"Although the vessels were once viewed as a quirky sideshow in the drug war, they are becoming faster, more seaworthy, and capable of carrying bigger loads of drugs than earlier models, according to those charged with catching them.The U.S. Coast Guard is also on record as supporting mollusks as the best marine invertebrate, though cnidarians are probably better, further analysis is being conducted. Lieutenant Seth Lopod stated, "sea cucumbers and drug dealers have alot in common: they are pushers. They are the worst of society. I've never met a good echinoderm." Lt. Lopod went on to assert that you cannot trust a marine invertebrate that breathes through its butt and spits its stomach out to eat something, "Its just wrong. If I ever see a holothurian, I'd arrested it for indecency.""They tend to be one of a kind," U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen said. "They cost up to a million dollars to produce. Sometimes they are put together in pieces and then reassembled in other locations. They're very difficult to locate."
The boats are built in the Colombian jungle. They sail largely beneath the surface of the water but cannot submerge completely like a true submarine.
But they are the latest escalation of a tactical race between smugglers and the U.S. Coast Guard."
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Craig is temporarily a post-doctoral fellow at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute who is looking for a permanent position. He spends most of his time balancing his overwhelming geekdom with normalcy so he can function in the real world. Luckily his wife likes his geekiness.
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« On Clearing Up The Matter That Mollusks Are Better Than Echinoderms | Main | Friday Deep-Sea Picture: Beautiful Soft Bottom »
Dealers Smuggle Drugs Using Semi-Subs
Posted on: March 20, 2008 9:15 PM, by Kevin Zelnio
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Comments
The Lt. may be on to something... holothurians are hollow and the 2m long ones could smuggle a considerable amount of drugs in that copious body cavity. They even have sticky swelling projectile anal tentacles they can use for defense....
Seriously though that is an incredible situation with the subs though. I just wish we could get subs built as fast (though somehow I think reliability and stress depth ratings are just a wee bit differently spec'd)
Posted by: Eric | March 20, 2008 11:03 PM
I knew it. I just knew it. (About the sea cucumbers, that is. I had no idea about the semi-subs.)
Posted by: Snail | March 21, 2008 5:27 AM
Hello,
am writing to you at this time to advertise the availability of our main product, alluvial gold in bulk quantities. As we represent a large number of local artisan miners, we are prepared to provide quantities of up to 200 kilograms of 22.5 to 23 karat alluvial gold monthly. Following is information concerning our product:
Quantity: 200 kilograms available monthly
Quality : 22.5 to 23 karat alluvial Au
Origin : Ghana , West Africa
Price : $19,500 per kilogram
Assay reports provided by Geological Dept., Accra , Ghana .
Our firm is in possession of the Gold Export Certificate issued by the Government of the Republic of Ghana necessary to export gold from Ghana , thus we can provide service to any part of the world.
We are prepared to offer the quantity of gold required to the Buyer {or their representative} upon their arrival here in Accra , or through courier of their choice. After the Buyer has confirmed the quantity and the quality of the gold with their refinery, and is satisfied, only then will we accept payment, by bank transfer, from the Buyer to us.
Further, we currently seek outside-based serious investors on a partnership basis in order to increase our production capacity.
Pls, if you are interested in this proposal, or have any further questions, kindly contact me at the numbers listed above/ via email.goldtarmak@yahoo.com
Looking forward to doing business with you.
Regards,
Mr Johnson.
Posted by: JOHNSON | March 8, 2009 12:32 PM
Dear Sir,
we are local miners acting with full corporate and with full legal responsibility do hereby irrevocably confirm and commit subject to the law of perjury that we are ready, willing and able to sell Raw Alluvial Gold Dust:
Commodity - Gold Dust
Quantity - 215kg
Quality -22Carats
Purity--97%+
Price ---$18,500USD
DIAMOND------EURO 300 PER CARAT
Since this is a first time business we only need to start with 10- or highest 20
PROCEDURES:
1. Buyer submits signed Letter of Intent (LOI)
2. Seller signs and returns LOI to Buyer with an invoice specifying all initial costs, included, (and notations of which costs are to be deducted from the final price)
3. Buyer arranges and pays for 6% of the 10kg, one round-trip ticket, ground transportation, and a hotel room for Seller’s representative.
4. Seller hand carries 10kg of gold as specified above to Buyer’s refinery.
5. After refinery assays report / Buyer pays Seller within 72 hours via bank wire transfer price agreed to above minus initial costs as specified.
After successful completion of all steps above to the satisfaction of Buyer and Seller, Buyer shall issue a new Letter of Intent for 50kg or 100kg as he can afford, For the same above PROCEDURES.
So please Advise as soon as possible.
Best Regards,
Mr Simon Ewing
Reply To: master_miners@yahoo.com
Posted by: Mr Simon Ewing | July 29, 2009 7:37 AM
Dear Buyer,
We are local miners based in sierra leone west africa , writing to advertise the availability of our product, alluvial gold dust in large quantities.
We are prepared to provide quantities of up to 150 kilograms of 22 karat alluvial gold dust
We do here declare our interest and willingness to open up discussion in respect of this at your earliest convenience.
Following is information concerning our product
Product: AU alluvial gold dust
Quantity: 150 kg available monthly, or as much as you can buy
Quality: 22 karat alluvial gold +Au dust
Origin:Sierra leone
Price: $17,000 per kilogram
Purity: 96.5%,
THE TERMS OF PAYMENT:
Cash/Wire Transfer The buyer will pay for the gold when it gets to his or her refinery.
The buyer will come to sierra leone first for physical inspection of the gold, take some sample for assay test then if satisfied there he can do the shipment. The buyer will deals with the expenses relating the transportation,
All the expenses engaged by the buyer will be deducted from the total amount before payment
OTHER TERMS OF CONTRACT:
A contract agreement stipulating terms and condition of this transaction will be signed between the seller and buyer..
As such, buyer must as a matter of fact arrive in Sierra Leone to sign all business and legal documents relating to this transaction which shall be binding both parties.
OPTIONAL INFORMATION HS Code:
7108 Gold, Unwrought or in Semi-manufactured Forms, or in Powder Form.
A prompt reply will enable us to commence without delay the necessary arrangement that will make us conclude this business as prompt as would be practical.
We look forward to do business with you shortly.
Further, we currently seek outside-based serious investors on a partnership basis in order to increase our production capacity.
Please, if you are interested in this proposal or have any further questions, kindly contact me. email: mosesgold22@yahoo.com
looking forward to doing business with you.
we also have rough diamond for sale intrested buyer we will send a manifest.
YOURS TRUELY
Moses.
Posted by: Moses Magai | September 29, 2009 8:52 AM