The ring smuggled more than 10 pounds of heroin — worth more than $800,000 — from Ghana into the U.S. before it was shut down. On Friday, Edward Macauley, 62, of Ghana, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for his role in the scheme.

The case demonstrates the creativity of those who try to smuggle drugs into the country, as well as the efforts that federal authorities to extend enforcement of U.S. laws on an international basis.

Many of the dozen people charged in this scheme were arrested in Ghana and extradited to face trial in U.S. District Court in Alexandria. Sentences handed down so far have ranged from 2 years for one of the low-level couriers to Macauley, who prosecutors said was a ringleader.

U.S. District Judge James Cacheris imposed the term prosecutors requested. Macauley’s court-appointed attorney, William Cummings, had asked for the mandatory minimum of 10 years, citing Macauley’s age and disputing the government’s portrayal of Macauley as a ringleader.

Prosecutor James P. Gillis said the evidence showed Macauley was indeed a leader — his co-conspirators even called him “Boss.”

“Mr. Macauley was at the top of this food chain,” Gillis told the judge. “He’s not just referred to as ‘boss.’ He is the boss.”

Also Friday, Fred Brobbery, was sentenced to nearly seven years for his role. Brobbery’s role on several smuggling runs was to build special compartments into the lining of the smugglers’ carry-on luggage. Other smugglers hid the drugs in their underwear or wigs.

When the charges in this case were announced last year, the Drug Enforcement Administration said it reflects the current strategy of targeting smugglers in their home countries. The DEA has agents in more than 60 countries working international cases; the DEA said it received strong cooperation from Ghanaian authorities on this investigation. The ring was in operation for only about a year before the charges were filed.

The organization recruited Ghanaian citizens living legally in the U.S. to act as couriers, who were paid up to $15,000 per trip. Airport officials in Ghana received bribes of $2,000 or more to look the other way.

Customs agents at Dulles are accustomed to finding drugs in unusual places. In cases unrelated to the Macauley ring, a Nigerian man was arrested earlier this year after setting an apparent record at Dulles when he ingested 180 pellets filled with nearly five pounds of heroin in a failed smuggling attempt. Officers have found heroin in juice boxes and cocaine stuffed inside whole roasted chickens.

Source: washingtonpost.com

There is plenty of blame to go around from the technical handlers – the coach – to the entire playing team for the “Bata Heartbreak.” So it would be unfair to blame Asamoah Gyan solely for the Black Stars losing to eventual tournament winners Zambia at the semi-final stage following his penalty missed in regulation time. But football fans frustration and criticism of Gyan is understandable. Okumfo Dumfo Gyan over the years has brought Ghanaians as much joy as heartbreaks. If you ask me, Gyan owes Ghanaians an apology for letting them down yet again in the second successive tournament than Ghanaians owe him praise. Instead, not for the first time, Gyan is being ill advised and is threatening to quit the national team because he feels he is being unjustly vilified for the misfortunes of the Black Stars.

Yes, a great many football superstars – the Baggios, Maradonas, Zidanes, Messis, Ronaldos – to mention just a few, have all missed crucial penalty kicks in their days so Gyan is not the first and definitely would not be the last footballer to miss a penalty kick. However, that is where the similarities between Gyan and such football greats ends. Football fans sympathize with some footballers in such letdown moments as missing a penalty; others, they vilify. And Asamoah Gyan makes the vilification list.

So the obvious question is why pick on Asamoah Gyan? It is all about a player’s ATTITUDE on and off of the pitch. For all the wonders Lionel Messi is conjuring on the football field, he is as grounded as a concord. Pun intended. It did not take Cristiano Ronaldo long enough to chalk down a dose of a humility pills following his haughty comments that people are envious of him because he is rich and good looking. Talent alone does not lead to greatness. Heard about LIN-SANITY! The Knicks and basketball fans are not swooning over Jeremy Lin not only over his talents, but his personality and attitude. Asamoah Gyan’s talent as a footballer is not in question but his attitude as a footballer STINKS. Yeah, I said it! And that is why unlike many great players who enjoy the support and sympathy of the fans even when they disappoint, he Gyan is getting the stick.

