Two Key Players in International Drug Trafficking Organization Found Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court of Narcotics and Firearms Charges
PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that PLAURENT CELA and SKENDER CAKONI were found guilty yesterday in Manhattan federal court of narcotics conspiracy and firearms charges in connection with their participation in an international drug trafficking organization. As part of the organization, the defendants helped smuggle millions of dollars worth of marijuana into the United States, and used firearms to defend their marijuana business against a rival gang of drug dealers. CELA and CAKONI were convicted after a three-week trial presided over by U.S. District Judge RICHARD J. HOLWELL. Manhattan U.S. Attorney PREET BHARARA said: “Plaurent Cela and Skender Cakoni flooded our neighborhoods with marijuana—resorting to lethal violence when someone got in their way. With these convictions, they will now go to prison, and our streets will be that much safer as a result.” According to the Superseding Indictment filed in Manhattan federal...