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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
1996 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, March 1997
United States Department of State
Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Other US Assistance Provided
Drug Enforcement Administration
The preeminent responsibility of the Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA) is to reduce and ultimately minimize the impact posed by illicit
drugs to our nation. All cocaine and heroin as well as some marijuana and
other dangerous drugs are produced outside the United States. These
illicit drugs are smuggled from the countries of their source, usually
through other countries to the U.S. Therefore, the reduction of illicit
drug availability in the U.S. requires a strong international
counternarcotics strategy. In cooperation and coordination with other
nations, as well as other U.S. agencies, DEA strives to concurrently
suppress illicit drug production; disrupt the availability of these drugs
in the distribution chain; arrest and prosecute those involved in any
aspect of illegal drug trafficking; and seize their profits and assets.
The primary contribution of DEA in implementing our international
counternarcotics strategy is accomplished through the 70 offices that DEA
maintains in 50 countries worldwide. The DEA overseas mission is
fivefold:
In most countries where DEA maintains offices, DEA carries out all of
the above functions with emphasis determined on the basis of the conditions
existing in each country. In some instances, where the Host Nation's drug
enforcement system is advanced, a DEA Country Office may limit its function
to selected activities instead of the full range of programs indicated
above.
With the exception of DEA's training mission which is addressed
elsewhere, the following are a few examples of the assistance DEA provided
host nation counterparts in furtherance of our mission during 1996:
(1) Bilateral Investigations:
DEA's Country Offices work with elements of the Host Nations (HN) Law
Enforcement Agencies (LEA) to investigate activities of drug traffickers
that lead to indictments and prosecutions in either the host country, the
U.S. or a third country. Whenever appropriate and feasible, intelligence
information on major traffickers operating in host countries is shared with
HN LEAs to enhance their investigative knowledge. Some examples of DEA's
work with HN LEAs follow:
On January 14, 1996, after an extensive joint investigation, officers
from the National Institute for the Combat of Drugs, in cooperation with
the DEA Mexico City Country Office, arrested Juan Garcia-Abrego in
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. He is the leader of a major international
polydrug trafficking organization based out of Matamoros, Tamaulipas and
Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico that was responsible for importing and
distributing multi-ton quantities of cocaine and marijuana throughout the
United States. Shortly after his arrest, the Mexican Government expelled
him to the U.S. to face outstanding drug trafficking charges on file in the
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. On October 16,
1996, after a month long trial, a jury found Garcia-Abrego guilty on all
twenty-two counts of the indictment which included charges of drug
trafficking, money laundering and operating a Continuing Criminal
Enterprise. The jury also increased the dollar amount of forfeitable
assets from $275.1 million to $350 million. On January 31, 1997, the court
sentenced Juan Garcia-Abrego to eleven life sentences for eleven drug
offense convictions. He also received an additional 180 years for money
laundering charges. In addition, the judge fined Garcia-Abrego
$128,000,000 over and above the jury's previous forfeiture of assets.
In Thailand, during 1996, the infamous heroin warlord, Chang Chi-fu,
a.k.a Khun Sa, surrendered his Shan United Army (SUA) to Burmese
authorities, ending an era in southeast Asia heroin trafficking history.
In large measure, his surrender was due to cooperative efforts between DEA
and Thai drug law enforcement authorities, in which key members of Chang's
heroin empire were indicted in the United States and arrested in Thailand
for extradition to the United States. Due to disruption of heroin
production by the SUA in Burma, remnants of the SUA attempted to establish
heroin refining laboratories on the Thailand side of the border. Through
joint DEA-Thai intelligence collection and investigative activity, three of
these refineries were seized by Thai Border Patrol Police during the
year.
During April 1996, the Panamanian Judicial Technical Police and the
Public Ministry's Drug Prosecutor's Office, with the assistance of the DEA
Panama Country Office, arrested Jose Castrillon-Henao for cocaine
conspiracy. Jose Castrillon-Henao is a major cocaine trafficker and money
launderer. Numerous DEA domestic and foreign offices contributed their
expertise in the analysis of seized documents that pertained to the legal
and financial matters of Castrillon and his associates.
In 1996, as a result of joint investigations by DEA Lima, Peru Country
Office and the Peruvian Police Anti-Drug Directorate (DINANDRO), a number
of significant enforcement actions were undertaken by the host country.
