N. Babylon Man Nabbed In International Drug Bust

A North Babylon man was among 15 people arrested for his alleged role in what federal law enforcement authorities are calling a “sophisticated online drug marketplace,” the Associated Press reported.

Jonathan Dugan, 27, was among a group of six men arrested at their homes in the United States. The other five men lived in Iowa, Michigan, Georgia, New Jersey and Florida.

Two other men, including the alleged ringleader, were arrested in the Netherlands and in Columbia.

According to the AP report, an indictment unsealed in a Los Angeles federal court alleges that those arrested ran “The Farmer’s Market,” which allowed suppliers of drugs to anonymously sell their wares online. The drugs sold included LSD, Ecstasy and katamine.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Los Angeles told the AP that the market provided a controlled substances storefront, order forms, online forums, customer service and payment methods for different sources of supply and charged the suppliers a commission based upon the value of the order.

The 12-count indictment charges all eight men with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and money laundering conspiracy. Some of the men also are charged with distributing LSD and taking part in a continuing criminal enterprise.

All could face a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted of conspiracy.

In addition, seven other people were arrested on suspicion of drug crimes Monday in the Netherlands, Georgia, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, and authorities seized hallucinogenic mushrooms, hashish, LSD, marijuana and Ecstasy, the AP reported, citing information from the U.S. attorney's office.

The two-year investigation, dubbed "Operation Adam Bomb, "involved law enforcement agents from several U.S. states and several countries, including Colombia, the Netherlands and Scotland, the U.S. attorney's office said.