Pubdate: Sat, 14 Apr 2001 Source: Commercial Appeal (TN) Section: 1A Copyright: 2001 The Commercial Appeal Contact: http://www.gomemphis.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/95 Author: Bill Dries DUTCH DRUG RUNNER AFRAID TO GO HOME - OPTS FOR PRISON A Dutch man who flew to Memphis last year with more than 6,000 tablets of Ecstasy opted for federal prison Friday rather than deportation to the Netherlands. Saying he feared retribution from his Dutch drug suppliers, Kenneth Julius Caupain of Amsterdam first explored the possibility of deportation to France so he could join the Foreign Legion. But U.S. Dist. Court Judge Jon McCalla told him that wasn't possible. It was either immediate deportation to the Netherlands or federal prison and then deportation. Caupain chose the latter, and McCalla sentenced him to 18 months in prison. Caupain, 20, turned himself in to Memphis police last September and handed over 6,160 tablets of Ecstasy, the popular hallucinogenic club drug. Caupain told authorities he was supposed to deliver the drugs to someone here and then return to Amsterdam with the money. But the other person, who is not named in the federal complaint againt Caupain, didn't bring the money. Caupain told police that when he refused to let the other man have the drugs without paying, he took Caupain's return plane ticket to Amsterdam. With no money and no plane ticket, Caupain called police. He's been in federal custody ever since. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in October on a charge of possession of drugs with intent to distribute. He pleaded guilty in February. At Friday's sentencing hearing Caupain told McCalla that he feared reprisals from his unnamed drug suppliers if he returned to Amsterdam. "They said I better not talk," Caupain told the judge. Caupain's attorney, Ralph Sivilla, told McCalla that Caupain had been exploring the possibility of seeking deportation to France so he could join the Foreign Legion. Established in 1831, the Foreign Legion is a French military unit open to any non-French citizen between 17 and 40. Because it is often dispatched to remote regions of the world, the legion has a reputation as a haven for men seeking to avoid prison or escape a troubled life. But McCalla said the law allowed him to deport Caupain only to the Netherlands. He and Sivilla questioned Caupain closely about his choice of federal prison time and eventual deportation instead of immediate deportation. "You like federal prison that much?" McCalla asked. "His problem is going back to the Netherlands," Sivilla responded. When he completes his 18- month prison term, Caupain is to be deported to the Netherlands. But McCalla left open the possibility that Caupain can make his case to the Immigration and Naturalization Service for deportation to some other country. Caupain is the second person from Amsterdam to face federal drug charges for bringing Ecstasy to Memphis. Dorothy Ingrid Leijen, also of Amsterdam, was indicted March 27 in an unrelated case. Customs officials at Memphis International Airport searched Leijen as she walked into the airport terminal. Federal authorities say the search turned up seven pounds of Ecstasy. Leijen has entered a not guilty plea and is awaiting trial. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth