The street value of the coke in Canada for 18 kilos would be about 2,700,000 Canadian. Fools, now these Canadian ladies will be enjoying paradise from the lovely confines of a Dominican prison.

All three employed at TRADER Corporation in Toronto (publisher of print and online mags for selling cars, etc.) Two in the same department.

You gotta wonder how they managed to get so much time off for all that travelling.

Yesterday, in port of Antwerp, Belgium, 1,200Kg cocaine was intercepted in a Dominican container bound for the Netherlands with washpowder/cleaning products. 8 people were detained.
It doesn't stop!

Thanks to these three morons for making tourism a little more difficult for the rest of us who want to come down to visit, and also to help the D.R. to grow & prosper in the process. I hope Canada turns their back on you, should you ask for help. I’d rather see you put into a leaky boat, and shoved into the Mona Passage, than to take up my tax dollars here at home if you’re deported.

As for the enforcement agencies: Keep up the great work. High fives all around. I realize that suppressed economies often result in an equivalent rise in crime, and it must often seem like two steps forward and three back. However, you can't take your foot off of the accelerator now. Take care to resist revealing too many of your tactics because – even though it’s interesting - many people are watching for loop holes in the process.

Cheers!

Toronto is the most multicultural city in the world so "names like those" are not uncommon. At least one of them (Violet Teresa Pluas) indicates on facebook that she not only resides in Toronto but is "from" there, so presumably a citizen as opposed to a landed immigrant.

dreadlocks - the other two both attended high school in Toronto (interestingly, the same High School - Bloor Collegiate Institute) and, based on their age, would have graduated in 1996 so certainly not recent arrivals, if "arrivals" at all.

thanks for clearing that up. i realize that Toronto is a very multicultural city, but questioned the names, solely because of the English origins of the country, and the presence of names which are ostensibly Hispanic

whole sale, base is going up thank god. Farc and asoc. are slowly being broke down

I think "Ruggiero" would likely be of Italian origin but the other two do sound Hispanic.

I still can't help but wonder, the article says they "...had traveled to the country several times just this year..." but it's only February 14th! How could their employer (SAME employer for all three; the two younger ones in the same department) allow them such frequent time off?

I like the Chubby Sarah Palin-esque one in the middle!

Canadian citizens of Latin origin.

You just can't kill the beast by giving it a Canadian passport.

Now, a lookup of their employer's backgound would be indicated.

josean - that would be Violet Teresa Pluas. 38 year old single mother of two (girl 17 and boy 6) - nice for her kids, huh? Get to go to the DR and visit Mom in prison.

WalterPolo - I think you are onto something there.

They will serve as few months and then be deported back to Canada. I know there is an agreement with France for felons to serve their time in their homeland, I am unaware that there is one with Canada.
Serving time in DR is no country club, and they will require mucho bucks to make it unscathed.
Afterwards they can sell their story to "American jailed abroad" TV program.

Professor,

I saw her first, so don't be jumping of the first thing smoking to Toronto!

I am committed to helping her through the rehabilitation process as long as conjugal visits are allowed in Canada!

Josean
Not my type, although I won't mind dressing her up in a leather Nazi outfit, with 5" heels, lol.

I fear worse - deported to Canada where they will get a free pass for giving useless info on who sent them.

@Dread

Not all of the names are truly "Hispanic" as you seem to think:

Lopes (Portuguese) vs Hispanic "Lopez"

Pea (English) Ruggiero (Italian - as Bill mentioned)

Pluas is the truly Spanish surename in the list, but is also common in Portugal, but according to her Facebook she is also "Caballero", which is common in Argentina.

Given that though, they could still be considered Hispanic if their prior generations had originally immigrated into Spanish Latin America from the original European countries and subsequently into Canada. There are many Hispanics with non-Hispanics last names out there.

I am sure you could find Ruggieros in Argentina or other Hispanic countries where Italians migrated.

Violet Teresa Pluas (also showing as Violeta Teresa Pluas Caballero, as noted) indicates on facebook that her background is Columbian.

But it certainly seems that all three are Canadian Citizens and were all likely born in Canada.

Their parents? Who knows.