While i strongly condemn fans who have gone to the extent of threatening Asamoah Gyan and his family, Gyan as a professional footballer should know that he would incur the displeasure of Ghanaian soccer fans anytime he lets them down. Fans are more forgiving when a player works his socks off when playing for the Black Stars, dare I mention Dede Ayew. However, football fans are less tolerant of over-their-heads football stars who let them down and then turn around with threats of quitting the national team. The GFA should be preoccupied with finding a solution for the perennial problem of lack of potent and reliable strikers for the Black Stars instead of worrying over a one-out-of ten striker who has shown to be more interested in doing some Azonto dance than actually keeping his focus to score first.

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Andre ‘Dede’ Ayew then wrong-footed the Mali defence before slotting home at the near post, after a clever back-flick from Gyan.  Mali were unlucky not to score earlier through Cheick Diabate’s free-kick, which struck the Ghana woodwork twice.

The match was a cagey affair in the first-half between two experienced Nations Cup sides.  Both teams also picked up a number of yellow cards, with the young Ghana defensive centre-half pairing of John Boye and Jonathan Mensah living dangerously.

Mensah was in the side in place of his namesake, captain John Mensah, who was suspended after picking up a red card in Ghana’s 1-0 win over Botswana.

And the 21-year-old Mensah was lucky to only see yellow for a thumping challenge on Diabate, who stepped up for the resulting free-kick himself, only to see his chipped shot hit both posts after beating Kwaresey.

Abdou Traore was then unable to convert the follow-up.  Ghana increased their intensity in the second-half and got the break-through, with Asamoah Gyan opening his 2012 Nations Cup account in some style.

The Al-Ain striker curled in a free-kick from just outside the area to Diakite’s left, with the pace and curl on the ball leaving the Mali keeper rooted to the spot.  Mali responded by taking off Cheick Diabate and sending on Garra Dembele, and should have equalised immediately through striker Modibo Maiga.

Kwarasey, who looked uncomfortable in the Ghana goal all night, ended up stranded after coming for a corner and opened the goal up for Maiga to head home, but the striker could only nod it just over.

That missed opened the door for Ghana to hit back and double their lead, which they duly did through BBC African Footballer of the Year Ayew.

Gyan back-flicked deftly into the midfielder’s path, before the Marseille man did the rest himself, wrong-footing the Malian defence, before switching feet skilfully and firing home with his left at the near post.

The second goal effectively killed off the tie, as Mali had no response and paved Ghana’s path through to the last eight, where they join fellow pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast

Source: BBC

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Co-hosts Equatorial Guinea pulled off a shock by beating Libya 1-0 in the opening game of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.  Former Real Madrid player Javier Balboa scored a dramatic late winner when curling home with three minutes left.

The result means the Equatorial Guinea squad will receive one million dollars from President Obiang Nguema’s son. The National Lightning thought they had scored early on only for Ivan Bolado’s shot to be ruled out for offside.

In an extraordinary sequence of events in the 16th minute, the co-hosts had the ball in the Libyan net on two occasions in the space of a few seconds only to not be awarded a goal.

After captain Juvenal’s deflected shot came back off the post, goalkeeper Samir Aboud made a meal of Ivan Bolado’s effort as the Libya captain let the ball squirm under his body and over the line.

Officials ruled out the strike for offside however after Thierry Fidjeu was adjudged to be interfering with play – with the drama magnified by the net bulging as a scrambled clearance rebounded into the net.

Libya, who qualified for the finals against the odds, forced Confederation of African Football officials to remove the old Muammar Gaddafi-associated flag from its tournament website ahead of a match which they started strongly.

However, they allowed the co-hosts to take control in the middle period of the first half as Randy, Juvenal Edjogo and Balboa impressed on the counter-attack, even if one of the best chances came from a corner as Fousseny Kamisoko headed wide.

