HSI investigation leads to Canadian drug trafficker conviction, 21-year federal prison sentence
PHILADELPHIA — An investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) led to the conviction of a Canadian drug trafficker who was sentenced Oct. 20 to 252 months in federal prison.
Thinh Hung Le, 53 of Toronto, Canada, was found guilty by a jury June 17, 2014 on a variety of drug importation and distribution charges. The evidence at trial proved that Le smuggled large quantities of ecstasy pills and marijuana from Canada to Philadelphia in 2006. Le was subsequently indicted and extradited from Canada.
HSI special agents seized three shipments of drugs that Le sent to his customer in Philadelphia:
- April 4, 2006, the HSI investigators seized about 105 pounds of marijuana.
- July 30, 2006, the HSI investigators seized about 26,000 ecstasy pills containing both methamphetamine and MDMA.
- Oct. 23, 2006, the HSI investigators seized about 10,000 ecstasy pills.
During the investigation, HSI worked with the Toronto police to determine Le's identification. Two undercover Toronto law enforcement officers met with Le pretending to be drug dealers from Philadelphia. Le explained to the undercover officers that he could supply them with 100,000 ecstasy pills within three days and provide a custom "brand" for the pill. Le further explained that he could manufacture the pills so that the high would last either four hours or six hours.
"The persistent and expert work of our special agents in conjunction with our international, state and local law enforcement partners has ensured this criminal will no longer be supplying drugs on our streets," said HSI Philadelphia Special Agent in Charge John Kelleghan. "Our agents will continue to diligently track down criminals in order to seal the flow of drugs coming into the country and continue fostering the cooperative international relationships that ensure our continued success."
In addition to HSI and the Toronto police, assistance was provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Philadelphia Police Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the York (Canada) Regional Police Department.
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