Leader of international drug trafficking conspiracy sentenced to 15 years

WILMINGTON, Del. — The leader of an international drug trafficking conspiracy was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in federal prison. The sentence resulted from a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Internal Revenue Service's Criminal Investigation Division and the Wilmington Police Department.

Kelvin Cook, 35, of Wilmington, was sentenced for his role in the conspiracy.

According to court documents, Cook was one of the leaders of an organization that recruited multiple drug couriers to travel to Panama in order to smuggle cocaine and heroin into the United States. Agents identified 19 couriers who took smuggling trips on behalf of the organization. Those individuals smuggled, or attempted to smuggle, more than 13 kilograms of cocaine and five kilograms of heroin from Panama to Delaware.

Cook was also responsible for a significant crack cocaine distribution network on West Sixth Street in Wilmington.

In addition, on one occasion, Cook obtained more than 100 grams of heroin from a Texas source, who had imported heroin directly from Afghanistan.

"The court's sentence appropriately punished Mr. Cook for his involvement in a major drug trafficking organization that had a negative impact on Wilmington and the surrounding communities," said United States Attorney Charles M. Oberly III. "It further sends a message that there are significant consequences for engaging in large-scale drug trafficking within the State of Delaware. I commend our law enforcement partners for their hard work and considerable cooperation over the course of a three-year investigation that dismantled the organization and brought over 20 individuals to justice."