At the other end, Libya were struggling to create any clear-cut chances – with Ahmed Zuway toiling alone up front despite some bright play from midfielder Walid El Khatroushi, who fought for the rebels during the anti-Gaddafi revolution.

In the second period, Equatorial Guinea – who were playing their first competitive match under a coach who took charge just 18 days ago – were again slow to make any impression on the half.

But Balboa’s effort midway through the first half was well-blocked by Abdulaziz Berrish before central defender Laurence Doe stung the palms of Aboud with a thunderous 30-yard free-kick.  With Libya restricted to half-chances, the finals’ opening game looked set to end in a lacklustre draw until substitute Daniel-Bladimiar Ekedo played in Balboa just a minute after a coming on.

Steadying himself on the edge of the box with his first touch, Balboa – who played a handful of games for Madrid in 2007 – advanced on Aboud before opening his body to curl into the top corner.

The late strike sparked the game into life as Danilo smartly tipped a fierce drive from Libyan midfielder Djamal around the corner, only for the co-hosts to instantly break free at the other end.

Narcisse Ekanga must have thought he had won the game as he crashed a curling 20-yard shot against the crossbar with the outside of his right foot, but to the delight of a packed house the co-hosts did not have to wait long for the final whistle.

Saturday’s victory was a bittersweet event as regular captain Rodolfo Bodipo, who came on as a late substitute, was stretchered off with an injury – but that will be an idle thought for many Equatoguineans as the country celebrates its Nations Cup debut with a famous win.

Source: BBC

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Sweating is a good way to begin 2012. Exercise, like dark chocolate and office meetings that suddenly get canceled, is a proven pathway to nirvana. But if you’re going to join a gym—or returning to the gym after a long hibernation—consider the following:

1. A gym is not designed to make you feel instantly better about yourself. If a gym wanted to make you feel instantly better about yourself, it would be a bar.

2. Give yourself a goal. Maybe you want to lose 10 pounds. Maybe you want to quarterback the New York Jets into the playoffs. But be warned: Losing 10 pounds is hard.

3. Develop a gym routine. Try to go at least three times a week. Do a mix of strength training and cardiovascular conditioning. After the third week, stop carrying around that satchel of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies.

4. No one in the history of gyms has ever lost a pound while reading “The New Yorker” and slowly pedaling a recumbent bicycle. No one.

5. Bring your iPod. Don’t borrow the disgusting gym headphones, or use the sad plastic radio attachment on the treadmill, which always sounds like it’s playing Kenny Loggins from a sewer.

6. Don’t fall for gimmicks. The only tried-and-true method to lose 10 pounds in 48 hours is food poisoning.

7. Yes, every gym has an overenthusiastic spinning instructor who hasn’t bought a record since “Walking on Sunshine.”

8. There’s also the Strange Guy Who is Always at the Gym. Just when you think he isn’t here today…there he is, lurking by the barbells.

9. “Great job!” is trainer-speak for “It’s not polite for me to laugh at you.”

10. Beware a hip gym with a Wilco step class.

11. Gyms have two types of members: Members who wipe down the machines after using them, and the worst people in the universe.

12. Nope, that’s not a “recovery energy bar with antioxidant dark chocolate.” That’s a chocolate bar.

13. Avoid Unsolicited Advice Guy, who, for the small fee of boring you to death, will explain the proper method for any exercise in 45 minutes or longer.

14. You can take 10 Minute Abs, 20 Minute Abs, and 30 Minute Abs. There is also Stop Eating Pizza and Eating Sheet Cake Abs—but that’s super tough!

15. If you’re motivated to buy an expensive home exercise machine, consider a “wooden coat rack.” It costs $40, uses no electricity and does the exact same thing.

16. There’s the yoga instructor everyone loves, and the yoga instructor everyone hates. Memorize who they are.

17. If you see an indoor rock climbing wall, you’re either in a really cool gym or a romantic comedy starring Kate Hudson.

18. Be cautious about any class with the words “sunrise,” “hell,” or “Moby.”

19. If a gym class is going to be effective, it’s hard. If you’re relaxed and enjoying yourself, you’re at brunch.

20. If you need to bring your children, just let them loose in the silent meditation class. Nobody minds, and kids love candles.

21. Don’t buy $150 sneakers, $100 yoga pants, and $4 water. Muscle shirts are for people with muscles, and rhythm guitarists.

22. Fancy gyms can be seductive, but once you get past the modern couches and fresh flowers and the water with lemon slices, you’re basically paying for a boutique hotel with B.O.

23. Everyone sees you secretly racing the old people in the pool.

24. If you’re at the point where you’ve bought biking shoes for the spinning class, you may as well go ahead and buy an actual bike. It’s way more fun and it doesn’t make you listen to C+C Music Factory.

25. Fact: Thinking about going to the gym burns between 0 and 0 calories.

26. A successful gym membership is like a marriage: If it’s good, you show up committed and ready for hard work. If it’s not good, you show up in sweatpants and watch a lot of bad TV.

27. There is no secret. Exercise and lay off the fries. The end.

Source: wsj

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A attack on a church outside Abuja killed 37 people on Christmas Day

Hundreds of people have been fleeing areas of north-eastern Nigeria, after a 24-hour wave of violence apparently targeting Christian communities.  At least 29 people have died in four attacks in Adamawa state, prompting the state governor to impose a curfew.  The Islamist Boko Haram group has said it carried out several attacks.

One Boko Haram faction has warned all southerners – who are mostly Christian and animist – to leave the mainly Muslim north of Nigeria.

Last week President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in Yobe and Borno states, as well as Plateau state in central Nigeria and Niger state in the west, following a surge in ethnic and sectarian violence.  Adamawa, which borders Borno state where Boko Haram emerged, was not included.

More than 500 people have been killed by the group over the past year.

President Jonathan, who is a Christian, has vowed to crack down on the group but Christian groups have accused him of not doing enough to protect them.

Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, president of the Christian Association of Nigeria, said his members would protect themselves against the attacks.  “We have the legitimate right to defend ourselves. We’re also saying today that we will do whatever it takes” he said.  The pattern of the killings suggested “systematic ethnic and religious cleansing”, he added.

The pastor declined to be specific about how Christians would defend themselves, raising fears of retaliation and an escalation of the violence.

Shoot-out

At least 17 people were killed in Mubi, in Adamawa, as gunmen opened fire in a town hall where members of the Christian Igbo group were meeting.  They had been meeting to organise how to transport the body of an Igbo man who was shot dead by gunmen on motorbikes on Thursday evening.

“It was while they were holding the meeting that gunmen came and opened fire on them,” a resident said.  More attacks on a church and hairdressing salon in Adamawa’s capital, Yola, left more than 10 dead.  The attacks prompted state governor Murtala Nyako to impose a 24-hour curfew.

Security was tightened and troops were seen patrolling the streets.

A resident in Yola says all shops and businesses are closed and only essential services are being allowed through the deserted town.  Meanwhile people fled the streets of the town of Potiskum, in Yobe state, after an attack on banks and the police headquarters followed by a shoot-out between gunmen and security forces.

“We are afraid the soldiers will raid and burn our homes like they do in Maiduguri each time Boko Haram attack,” local resident Amiru Umar told AFP.

The Islamist Boko Haram group said it had carried out the attacks in Mubi and Yola, and another in Gombe on Thursday night in which at least six people died.

The group has staged numerous attacks in northern and central areas in recent months – on Christmas Day it attacked a church near the capital, Abuja, killing dozens of people.

Boko Haram, whose name means ‘Western education is forbidden’, is fighting to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state.

Meanwhile, the government is also facing the bleak prospect of a general strike in two days’ time amid popular fury over its removal of a fuel subsidy which has seen fuel prices double for ordinary Nigerians.

The BBC’s Mark Lobel in Lagos says the strike will overstretch the military, which already appears to have lost control of the situation in the north-east.

Source: BBC

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