United States Attorney A. Brian Albritton
Middle District of Florida

TURKISH DRUG TRAFFICKERS CONVICTED

Tampa, Florida – U.S. Attorney A. Brian Albritton announces that on June 10, 2010, a federal Jury found Nurullah Yildirim (age 44 , of Turkey) and Benli Hakan Huseyin Ummahani (age 33, of Turkey) guilty of conspiring to possess with intent to distribute at least 5 kilograms of cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and possession with intent to distribute at least 5 kilograms of cocaine while on board a vessel subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Each defendant faces a maximum sentence of life in federal prison. No sentencing hearing has yet been set.

According to evidence presented at trial, the defendants and a co-conspirator of Colombian nationality conspired on February 24, 2010, to possess with intent to deliver 907 kilograms of cocaine while on a sail boat, the "The Caribbean Dream," which was interdicted by the United States Coast Guard Cutter "Campbell" in the Caribbean Sea.

This case was investigated by the Panama Express Strike Force (PANEX) which is a federally - approved Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) consisting of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Coast Guard, the Internal Revenue Service, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez.