News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2003

Operations Headhunter and Pipe Dreams

Today the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announces the arrest of Ahmad H. Rakine, a Lebanese born naturalized U.S. citizen, age 40, who was arrested at his residence this morning at 13010 NW 1 Street, Apartment 103, Building 6, Pembroke Pines, Florida. Rakine was charged with one count of Conspiracy to Distribute Drug Paraphernalia and two counts of Distribution of Drug Paraphernalia. Several agencies assisted in this enforcement operation this morning, to include the U.S. Marshal's Service, the U.S. Customs Service, the U.S. Postal Inspectors Service, the Pembroke Pines Police Department, and the Broward County Sheriff's office.

The arrest was made as part of two nationwide enforcement actions known as OPERATION HEADHUNTER and OPERATION PIPE DREAMS. This case is an international investigation, which targeted the illegal trafficking of drug paraphernalia, to include drug-cutting agents.

Two search warrants were executed on locations rented by Rakine, to include A&E Wholesalers Inc, at 5965 SW 21 Street, Building K, in Hollywood, FL as well as Emerald Hills Extra Closet, 3090 Sheridan Street, Building K, also in Hollywood. A large quantity of drug paraphernalia and cutting agent was seized as a result of these two searches.

DEA Public Information Officers will be available at 2:45 P. M. at the DEA office in Miami for informal interviews. The DEA Miami office is located at 8400 N.W. 53 Street in Miami.