These actions resulted in the seizure of 20 tons of cocaine, over 365,000
kilograms of essential chemicals, and over 5 million dollars in trafficker
assets. One of the most noteworthy investigations led to the arrest of
Willer Alvarado-Linares (a.k.a. Champa) who was Peru's most wanted drug
trafficker.
In Colombia, DEA conducts numerous bilateral investigations with the
Colombian National Police (CNP) in support of its drug law enforcement
operations. In 1996, under Operation Emerald Clipper, 36 aircraft were
seized as a direct result of the DEA support of this program. The total
value of the seized aircraft is $17,530,000. As a result of Operation
Emerald Clipper and the successes of the program, the CNP has developed a
general aviation inspection program concept that is being turned into law.
This will enable the CNP to search suspect aircraft with greater ease and
authority. The law will increase the ability of the CNP to seize illegal
aircraft, resulting in their forfeiture.
In August 1995 the Bern, Switzerland Country Office and the Swiss
National Police initiated a routine investigation that, with the assistance
of several other DEA offices, subsequently uncovered illegal assets hidden
by the Raul Salinas cocaine trafficking organization. As a result, in
1996, Swiss authorities have blocked more than 103 million dollars of
suspected narcotics proceeds in over twenty Swiss bank accounts.
Through cooperative investigations by DEA and Thai authorities, Anan
Detnambanchachai, one of those responsible for a shipment of 168 kilograms
of heroin seized in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1993 was indicted in the
United States and arrested by Thai authorities. Thai authorities are
holding Anan Detnambanchachai pending extradition to the United States.
During the joint investigation, DEA and Thai officials obtained information
concerning the shipment of 72 kilograms of heroin to Singapore. This
information was passed to Singapore authorities who made that nation's
largest heroin seizure ever. The heroin en route from Singapore to Fiji,
was destined for either Australia or the United States. Also, in another
joint investigation, Thai authorities arrested Li Yun Chung and Cha Chung
Chang for their involvement in the shipment of 486 kilograms of heroin
seized in Oakland, California in 1991. This heroin seizure remains the
largest ever in the United States.
In 1996, the Venezuelan National Guard and the office of Venezuela's
Attorney General, in cooperation with the DEA Caracas, Venezuela Country
Office and the DEA New York Field Division, successfully completed the
first judicially authorized controlled delivery of approximately 570
kilograms of cocaine from Venezuela to the United States. This represents
a departure from the historical condemnation by the Venezuelan authorities
of any use of controlled deliveries as an enforcement tool and will pave
the way for similar operations in the future.
In November, the Guatemalan Treasury Police, in conjunction with the DEA
Guatemala City, Guatemala Country Office, seized 1,004 kilograms of
cocaine. As part of the follow-on investigation, two bi-national
controlled deliveries occurred. In the first controlled delivery, 254
kilograms were delivered to suspects in Guatemala while the second
controlled delivery took place in Houston, Texas. These controlled
delivery in Houston exposed and disrupted four cocaine distribution cells
including a major Canadian distribution network. It also exposed an
elaborate food canning operation located in Houston which concealed cocaine
in sealed cans for shipment to the east coast. An additional 263 kilos of
cocaine were seized in Houston , along with numerous arrests in Texas and
New Jersey as a result of the investigation.
The Argentine Prefectura Naval, the Buenos Aires, Argentina Country
Office, and the DEA Baltimore, Maryland Resident Office conducted a joint
investigation of the cocaine trafficking activities of Oscar Menjibar, a
major Salvadoran trafficker. The investigation resulted in the seizure of
22 kilograms of cocaine and the arrest of Menjibar and two of his principal
associates. During the investigation, the Prefectura Naval conducted their
first successful undercover operation since the passage of the Argentine
Narcotics law reforms of 1994.
Nigerian traffickers, centered in Bangkok, Thailand, smuggle Southeast
Asian heroin to international destinations, particularly to the United
States. The Royal Thai Police and DEA have worked closely together to
identify and take enforcement action against these heroin organizations.
During 1996, much of these joint investigative activities were directed
toward one organization that was supplying heroin to other Nigerian
trafficking groups in Chicago and Boston. In a coordinated, worldwide law
enforcement operation called Global Sea, Thai authorities arrested the
principal sources of supply and are holding them for extradition to the
United States.