"Pluas is the only truly Spanish surename in the list."

lovingit,

And keep you eyes off her I am going to arrange for bail!


If I have money left over, our first date will be ridding the METRO from MamaTingo to La Feria!

@Josean

LOL.. you could keep her... she is all yours... I am sure she'll enjoy the ride on the Metro... maybe you'll ride the new line from ekl 12 de haina when she gets released from the women's prision in San Cristobal :-)

yes i agree, this is sad but we should all remember that kids have access to internet and they are going to see these comments which most are not appropriate. we all have mothers, some better than others but that dosn't give anybody the right to judge.
all this concern about the kids, lets face it. you don't know them so what do you care!!!

The right to judge? I dunno, the coke was taped to their bodies, so it's not like they can say: "I didn't know that was there."

And they became suspects because of the "...frequency in which they came to Dominican Republic as alleged tourists..." how many kilos of poison had already hit the streets of Toronto because of these three before they were caught?

They all have/had jobs - it's not like they needed to do this to scrape together the money to feed their families.

It is a shame about the one woman's kids - not their fault and they will suffer for it - but their mother put them in that position.

18 kilos would be about 2,700,000 = Wholesale $35,000 us

You are right, Mr. Clarke

well i looked at there fotos,and read the story. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA-----------------------------------------------------------PAUSE TO CATCH MY BREATH---------------------HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH---IDIOTS--

how do you get 18 kilos into 1,382 caps? even if they are horse caps thats a lot of powder to pack, something dosent add up here..... as usual....

most of these articles dont add up

cathblanca, I know that criminal religions are immune from criticism, does that include criminal mothers, or only if they are virgin-mothers?

If they are Dominican-born or of Dominican descent and do something good, they are Dominican. Otherwise they are foreigners.

skiendhiu,
You seem to know a lot about cocaine.
What's your current address please?
DNCD

Its So funny how everyone on here has something to say about these woman that must mean you have a lot of dead time on your hands if your taking time out of your day to look on there facebook pages!!! Get a life go to work do something with your life you have no idea why or the reason they did what they did yes they might have had a job but if u live in canada than you would know that isnt shit all you need 3 jobs just to get by here!!! No one is perfect people make mistakes in there life and like someone said your not god to judge!!! They obviously know what there about to face it doesnt give you the right to judge them for what they did!!!

Actually, you know what I think is funny? Someone from Canada registering TODAY with a provocative user-name to make one post condemning others for criticizing three scag drug mules.

So, which one of them are you friends with/related to? Or do you hang with all three? Maybe YOU can clarify why they did what they did - was it for the money or just to get free Thomas Cook vacations to Punta Cana?

Yes, I am in Canada; I no longer live in Toronto but it is my home town and I have friends and family still there. You think I have no right to pass judgement on drug mules bringing poison to the streets of my home town? Where I have loved ones? What? - are you high, now?

Frankly, I don't really care what their justifications are - if the reports are accurate they are scag drug mules and, assuming they are convicted, I hope they rot in prison and I certainly don't want to see my tax dollars spent on trying to get them out of DR and back to Canada.

First and fore most who says i know any of them the point of the matter is you came on here as if you have knowin them there whole lives!!! Who gives a rats ass what school they went to and who they work for!!! You have no idea if these woman were forced to do what they did because there lives were at risk here !!! So you tell me if your family or your own life was in danger you wouldnt do what you had to do to keep them safe?

Tax dollars lmao thats all canadians famous line my tax dollars you have to pay them regardless stop trying to make it seem like your money goes to the poor and criminals!!!

now for your comment about me being high no actullay im not i never will and never have been into drugs!!! You need to stop trying to find out more info about people by going threw there personal facebook pages thats called stalking!!!

Something is wrong with you clearly you have no life and no reason or ties with these woman so why are you so worried about there life history???

nonyabusiness,
"Methinks thou protestith too much"
Have you complained to Dominican Today for publishing the story?

nonyabusiness said: "...First and fore most who says i know any of them..."

I did. Just now. Weren't you paying attention?

