DATE=3/25/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-228720
TITLE=LATAM/DRUGS (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=MICHAEL DRUDGE
DATELINE=SAN JOSE
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE U-S DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SAYS THERE IS NO
EVIDENCE COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS ARE INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL
NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING. THE ISSUE CAME UP AT A MEETING IN COSTA
RICA OF ANTI-NARCOTICS POLICE OFFICIALS FROM 38 COUNTRIES.
CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL DRUDGE HAS MORE.
TEXT: COLOMBIAN AUTHORITIES SAY THEY ARE ALARMED BY INCREASING
LINKS BETWEEN LEFTIST GUERRILLAS AND DRUG TRAFFICKERS IN THE
SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY.
THE COLOMBIAN NATIONAL POLICE CHIEF, GENERAL ROSSO JOSE SERRANO,
HAS RAISED THE ISSUE AT THIS WEEK'S INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF
ANTI-NARCOTICS POLICE CHIEFS. THE MEETING IN COSTA RICA HAS
BROUGHT TOGETHER ABOUT 150 OFFICIALS FROM 38 COUNTRIES IN THE
WESTERN HEMISPHERE, EUROPE, AND ASIA.
COLOMBIAN OFFICIALS SAY THE GUERRILLAS TURNED TO DRUG TRAFFICKERS
FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT AFTER THE COLD WAR ENDED AND FUNDS
EVAPORATED FROM SOVIET BLOC COUNTRIES. THEY SAY THE TIE-UP
THREATENS COLOMBIA'S ATTEMPTS TO QUASH THE DRUG TRADE.
BUT THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE U-S DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, THOMAS
CONSTANTINE, PLAYS DOWN THE IMPACT OF THE GUERRILLAS ON THE
INTERNATIONAL DRUG SCENE.
/// INSERT CONSTANTINE ACT NO. 1 ///
THEY ACT AS A PROTECTING FORCE FOR THE TRAFFICKERS AND
THE MANUFACTURERS. WHAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN YET, AND WE
VIEW EVERY CASE INTENTLY, IS THESE ORGANIZATIONS
INVOLVED IN INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING, WHERE
THEY WOULD HAVE THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN OTHER COUNTRIES
TO ARRANGE THE TRANSPORTATION, TO ARRANGE THE
DISTRIBUTION TO ARRANGE TO BRING THE MONEY BACK TO
COLOMBIA, TO INVOLVE THEMSELVES IN MONEY-LAUNDERING.
THESE ARE ALL TRADITIONAL CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES THAT WE
INVESTIGATE.
/// END ACT ///
/// OPT /// MR. CONSTANTINE SAYS THE D-E-A GIVES COLOMBIAN
POLICE TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT TO FIGHT CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS,
BUT HE SAYS THERE IS NO ROLE FOR HIS AGENCY IN COMBATING
COLOMBIAN GUERRILLAS.
/// INSERT CONSTANTINE ACT NO. 2 ///
THE DEALINGS OF ONE GOVERNMENT WITH SUBVERSIVE GROUPS
WITHIN THEIR OWN COUNTRY REALLY WOULD NOT BE A ROLE FOR
THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION.
/// END ACT AND OPT ///
THE LEFTIST REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLOMBIA (FARC)
RECENTLY THREATENED U-S MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL,
ACCUSING THEM OF HELPING THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT FIGHT THE
GUERRILLAS. THE UNITED STATES SAYS ITS ASSISTANCE IS STRICTLY
LIMITED TO COUNTER-NARCOTICS WORK. (SIGNED).
NEB/MWD/RAE
25-Mar-98 2:16 PM EST (1916 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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