02 June 2003
Bush Sends Congress Latest List of Foreign Drug "Kingpins"
(Cites individuals, entities from Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Burma) (480)
President Bush has notified Congress of the fourth set of
determinations of drug traffickers who will be subject to the
sanctions provided in the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act
("Kingpin Act"), according to a statement issued June 2 by the White
House.
This is the first year that the president has identified foreign
entities as kingpins, in addition to individual traffickers, the White
House said. Of the seven newly designated kingpins, six are from Latin
America -- three from Mexico, one from Brazil, and two from Colombia.
The White House indicated that the president's action underscores his
"determination to pursue narco-terrorists."
The Kingpin Act "targets, on a worldwide basis, significant foreign
narcotics traffickers, their organizations, and operatives," the White
House added. "Its fundamental objective is to deny these foreign
individuals and entities access to the U.S. financial system and all
trade and transactions involving U.S. companies and individuals. The
Kingpin Act does not target the countries in which these foreign
individuals and entities are operating or the governments of such
countries."
Following is the text of the White House statement, with further
details:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
(Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt)
June 2, 2003
STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY
Presidential Designation of Foreign Narcotics Kingpins
The President notified the Congress of the fourth set of
determinations of drug traffickers who will be subject to the
sanctions provided in the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act
("Kingpin Act"). This is the first year the President has identified
foreign entities as kingpins.
This action underscores the President's determination to pursue
narco-terrorists. This action also underscores the President's
determination to do everything possible to fight drug traffickers,
undermine their operations, and end the suffering that trade in
illicit drugs inflicts on Americans and other people around the world.
The Kingpin Act, which became law in December 1999, targets, on a
worldwide basis, significant foreign narcotics traffickers, their
organizations, and operatives. Its fundamental objective is to deny
these foreign individuals and entities access to the U.S. financial
system and all trade and transactions involving U.S. companies and
individuals. The Kingpin Act does not target the countries in which
these foreign individuals and entities are operating or the
governments of such countries.
The additional foreign individuals and entities that the President has
determined are appropriate for sanctions pursuant to the Kingpin Act
are:
Juan Jose Esparragoza Moreno (Mexico)
Jose Albino Quintero Meraz (Mexico)
Hector Luis Palma Salazar (Mexico)
Leonardo Dias Mendonca (Brazil)
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Colombia)
(Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia, "FARC")
United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (Colombia) (Autodefensas Unidas
de Colombia, "AUC")
United Wa State Army (Burma)
The initial list of foreign drug kingpins was released in June 2000,
and the names just released are additions to that list.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