I stand by it, too.

woke up today and im like ya right....................
i know 2 of the girls on both sides but the one on the right more....i grew up with her and cant believe this shit....she was a hard working independent focus individual, and worked autotraders for years, but prolly she lead a double life......but i know she was smarter than that and maybe was put up to it with no choice.....u just never know......imma continue to watch this closely

Well Unbelieveable, you'll probably get to read more about it. I was approached by someone claiming to be a Toronto reporter doing a story on it (might even be, who knows?) so I guess the local press has taken an interest in it.

The dr side of the equation still has to many holes but the U.S side is tightening up..... I just got back yesterday and the search and interrogation was more intense and lenghty going down then coming back.. In fact, I can't remember being searched and questioned on the air walkway in the past going to the dr... and I have never seen it before...

"You need to stop trying to find out more info about people by going threw there personal facebook pages thats called stalking!!! "

Umm.... What?

I can't believe this was written with some form of sincerity. People put their info up on their personal facebook page specifically so that others will look at it. And as for the notion of tax dollars; Imprisonment and rehabilitation are amongst the programs which are funded by tax dollars. So if these people have chosen to break the law, then they will - sooner or later - be the recipients of my tax dollars, (and theirs too I might add). The difference being that I have no want to pay for someone else's mistake. And because we live in a democracy, and because they represent an unwarranted drain on the dollars I put into the system, then that insures my right to judge. No - I am tired of people crying "victim". I'm caught in the bad economy just as everyone else is. But I have no intent on breaking the law to make ends meet.

originalmrb,
I think "some form of sincerity" is exactly what is lacking in that post. Just someone lashing out at anyone who would have the temerity to call their friend/relative/acquaintence a 'scag drug mule' just because their friend/relative/acquaintence happened to get caught muling drugs...

...and is a scag. (sort of a given, really)

It's laughable that anyone can defend these women. I have been to Punta Cana twice this year. I applaud the airport staff for finding this, because both times I could not believe what seemed like lack of security. I felt like everything was rushed. Don't get me wrong. The last thing I want is to be strip searched because of these dip$@!%s, but at least things are being watched. I would never visit Higüey just because of how rough it looks driving past on the way to Bavaro. Looks a lot more dangerous than Puerto Plata to me. Great find to the employees. Now the government can re-sell it and keep the money for themselves!

Yup - story picked up by the Toronto Star.

DT won't allow URL links but a search at thestar(dot)com should reveal.

@DT

Cannot post links anymore?

All I know is I tried and it said that I couldn't.

Charming.

@Spinach-"I am sorry, but these names are not Canadian names."

Sorry to bust your bubble, but Barack Obama is not an American name either and he happens to be the President of the United States. So don't go by that. Canada like the US for decades has opened the door for immigrants and these girls are carriers of Canadian passports and by the names they appear to be the children of Italian and Portugese immigrants to Canada.

Nevertheless, I did not know that Canadians were all angels from heaven and do not get into trouble.

SPiNACH - be careful what you ask for. These three are in prison IN Dominican Republic. If they are deported it will be back TO Canada.

Josean, I don't believe you.
I think you'd rather a poke in the eye with a sharp stick than to boink Sarah Palin.

I'm commenting on this article because these ladies work at my office. First, Bill Clark these holidays they took are not from the beginning of this fiscal year but in the last 12 months. Like any company in Canada, employees are entitled to their holidays&where&what they do has nothing to do with Trader. Nevertheless we are all shocked by this news however, we all have consequences in life whether positive or negative. These ladies must have known smugglying drugs over the border has a high risk. Life as they've known it will not be the same for a very long time. The jail system in DR is not like our hotel jails here in Canada their conditions were be terrifying and I feel for them.
Do I judge? Yes! This drug they tried to smuggle is poison! As a parent of a child who had serious drug issues & was cocaine use for 10yrs played complete chaos in our lives. I had resigned myself that my child was either going to end up dead or end up in prison. Fortunately he ended up in prison.

That part of our life is behind us now and my child is on the right track. But people who solicit, smuggle drugs must understand how it affects other peoples lives and it is not positive - it poisons to our society and our homes.
Now for the woman who has 2-children at home that is the saddest part. I read one article that her daughter who iscurrently in grade 11 is hoping her mom will come home soon-this young girl does not realize her mother will not be coming home for a very long time and will not see her graduate! Very sad!

