July 24, 2007

Canadian citizen sentenced to 8 years in prison for conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine

DETROIT - A Canadian citizen was sentenced here today to eight years in prison for manufacturing methamphetamine. This sentence resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Najib Reda, 56, a Canadian citizen who resided in Windsor, Ontario, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Avery Cohn to 96 months in prison, followed by five years supervised release.

ICE agents investigating Reda in March 2002 identified him as a leader in an international pseudophedrine smuggling organization. Information provided to Canadian law enforcement authorities regarding Reda's unlawful activities led Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) officers to arrest him when he tried to re-enter Canada. A secondary inspection of Reda's vehicle uncovered $151,137 in cash (US) concealed on his person, which was ultimately seized by CBSA.

Reda was indicted in U.S. District Court by a federal grand jury on eight counts relating to manufacturing methamphetamine in February 2003. Reda was subsequently arrested in Canada pursuant to a U.S. extradition warrant. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance in March 2007.

"There is one less drug smuggler operating on the Michigan-Ontario border as a result of the cooperative efforts between Canadian law enforcement and ICE special agents," said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigation in Detroit. "ICE and our Canadian partners will not allow the international border to be an obstacle in protecting our mutual law enforcement interests."

U.S. Attorney Wayne Pratt, Eastern District of Michigan, prosecuted the case.

-- ICE --

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was established in March 2003 as the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is comprised of five integrated divisions that form a 21st century law enforcement agency with broad responsibilities for a number of key homeland security priorities.

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