Ratones ¿próximos detectores de explosivos en aeropuertos?

“OPERATION QUICK SPLASH” UNCOVERED ILLEGAL DOMINICAN LOTTERY SCHEME ALLEGEDLY RUN FROM VARIOUS STOREFRONTS IN THE VILLAGE OF HAVERSTRAW Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe today announced that a five-month long investigation by the Rockland County Intelligence Center, the Haverstraw Police Department and the District Attorney’s Office into an unlawful lottery and illegal gambling operations has resulted in the arrest of 24 individuals, the seizure of United States Currency, numerous computers and gambling receipts and evidence of other crimes. Prosecutors accuse no fewer than ten Village of Haverstraw businesses of conducting illegal betting via the Dominican National Lottery, booking thousands of dollars in wagers over a one-year period. District Attorney Zugibe said, "Illegal gambling is by no means a victimless crime – it provides the fuel that drives a variety of illicit activities, and is often accompanied by an increase in other “quality of life” crimes. These arrests send a clear message: when it comes to illegal gambling in Rockland County, all bets are off.” Ten search warrants were simultaneously executed last night at businesses throughout the Village of Haverstraw by over ninety law enforcement officials. Cash and evidence of illegal gambling operations involving the Dominican National Lottery, Lotería Electrónica Internacional Dominicana S.A., were seized during the raids. The Rockland County Intelligence Center, the Rockland County Sheriff, the FBI, the New York State Liquor Authority, Haverstraw Police Department, Clarkstown Police Department, Stony Point Department, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration & Custom Enforcement, NYS Department of Taxation & Finance and other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies assisted in the takedown of these operations. In total, nineteen law enforcement agencies were involved. 22 of the defendants were arrested on misdemeanor charges including Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree and Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree. These defendants face up to one year in jail if convicted. One defendant was arrested for the felony of Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree. ICE detained five defendants for immigration violations. One defendant was arrested on a beach warrant for failing to appear in court. Zugibe said the search warrants executed last night also resulted in the seizure of illegal cigarettes and evidence of welfare and labor law fraud. More arrests on gambling charges are expected. During the summer of 2010, Haverstraw police and the Rockland County Intelligence Center received complaints from village residents about illegal gambling and other related criminal activity taking place along Broadway and Main Street, near the center of the village. Said Zugibe, "I want to commend local residents for their partnership with local law enforcement. This investigation would not have been possible without members of the community voicing concerns to police and members of the Rockland County Intelligence Center. Our model of Community Prosecution has given local residents a greater voice in prioritizing and solving problems that plague neighborhoods." Between September, 2010 and February, 2011, these defendants were observed, aiding and abetting and acting in concert with each other and others in several storefronts, intentionally conducting and participating in a pattern of criminal activity. Investigative techniques included undercover buys, video surveillance, audio surveillance, subpoenas, confidential informants and information provided by local residents. Haverstraw Police Chief Charles Miller said, “The arrests resulting from this collaborative investigation are evidence that we are serious about pursuing and prosecuting illegal gambling operations. In addition to breaking the law, illegal lotteries cheat the tax system and skirt the rules we must live by.” Thirty one illegal “Pale” bets were made during the course of the investigation at each of the businesses. Nine of the locations are grocery stores, and one is a beauty parlor. One of the small bets paid off and police collected the $280 winnings. The Dominican lottery is similar to the New York Lottery’s Pick 3 game. If the player hits the numbers picked in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, the player could win up to $600 on a $1 investment. All defendants arrested on NY State Criminal charges were arraigned before the Honorable Kevin F. Russo in the Village of Haverstraw Justice Court and are due to return to court on February 9th or February 16th. The 10 locations searched were: Haverstraw Superette 21 Broadway, Haverstraw “Unnamed Grocery” 31 Broadway, Haverstraw 50 Broadway Grocery 50 Broadway, Haverstraw Hershey’s Store 167 Broadway, Haverstraw Bandera Mini Market 175 Broadway, Haverstraw Los Hermanos 20 Main Street, Haverstraw Guzman Grocery 72 Main Street, Haverstraw Sanchez Grocery 35 New Main, Haverstraw Tineo Grocery Store 18 Broad Street, Haverstraw Evelyn Hair Salon 6 West Street, Haverstraw ARRESTED: Rafugio Azepeita: ICE DOB : 9/16/81 Tarasa Capellan: Bail $5,000 DOB : 1/13/73 153 Hudson Ave, Haverstraw Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree Return Date: 2/9/2011 Josefina Diaz: Bail $1,000 ICE DOB : 12/15/58 20 Main St., Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree (2 Counts); Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree (3 Counts) Return Date: 2/9/2011 Rafael Diaz: Bail $1,000 ICE DOB : 7/6/61 153 Hudson Ave, Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree Return Date: 2/9/2011 Antonio Dominguez: Bail $1,000 DOB : 2/15/53 67 Hudson Avenue Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree (2 Counts) Return Date: 2/16/2011 Benard Gutierrez: Bail $1,000 DOB : 6/21/77 73 Roosevelt Drive, West Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree (2 Counts) Return Date: 2/9/2011 Braulio Guzman: Bail $1,000 ICE DOB : 3/26/61 31 Broadway, Haverstraw Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree Return Date: 2/9/2011 Candido Hiciano: $1,000 DOB : 3/21/56 3 Allison Avenue, Apt. 2, Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree (2 Counts) Return Date: 2/16/2011 Marino Infanteo: $1,000 DOB : 4/4/70 26 West St., Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree (4 Counts), Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree (2 Counts) Return Date: 2/9/2011 Jose Leon: Bail $1,000 DOB : 10/5/67 142 Broadway, Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree Return Date: 2/16/2011 Edis Lopez: Bail $1,000 DOB : 8/25/68 175 Broadway, Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree (4 Counts); Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree Return Date: 2/16/2011 Ramon Lopez: Bail $1,000 DOB : 12/1/86 131 Broom Street, New York, NY Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree (2 Counts) Return Date: 2/16/2011 Ramon Martinez: Bail $1,000 ICE DOB : 11/1/76 27 Broad St., Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree (2 Counts) Return Date: 2/9/2011 Danny Peralta: Bail $1,000 DOB : 10/20/80 31 Broadway, Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree (2 Counts) Return Date: 2/9/2011 Andres Reyes Lopez: Bail $1,000 DOB : 1/28/67 16 Rockland St., Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree (2 Counts) Return Date: 2/9/2011 Adamo Rodriquez: AT DOB : 4/26/72 12 Third St., Haverstaw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree Julio Rodriguez: Bail $1,000 DOB : 11/20/87 172 Broadway, Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree (2 Counts) Return Date: 2/16/2011 Evelyn Rosario: ROR DOB : 3/29/78 6 West St., Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree (4 Counts); Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree Return Date: 2/9/2011 Daniel Sanchez: Bail $1,000 DOB : 6/14/72 167 Broadway, Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree (3 Counts); Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree (3 Counts) Return Date: 2/9/2011 Roberto Sanchez: Bail $5,000 DOB : 10/9/72 35 New Main St., Haverstraw Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree; Possession of Gambling Records in the Second Degree (5 Counts); Cigarette and Tobacco Products Tax Violation Return Date: 2/16/2011 Ramon Tavares: AT DOB : 11/1/46 303 Warren Knolls, Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree Fabio Tineo: Bail $5,000 DOB : 1/20/74 9 Fairmount Ave, Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree ( 2 Counts) Return Date: 2/16/2011 Marcelino Vasquez: Bail $1,000 DOB : 1/21/50 50 Broadway, Haverstraw Possession of Gambling Records of the Second Degree (4 Counts); Promoting Gambling in the Second Degree It should be noted that criminal charges are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Escáneres de cuerpo completo y escrutinios personalizados parecieran no ser suficientes para mantener la seguridad en aeropuertos y aviones; científicos israelíes aseguran que ratones amaestrados funcionarían mejor que todo lo anterior.

