La Main Verte

"British drug trafficker nabbed

By Jun Ramirez
Published: August 31, 2013

A high profile British fugitive wanted in the United State for operating a lucrative import-export marijuana business was arrested by agents of the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

BI Officer-in-Charge Siegfred Mison said on Saturday that Gypsy Nirvana, 53, is now detained at the BI detention center in Bicutan, Taguig City following his arrest last week at the Subic freeport in Olongapo City.

Mison ordered Nirvana’s arrest after the US Embassy informed him that the Briton was issued a warrant by a US district court in Maine where he was indicted on multiple counts of narcotics trafficking and money laundering charges.

The BI chief described the Briton as a high profile fugitive, saying that a team of US Marshals is expected to arrive shortly to fetch him.

Mison vowed "there will be no letup in the BI’s campaign to catch foreign fugitives who are hiding in the country to evade prosecution for their crimes."

He added that for several years the suspect profited hugely from his England-based marijuana seed auction business, which catered mostly to American customers who transacted with him via the Internet and money wire transfers.

It was Nirvana’s former associates who tipped the US authorities about his criminal activities.

It was learned that on July 11, 2011 customs agents at the Boston Logan International Airport in Maine intercepted an England-bound shipment of marijuana seeds that were allegedly purchased by Nirvana.

The incident resulted in raids by the US Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) agents on several marijuana plantations in Maine and the arrest of suspects who exposed and detailed the extent of Nirvan's marijuana business.

Nirvana was later indicted for “conspiracy to manufacture, distribute and possess with intent to distribute marijuana; conspiracy to import marijuana; and conspiracy; and conspiracy to export marijuana from the US to England.”