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)
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Source: Voice of America
.