On-duty MTA bus driver busted for heroin trafficking after smuggler meets him along his route with $3M worth of dope: court papers
Francis Abankwa arranged the meeting with the smuggler, Boubacar Traore, aboard his BX2 bus route in the Bronx on April 17, according to a Brooklyn Federal Court Criminal complaint.
BY Pete Donohue , John Marzulli
Francis Abankwa allegedly picked up the heroin smuggler while driving the BX2 bus on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx.
All aboard the heroin express in the Bronx.
An on-duty city bus driver was busted after picking up a heroin smuggler carrying $3 million worth of dope on his BX2 bus route in a pre-arranged rendezvous on the Grand Concourse, the Daily News has learned.
The driver, Francis Abankwa, was nabbed by federal agents after the last passenger got off his bus and he and the smuggler finished the journey at the Kingsbridge Depot in Inwood, according to court papers.
Abankwa did not know that the smuggler, Boubacar Traore, had been caught with heroin in his luggage earlier in the day at Kennedy Airport and had agreed to cooperate with Homeland Security agents, according to the complaint filed in Brooklyn Federal Court.
U.S. Border & Customs Boubacar Traore allegedly smuggled 3.5 kilos of heroin in this burgundy Samsonite roller bag.
The shocking tale that would have Ralph Kramden bellowing, “You are a blabbermouth!” began around 11 a.m. April 17 when Traore arrived in the city on a British Airways flight from London that originated in Tanzania, according to court papers.
Customs & Border Protection officers spotted an unclaimed Samsonite roller bag in the baggage carousel and traced it to Traore, a father of seven who operates a grocery shop in Ghana.
Traore flipped like a cheap suit and agreed to carry out the delivery under the supervision of federal agents, according to the papers.
U.S. Customs & Border U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers spotted the unclaimed bag at Kennedy Airport and questioned Traore.
Calling a cell phone number he had been provided by a drug trafficker, Traore spoke to Abankwa who allegedly set up a meeting at a bus stop on the Grand Concourse and East Tremont Ave.
Traore was waiting when Abankwa rolled up in his city bus. Two undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agents were already aboard posing as passengers.
The undercover agents got off before the last stop and Traore rode the bus all the way to the depot with Abankwa, where they were both arrested by NYPD, Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security investigators.
James Keivom/New York Daily News Both men were arrested at the Kingsbridge Depot in Inwood.
“We didn’t want to make the arrest on the bus and have a situation like ‘Speed,’” said a source, referring to the action flick in which a bus races through the city with a bomb aboard.
Traore, 42, a U.S. citizen, was released on $100,000 bail as a reward for his help. Abankwa, 50, is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center. He faces at least 10 years in prison if convicted.
Abankwa has worked for the MTA for eight years and earned $102,000 in 2012, including overtime. He was already facing legal problems — in February he was charged with fraudulently collecting Medicaid benefits for his wife and child.
With Edgar Sandoval and Shayna Jacobs
On-duty MTA bus driver busted for heroin trafficking after smuggler meets him along his route with $3M worth of dope: court papers - NY Daily News
"We don't do business with Akata"
"Man what the fukk is this Akata shyt?"
"Akata, cotton picker"
Francis Abankwa arranged the meeting with the smuggler, Boubacar Traore, aboard his BX2 bus route in the Bronx on April 17, according to a Brooklyn Federal Court Criminal complaint.
BY Pete Donohue , John Marzulli
Francis Abankwa allegedly picked up the heroin smuggler while driving the BX2 bus on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx.
All aboard the heroin express in the Bronx.
An on-duty city bus driver was busted after picking up a heroin smuggler carrying $3 million worth of dope on his BX2 bus route in a pre-arranged rendezvous on the Grand Concourse, the Daily News has learned.
The driver, Francis Abankwa, was nabbed by federal agents after the last passenger got off his bus and he and the smuggler finished the journey at the Kingsbridge Depot in Inwood, according to court papers.
Abankwa did not know that the smuggler, Boubacar Traore, had been caught with heroin in his luggage earlier in the day at Kennedy Airport and had agreed to cooperate with Homeland Security agents, according to the complaint filed in Brooklyn Federal Court.
The shocking tale that would have Ralph Kramden bellowing, “You are a blabbermouth!” began around 11 a.m. April 17 when Traore arrived in the city on a British Airways flight from London that originated in Tanzania, according to court papers.
Customs & Border Protection officers spotted an unclaimed Samsonite roller bag in the baggage carousel and traced it to Traore, a father of seven who operates a grocery shop in Ghana.
Traore flipped like a cheap suit and agreed to carry out the delivery under the supervision of federal agents, according to the papers.
Calling a cell phone number he had been provided by a drug trafficker, Traore spoke to Abankwa who allegedly set up a meeting at a bus stop on the Grand Concourse and East Tremont Ave.
Traore was waiting when Abankwa rolled up in his city bus. Two undercover Drug Enforcement Administration agents were already aboard posing as passengers.
The undercover agents got off before the last stop and Traore rode the bus all the way to the depot with Abankwa, where they were both arrested by NYPD, Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security investigators.
“We didn’t want to make the arrest on the bus and have a situation like ‘Speed,’” said a source, referring to the action flick in which a bus races through the city with a bomb aboard.
Traore, 42, a U.S. citizen, was released on $100,000 bail as a reward for his help. Abankwa, 50, is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center. He faces at least 10 years in prison if convicted.
Abankwa has worked for the MTA for eight years and earned $102,000 in 2012, including overtime. He was already facing legal problems — in February he was charged with fraudulently collecting Medicaid benefits for his wife and child.
With Edgar Sandoval and Shayna Jacobs
On-duty MTA bus driver busted for heroin trafficking after smuggler meets him along his route with $3M worth of dope: court papers - NY Daily News
"We don't do business with Akata"
"Man what the fukk is this Akata shyt?"
"Akata, cotton picker"
for them being out here pa-trolling&taxing thee poor people dough..muhfukkers were out there today collecting their blood taxes/cursing people..