In November, the Costa Rican Judicial Police with assistance from the
DEA San Jose Country Office investigated a Costa Rican export company that
transported large quantities of cocaine concealed within legitimate fruit
and vegetables containers destined for Miami and New York. During the
investigation, Costa Rican officials seized 645 kilograms of cocaine from
the organization. Officials arrested one U.S. citizen, two Dominicans, two
Colombians and one Costa Rican. This was the second largest seizure of
cocaine in Costa Rica to date.
As a direct result of the effective working relationship between DEA
Bolivia and the Bolivian National Police, 20 persons, including family
members of Jose Luis Pereira-Salas, and Colombian national David
Jaimes-Tarasona, an associate of the Miguel Rodriguez-Orejuela
organization, were arrested in June 1996, in phase two of an investigation
that had netted 10 arrests and 85 kilograms of cocaine HCL in April. In
addition, 25 kilograms of cocaine HCL were seized, along with 10 vehicles,
6 residences, and 2 cattle ranches. The successful culmination of the
investigation was a direct result of extensive cooperation between DEA
offices in Bolivia, Mexico and Miami, Florida.
In April 1996, a bilateral investigation conducted by the DEA Hong Kong
Country Office and the Royal Hong Kong Police Narcotics Bureau resulted in
the seizure of 600 kilograms of heroin in Guangdong Province, People's
Republic of China. A major heroin smuggling group based in Hong Kong
planned to transport the heroin to the city of Guangzhou in Guangdong
Province and onward to Hong Kong. Evidence indicated that this group is
responsible for smuggling approximately 100 shipments involving unknown
quantities of heroin during the two years prior to this seizure.
Additional investigations by DEA offices in the Far East and New York have
established that this smuggling group has previously supplied heroin to
traffickers in the United States and that a portion of the heroin seized in
Guangdong Province was intended for distribution in the United States.
On June 5, 1996, the Colombian National Police, as part of a joint
investigation with the DEA Bogota, Colombia Country Office and the Miami
Field Division, conducted a total of 38 raids in Bogota, Medellin and Cali,
Colombia. Six defendants were arrested in Colombia and 123 bank accounts
were frozen. At the same time, the Miami FD, arrested 4 defendants,
including the target of the investigation, Blanca Ortiz-Piedad, who is a
branch manager of Bank Atlantic in Miami, Florida. Approximately 1,100
accounts at the bank were frozen by the DEA Miami Field Division. These
arrests and seizures were the result of a 5-month investigation by the
Miami FD and the Bogota Country Office.
In 1996, Thai authorities extradited Thanong Siripreechapong to the
United States. He is an accused international marijuana smuggler, who used
his ill-gotten gains to buy his way into the Thai Parliament. Much of the
evidence that will be used to prosecute Thanong was collected jointly by
the DEA Bangkok, Thailand Country Office and the Thai drug law enforcement
authorities. This marks the first case where Thai authorities extradited a
Thai citizen to the United States to face drug trafficking charges.
The DEA Istanbul, Turkey Resident Office initiated an investigation with
the Turkish National Police which culminated in a 55 kilogram seizure of
heroin in Spokane, Washington. This investigation involved Abdul Wahid,
the courier, and Mohammed Ramzan, the source of supply from Pakistan. DEA
undercover Special Agents arrested Abdul Wahid in the United States at the
time of the seizure. The United States is requesting the extradition of
Mohammed Ramzan from Pakistan. To date this is the largest heroin seizure
in the state of Washington.
The Nicosia, Cyprus Country Office and the Lebanese Internal Security
Force began a multi-national investigation into the cocaine trafficking
organization of Simone Hayek and William Moises. The investigation
resulted in the arrest of 14 defendants in Lebanon and the seizure of 116
kilograms of cocaine. The Hayek and Moises organization had smuggled the
cocaine via containerized cargo ship from Venezuela. Through leads
developed in Lebanon, and with the assistance of the Nicosia Country Office
and the Milan Resident Office, Italian authorities seized 400 additional
kilograms of cocaine in Italy. The Nicosia Country Office, reviewing
seized documents, discovered three bank accounts used by the organization
in Miami, Florida. In a separate investigation of an organization
connected with Hayek and Moises, the DEA Miami Field Division arrested
seven defendants and seized 503 kilograms of cocaine.
(2) Coordinate Intelligence Gathering:
The Drug Enforcement Administration in Thailand worked with Thai drug
law enforcement authorities throughout 1996, targeting major international
drug trafficking organizations. The remnants of the Shan United Army (SUA)
were a priority focus during the year, however the focus began to shift to
the United Wa State Army (UWSA) which appears to have filled much of the
heroin production void left by the surrender of Chang Chi-fu and his SUA.
