized, they might seek attention from other women, including escorts. They will be their escort\’s priority while they are together, so they will feel wanted and important, which is something that they might want from their partners.

Professional escorts will have their clients as their priority, and they will do everything that they can to satisfy their needs.

image courtesy of pixabay.com

First of Two $100,000 Winning Tickets Sold in Little Silver

Luck Strikes Twice for Little Silver Veteran

TRENTON (Dec. 9, 2019) – Julius B. of Little Silver, a retired veteran helicopter pilot in the Korean War, is a regular lottery player. Julius is no stranger to lottery prizes, having claimed a Jersey Cash 5 jackpot prize approximately ten years ago. November 27, the day before Thanksgiving, he stopped by his local retailer and picked up some tickets for that evening’s Powerball drawing, opting for the Power Play feature on his tickets. Later that holiday weekend, he scanned his tickets at the retail counter. The scanner display surprised him with good news – his ticket was a winner and needed a claim form.

Julius’ Powerball ticket for the Wednesday, November 27, drawing matched four of the five white balls and the Powerball for a base prize of $50,000. His decision to add Power Play paid off as his prize was doubled to $100,000! The retailer joked to him, “I don’t think we have enough cash for you here!”

“I was shocked,” Julius said, admitting he was initially confused about the win before coming to terms with the good news. By the time he arrived home, his wife started to ask what took him so long at the store, but he quickly handed her the ticket and claim form. “Look, you will see,” he told her with a smile.

Julius mentioned some short-term plans for his prize winnings, including paying off some credit cards and taking a trip to London. Afterwards, he plans to invest the rest of the winnings.

The retailer that sold the winning ticket was Little Silver Family Pharmacy, 10 Church St., Little Silver in Monmouth County. There were two tickets worth $100,000 sold for the November 27 Powerball drawing at this store. The winning numbers for the drawing were: 15, 26, 37, 53 and 55. The Red Power Ball number was 21, and the Multiplier number was 02.

ICE HSI Announces 37,547 Criminal Arrests; Record-High Number

WASHINGTON – During fiscal year 2019 (FY19), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) effectively combated transnational criminal threats against the United States resulting in a record-breaking number of criminal arrests. HSI is the principal investigative component of the Department of Homeland Security with more than 9,800 employees, including over 6,700 special agents and 700 intelligence analysts,

assigned to more than 210 cities throughout the U.S. as well as 78 offices in 52 countries. HSI investigates a multitude of crimes including: financial crimes, bulk cash smuggling, cybercrimes, exploitation of children and child sex tourism, weapons smuggling and export enforcement, trade crimes such as commercial fraud and intellectual property theft, human smuggling and trafficking, narcotics smuggling and trafficking, identity and benefit fraud, human rights violations, transnational gang activity, counterterrorism and visa security.

HSI\’s investigative strategies resulted in a record-high 37,547 criminal arrests, almost a 10 percent increase from FY18, as well as the seizure of more than $775 million in currency and assets from criminal proceeds.

\”HSI uses aggressive investigative strategies to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal

organizations that engage in cross-border crime,\” said Acting HSI Executive Associate Director Alysa Erichs. \”HSI special agents worked tirelessly to address threats posed by criminal networks to protect national security and public safety in the United States and around the globe.\”

HSI arrested 5,750 criminals associated with human smuggling investigations in FY19, a 41 percent increase from FY18, due in part to the use of Rapid DNA testing technology to detect fraudulent families at the Southwest border. During FY19, over 400 HSI personnel deployed to the southern border to protect children from being smuggled into the United States through fraudulent family units, often tied to larger transnational criminal syndicates.

In FY19, HSI arrested 2,197 criminals associated with human trafficking, a 38 percent increase from FY18, as well as identified and/or assisted 428 victims of human trafficking in FY19, a 39 percent increase from the previous year. HSI uses a victim-centered approach in its trafficking investigations, where equal value is placed on both the identification and stabilization of victims and prosecution of the traffickers. HSI also developed the Strategic Trafficking Outreach Program (S.T.O.P.) to educate and raise awareness as well as how to report instances of suspected trafficking.

HSI saw a record-breaking year in narcotics enforcement by leveraging partnerships and using a variety of task forces, including its Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (BEST). HSI seized more than 12,450 lbs. of opioids in FY19 – a record-breaking amount – exceeding FY18 seizures by more than 2,500 lbs. HSI also seized more than 3,600 lbs. of fentanyl and made more than 1,900 fentanyl-related arrests in FY19, which are both substantially higher than FY18 figures. HSI also seized more than 145,000 lbs. of methamphetamine in FY19.

Identity and benefit fraud pose a severe threat to national security. HSI leads 36 Document and Benefit Fraud Task Forces (DBFTF) across the country to combat this fraudulent activity. HSI made 2,198 arrests tied to identity and benefit fraud in FY19, a nearly 75 percent increase from FY18.

HSI also continued its fight against child predators and transnational gangs in FY19. In FY19, HSI arrested 3,957 child predators as well as rescued or identified 1,069 victims. HSI also made 3,886 criminal gang arrests, including 337 criminal arrests of MS-13 gang members during the same timeframe.

HSI Noteworthy Cases

Financial Crimes

On July 17, 2019, Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera, known by various aliases, including \”El Chapo\” and \”El Rapido,\” was

sentenced

by United States District Judge Brian M. Cogan to life imprisonment plus 30 years to run consecutive to the life sentence for being a principal leader of a continuing criminal enterprise – the Mexican organized crime syndicate known as the Sinaloa Cartel – a charge that included 26 drug-related violations and one murder conspiracy. The Court also ordered Guzman Loera to pay $12.6 billion in forfeiture.

Narcotics Enforcement

In June 2019, HSI Philadelphia and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hosted a

joint press conference at the U.S. Custom House

in Philadelphia to announce the multi-agency seizure of over 17 tons of cocaine with an estimated street value of about $1.1 billion.

In August 2019, HSI Norfolk and law enforcement partners announced indictments against 39 individuals in a heroin and fentanyl trafficking conspiracy as part of

Operation Cookout

. This HSI-led operation resulted in 35 arrests, as well as the seizure of 24 firearms, 30 kilograms of fentanyl, 30 kilograms of heroin, 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than $700,000 in cash during a three-day takedown.

Counterproliferation Investigations

On June 28, 2019, ICE and HSI leadership announced the results of an

international weapons trafficking operation

that resulted in a total of 25 arrests and 53 search warrants executive in three countries.

Child Exploitation

On October 10, 2019, HSI announced the conviction of a Texas businessman who was convicted in federal court of

sex trafficking of a minor

female and other related changes.