DATE=4/7/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-229347
TITLE=MCCAFFREY/DRUGS (L)
BYLINE=JAMES BLEARS
DATELINE=MEXICO CITY
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U.S. DRUG CZAR GENERAL BARRY MCCAFFREY, WHO HAS BEEN IN
MEXICO FOR THE FIFTH MEETING OF THE BI-NATIONAL HIGH LEVEL
CONTACT GROUP, SAYS THAT AUTHORITIES ARE FACING A NEW THREAT IN
DRUG MONEY LAUNDERING: NEARLY INSTANT TRANSFERS OF ILLEGAL CASH
WITH THE CLICK OF A COMPUTER MOUSE. JAMES BLEARS IN MEXICO CITY
REPORTS.
TEXT: MEXICO FORMULATED DRUG MONEY LAUNDERING LAWS LESS THAN
THREE YEARS AGO. THERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN A NUMBER OF CROSS
BORDER INVESTIGATIONS WHICH HAVE LED TO SCORES OF ARRESTS.
HOWEVER, GENERAL MCCAFFREY SAYS THAT THE TRAFFICKERS ARE NOW
FAVORING COMPUTERIZED TRANSFERS OF MONEY RATHER THAN STASHING IT
IN BANKS, AND THIS IS PROVING A PROBLEM FOR BOTH U-S AND MEXICAN
AUTHORITIES.
///MCCAFFREY ACT///
THE EASIEST THING TO CLEAN UP IS THE BANKING SYSTEM.
THAT IS UNDERWAY. THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGES ARE THE NEW
FORMS INCLUDING WIRE TRANSFER OF MONEY, CYBER CASH AND
THE PHYSICAL MOVEMENT OF MONEY.
///END ACT///
THE HIGH LEVEL CONTACT GROUP HAS BEEN DISCUSSING A U-S ANTI-DRUG
SYSTEM OF ASSESSMENT CALLED "THE PERFORMANCE MEASURES OF
EFFECTIVENESS," WHICH HAS BEEN USED FOR A YEAR, NORTH OF THE
BORDER. GENERAL MCCAFFREY SAID THAT IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT TO
INTERPRET AND ASSESS HOW EFFECTIVE THIS TOOL WOULD BE IF IT WERE
EXTENDED TO MEXICO.
GENERAL MCCAFREY EXPLAINED HOW FRUSTRATING THE ANTI DRUG EFFORTS
CAN BE. HE SAID THAT A POWERFUL X-RAY MACHINE, AT ONE BORDER
CROSSING, HAD RESULTED IN THE CLOSING OF THIS SMUGGLING LOOPHOLE
ONLY FOR IT TO APPEAR ELSEWHERE.
///MCCAFFREY SECOND ACT///
THE REASON IS BECAUSE IT IS SO EFFECTIVE THAT DRUG
SMUGGLERS HAVE MOVED TO OTHER PORTS OF ENTRY.
///END ACT///
THE MEXICAN DRUG GANGS ARE AMONG THE MOST VIOLENT IN THE WORLD.
THE MOST NOTORIOUS ONE IS THAT OF THE ARRELLANO FELIX BROTHERS
BASED IN TIJUANA. THEY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MURDERS OF
SCORES OF POLICE AND JUSTICE OFFICIALS AND EVEN AN ARCHBISHOP.
GENERAL MCCAFFREY SAYS THAT CONCERTED EFFORTS AND COMBINED
INTELLIGENCE ARE CLOSING IN ON THE ARRELLANO FELIX BROTHERS.
///MCCAFFREY THIRD ACT///
I WOULD ASSERT THAT THERE IS A BLOW TORCH OF HEAT ON
THAT CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION AMONG OTHERS.
///END ACT///
YET THE FACT REMAINS THAT RAMON ARRELLANO FELIX HAS BEEN ON THE
F-B-I'S TEN MOST WANTED LIST FOR MONTHS, AND NEITHER HE NOR ANY
OF HIS BROTHERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED. (SIGNED)
NEB/JB/TMD-T/PLM
07-Apr-98 7:07 PM EDT (2307 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
NEWSLETTER
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|