Joint intelligence collection activities have identified the UWSA as also
being a principal producer of methamphetamine, another serious drug of
abuse in Asia.
The DEA London, England Country Office provided to Her Majesty's Customs
& Excise intelligence, developed by the Los Angeles Field Division,
concerning suspected drug trafficking of a Turkish national, residing in
the United Kingdom. The London Country Office conducted close liaison with
H. M. Customs & Excise regarding the Turkish subject. The investigation
revealed that the Turkish subject had contacts in the United States with
whom he was trying to arrange a trade of multi-kilogram quantity of cocaine
for the same quantity of heroin.
Additionally, this subject had invested some of his drug proceeds in the
United States. This investigation concluded with the arrest of four
defendants in London and the seizure of 90 kilograms of heroin. Subsequent
investigation revealed that this organization had successfully imported
more than 300 kilograms of heroin into the United Kingdom. All of those
arrested have been convicted in court and have received lengthy prison
sentences. Asset forfeiture proceedings are underway on drug assets in the
United States.
Acting on information provided by the DEA Chiang Mai, Thailand Resident
Office, the Thai Border Patrol Police, on April 15, 1996, seized a heroin
refinery and a methamphetamine laboratory in northern Mae Hong Son
Province. Estimates are that the refinery, operated by the former Shan
United Army (SUA), produced between 700 to 1,400 kilograms of heroin in a
two month period. This was the largest heroin refinery complex ever seized
in northern Thailand. Follow-up investigations revealed a second heroin
refinery in the same region. On July 4, 1996, the Thai Border Patrol
Police seized this refinery and found 85 kilograms of opium, large amounts
of precursor chemicals and lab equipment, as well as 200 gallons of heroin
in solution.
In 1996, DEA offices throughout Bolivia worked closely with the Bolivian
Special Intelligence and Operations Group (GIOE) units on more than a dozen
active long-term investigations, as well as on numerous short-term cases.
The GIOE is a combined intelligence-operations unit which functions
primarily in major urban areas. It is made up of non-uniformed counterdrug
forces working closely with DEA Agents in Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, and La
Paz.
On July 11, 1996, acting on intelligence information provided by the
Tokyo, Japan Country Office, Japanese police and customs officials seized a
total of 552 kilograms of methamphetamine and arrested two Japanese
nationals at a shipping port in Yokohama. This constituted the largest
methamphetamine seizure ever made in Japan.
(3) Engage in Foreign Liaison:
As a result of the many law enforcement successes in Thailand over the
past two years, heroin, while still brokered in Bangkok, is increasingly
reaching international markets through new routes in Laos, Cambodia and
Vietnam. In order to counter this new threat, the DEA Bangkok, Thailand
Country Office has enhanced liaison with drug law enforcement authorities
in these countries through routine liaison visits, sharing of information,
training, and recommendations to the Department of State for provision of
basic police equipment. One result of this regional liaison has been the
agreement by the Government of Laos to allow DEA to assign a Special Agent
to the United States Embassy in Vientiane after a hiatus of over 20 years.
In Cambodia and Vietnam, liaison activities have assisted in more clearly
defining the exploitation of these countries by drug trafficking
organizations, recommending programs to counter these threats, and
enhancing the capabilities of their respective police organizations to deal
with the drug threat.
During 1996, DEA was instrumental in the development and implementation
of the People's Republic of China (PRC) Chemical Control Program.
Annually, the PRC imports multi-ton quantities of acetic anhydride and
exports multi-ton quantities of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine throughout
the world. This new chemical control initiative provides the PRC National
Narcotics Control Commission with the framework needed to close the loop on
the diversion of chemicals used to manufacture heroin and
methamphetamine.
In February 1996, the DEA Athens, Greece Country Office organized a
Balkans Area Drug Law Enforcement Conference in Thessaloniki, Greece. For
the first time, drug law enforcement officials from Greece, Albania, the
Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, and Turkey, met to
discuss regional drug issues. The three-day conference provided the
opportunity for an exchange of drug-related information, intelligence, and
permitted attendees to present an overview of their efforts in their
respective countries. The participants made plans to reconvene
annually.
