The Umansky Law Firm

Five students at Columbia University in New York are facing serious drug charges after police there broke up what they are calling a drug ring. The students allegedly sold LSD-spiked candy and other drugs to three fraternity houses and other residences around the campus.

New York law enforcement has said this is one of the largest drug busts on a New York City college campus in recent memory. The students were all arrested at dawn on Tuesday, December 7.

The arrests came after a five-month investigation, which the police dubbed "Operation Ivy League." They allegedly used an undercover agent posing as a middleman for another college outside of the city. The officer then allegedly made over 30 purchases of LSD, marijuana, cocaine, Ecstasy, and prescription drugs. The investigation led authorities to drug traffickers in Brooklyn and the East Village. One of the traffickers was charged with plotting to kidnap his rival dealers and hold them for ransom.

Most of the students' drug customers seem to have been other students and friends who bought small amounts for recreational use. The suspects are all between the ages of 20 and 22, and were majoring in a variety of areas, including engineering and biology. One of them had applied to graduate school. One of the students allegedly told police he was selling drugs to pay for his tuition.

There are dozens of colleges and universities in the state of Florida, and it would be naïve to believe that this kind of thing isn't going on around these campuses. Florida is, after all, a major drug hub. It's likely that a few of the students at these institutions of higher learning may be trying to pay for their education by dealing drugs. It will be extremely unfortunate if these students are arrested and charged with drug trafficking.

If you have been charged with a drug offense in Orange County or Orlando, Florida, or anywhere else in the state of Florida, please contact the experienced criminal defense attorneys at the Umansky Law Firm today.