As a parent myself. Sammy1, my heart goes out to you. I have no sympathy for anyone involved in this hideous industry. It is sad for the culprit's kids, however kids will always be innocent victims of parents' bad decisions.
I do not know what will happen to these women. Hopefully they will not get off lightly because of their gender, as women do in Australian courts.

@ lovingit,

Dont bother explaining. Spinach seems to be an idiot. I attempted to show how president Barack Obama has Muslim/African but is a US American and how a name is irrelevant and does not necessarily have anything to do with place of birth. But my suggestion went completely over the head, Spinach could neither understand nor make the connection. I would not waste another post on Spinach.

Sammy1

"He (Lebrón Roberto) said the Canadians... had traveled to the country several times *just* this year."

(emphasis added)

"The actions of those citizens were being watched for some time, taking into account the frequency in which they came to Dominican Republic as alleged tourists."

You say: "employees are entitled to their holidays&where&what they do has nothing to do with Trader".

Fair enough, but just how much time off DID these three take? Answer for the last fiscal year, if you want. How many weeks of vacation do they get? Not one of them has worked there for more than ten years so I wouldn't expect it to be more than three weeks, four at the absolute outside. How many did they get so that the frequency caught the attention of DR authorities?

I hate spinach or any leafy greens.......what a moron!!!

The ladies probably get 3-4 weeks a year and obviously took them to go to DR within the last 12-months which is frequent enough that they were flag by the DR authroities. I understand one of the articles mentioned they had traveled to the country several times *just* this year - that is a misprint. That part doesn't matter they were caught and facing their consequences as we speak. We at work shake out heads.They are not having family day with their families today!

That doesn't jive. I flew to Punta Cana as a tourist from Toronto three times in 2011 myself and I don't believe I was flagged for any extra attention - I certainly wasn't stopped on my way to the airport; neither my bags nor my person were searched prior to boarding which I would expect at a minimum if as few as three trips flag someone as suspicious.

Quite possibly the DR authorities had some additional information that they are not disclosing or these three made more trips than you are indicating. Your statement that they "probably get 3-4 weeks" and "obviously took them to go to DR" suggests that you don't actually know how many trips they made.

anybody know what happened at trial yesterday??

Bill, they only tell you you bag has been searched when they don't find anything worth steeling.

Will their frequent-flyer points expire before they get out?

RoyStone said: "Will their frequent-flyer points expire before they get out?"

Hopefully.

A good friend of mine worked with the accused ladies and i met them on a few occassions. The accused initialed D.R. has been with Trader for over 10 years so she's at 5 weeks, the other two are over 5 years but under 10 years so they're entitled for 4 weeks. It's possible that they also took weekend trips if they had travelled a few times in this year alone. They've lost their seniority, ability to recieve a settlement package, etc.

This is not the first time that this has happend and the reason they got caught because they got too greedy. Also, in the Dominican REpublic, like here in Canada, many people involved in the crime/drug trade are also informants so it's possible that someone got caught doing something and informed on this potential 18kg deal going down to avoid further actions again him/her.

Either way, cocaine is a poison on our society and no one is, nor should be sympathethic to what has occured. Many "nice" people live double-lives including many convicted drug felons, murderers and rapists.

A quick glance on the Canadian Foreign Affairs website description of Dominican Republic will show that in section 8 regarding LAWS AND CUSTOMS , it clearly states "Persons convicted of buying, selling, carrying or using any type or quantity of drug, are subject to strict penalties. Judicial processes may last several years (during which accused individuals are normally detained) and could lead to long prison sentences in harsh conditions. "

Do the crime, do the time.

Thank you for the clarification.

Well, someone has been in touch with them:
- Violet Teresa Pluas (Violeta Teresa Pluas Caballero) - facebook page has disappeared
- Daniela Maria Pea Ruggiero and Carla Lopes - linked-in profiles gone

For some inexplicable reason I decided to archive these pages when I came across them so the data is not lost.

Funny though that this was sufficient priority for someone to take the trouble to delete them, but the internet is forever if you know how to work it.