Los hermanos Eran y Alon Lumbroso dicen haber construido un detector de explosivos que luce como un escáner de cuerpo completo pero en vez de hacer honor a la tecnología, el aparato es operado por ratones, según publica la revista New Scientist.

Eran y Alon, que eran parte de una unidad de detectar explosivos en Israel, fundaron una compañía llamada BioExplorers, con base en Herzeliya. Allí ellos aseguran adiestran ratones que pueden detectar explosivos de manera más eficiente que los famosos escáneres.

El aparato contiene tres compartimientos, en cada uno de ellos hay ratones adiestrados para detectar hasta el más débil rastro de explosivos. Si un pasajero contaminado con alguna sustancia química sospechosa pasa por el aparato los ratones lo detectan y corren a un segundo compartimiento, lo que hace que se active una alarma.

"Es como si olieran un gato cerca y entonces salen corriendo", dijo Eran, quien concibió la idea de este aparato cuando se desempeñaba como Mayor del Ejército de Israel.

A diferencia de los perros, que a menudo son entrenados para detectar explosivos y drogas, los ratones no requieren interacción constante con sus entrenadores y mucho menos golosinas para mantenerlos motivados. Otra ventaja es que los ratones pueden vivir en jaulas, con acceso ilimitado a comida y agua. Cada ratón "trabajaría" dos turnos de cuatro horas al día, y tendría una vida útil de 18 meses, explica la revista.

Por otro lado el talento de los ratones para olfatear es mayor que el de los perros, aseguran los científicos. Estos últimos tienen sólo 756 receptores olfativos mientras que los ratones 1120, lo que los hace más sensibles a los olores.

Una de las ventajas de un detector de explosivos "operado por ratones" es que no hay que preocuparse por que lo vean a uno desnudos. Esto, sin duda, podría ser un atractivo para los férreos defensores de la privacidad. Piénselo.

La empresa puso a prueba el detector por primera vez en diciembre del año pasado en un centro comercial llamado Azrieli en Tel Aviv. Más de Mil personas pasaron a través del aparato, a 22 de ellas se le dio una muestra de explosivos falsos y los ratones lograron detectar los 22 paquetes. Los hermanos aseguran que el por ciento de falsa alarma es menor de 0.1.