During 1996, the DEA Hong Kong Country Office provided Hong Kong
authorities with information and materials that assisted in the passage of
chemical control legislation in Hong Kong. This legislation empowers the
newly enhanced Hong Kong Customs and Excise Department (HKCE) Chemical
Control Division with the legal tools to effectively arrest and prosecute
precursor chemical traffickers. Through the use of this legislation, in
July, 1996, HKCE in conjunction with the DEA Hong Kong Country Office and
the DEA Mexico City Country Office was able to identify, target and seize
2,750 kilograms of ephedrine at a train station in Pantaco, Mexico.
Follow-up investigations and shared intelligence revealed that the
ephedrine shipment originated in China and was transshipped through Los
Angeles, California destined for a major Mexican methamphetamine
trafficking group.
In August 1996, the Brussels Country Office brought together French,
Belgian, Dutch and Spanish police officers in an international cocaine and
heroin investigation. The case involved Turkish heroin traffickers wishing
to trade heroin for cocaine. In an undercover operation, Belgian police
"flashed" cocaine and orchestrated the arrests of five Turks and the
seizure of thirty-five kilograms of heroin at the Belgian and Dutch
border.
In 1996, the Nicosia Country Office was instrumental in urging the
Government of Lebanon to pass money laundering legislation in accordance
with the 1988 U.N. Convention.
In 1996, the Government of Turkey voted in favor of the Law to Prevent
Money Laundering. The new legislation identifies money laundering as a
criminal offense. The DEA Ankara Country Office played a part in
persuading the Government of Turkey to approve this law.
During 1996, Major General Thanat Phakdipat, Royal Army of Thailand, was
convicted in United States District Court at Eugene, Oregon, for his role
in smuggling heroin to the United States. He is the first high ranking
Thai military office ever convicted in the United States. Under the
Thai-US Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, the DEA Bangkok, Thailand Country
Office, for the first time, used video-teleconferencing to enable testimony
of witnesses to be taken at trial without requiring travel of these
witnesses to the United States. This institutional capability will save
valuable resources in the future.
(4) Coordinate Training Programs for Host Country Police Agencies:
Addressed in the International Training
Section
(5) Assist in the Development of Host Country Drug Law Enforcement
Institutions:
In September 1996, the DEA Bogota, Colombia Country Office assisted the
Colombian National Police (CNP), in the establishment of a communications
intercept facility in San Jose del Guaviare. The facility is manned by CNP
personnel and is providing current information on transportation routes,
cocaine processing sites, as well as drug traffickers' communications.
During 1996, the DEA Seoul, Korea Country Office worked closely with the
Korean Prosecutor's Office in the establishment of a Bilateral Task Force
to identify and target methamphetamine smugglers. Also, the DEA Seoul
Country Office was instrumental in providing support to the Korean
Prosecutor's Office that assisted in the passage of asset forfeiture
legislation and the establishment of Korea's first Asset Forfeiture Task
Force.
In 1996, the DEA San Jose, Costa Rica Country Office, in cooperation
with Costa Rican authorities, re-established the Joint Intelligence
Coordination Center whose operations were suspended due to political
interference. The Center encourages multi-national cooperation in the
collection, analysis, and dissemination of drug law enforcement
information.
The DEA Quito, Ecuador Country Office provided financial support,
specialized training, and advice in the field of roadblock operations to
the recently created Ecuadoran Mobile Interdiction Unit, a specialized
entity of the Ecuadoran National Police. The DEA support resulted in two
significant chemical seizures in the latter part of 1996.
The DEA Guatemala City, Guatemala Country Office, in 1996, assisted the
Guatemalan Treasury Police and the National Police in creating an
Anti-Narcotic Task Force that consists of officers from both police
agencies. The new unit develops investigative leads on major cocaine
traffickers. The Task Force brings together elements from two agencies that
traditionally have worked at cross purposes. In addition, the Guatemala
City Country Office has assisted the Department of Guatemalan Anti-Narcotic
Operations (DOAN) in developing investigative procedures for initiating
long-term drug investigations. This includes establishing computerized
suspect data bases with procedural requirements for reporting on
suspects.
As part of its effort to strengthen the drug enforcement capability of
the Bolivian National Police (FELCN), the DEA La Paz, Bolivia Country
Office arranged, in March 1996, for 40 members of the FELCN to attend an
intelligence computer course in preparation for the establishment of the
FELCN National Computer Intelligence Network.
During 1996, the DEA Tokyo, Japan Country Office assisted the Government
of Japan to establish a central intelligence office on narcotics and
smuggling. This office serves as a repository for actionable intelligence
and has improved its response capability.
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