State Dept. on Colombian Rebel Connection to Mexican Drug Cartel

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

November 29, 2000

STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN

COLOMBIAN REBEL CONNECTION TO MEXICAN DRUG CARTEL

The Office of the Attorney General in Mexico announced on November 23
that Mexican and Colombian officials have exposed a major link between
the Arellano Felix Organization in Mexico and the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC). The link was announced after Colombian Dr.
Carlos Ariel Charry Guzman and Mexican Enrique Guillermo Salazar Ramos
were ordered held for arrest and transferred to the Almoloya de Juarez
federal prison in Mexico. Evidence shows FARC guerrillas supplied
cocaine to the cartel in exchange for cash and possibly weapons. This
development is another illustration of the FARC's deep involvement in
narcotics trafficking. Since late 1999 the FARC has sought to
establish a monopoly position over the commercialization of the
cocaine base across much of southern Colombia. The FARC forces all
growers to sell only to the FARC at one fixed price with only the FARC
permitted to sell, at a higher fixed price, to cocaine cartels.

The FARC has denied these charges. We call on the FARC to demonstrate
their non-involvement in narcotics trafficking by severing all ties
with the narcotics industry. The FARC can demonstrate such a
commitment by beginning voluntary eradication in the coca growing
areas under its control - we note they have yet to begin such a
program after two years of managing the demilitarized zone - as well
as by showing demonstrable proof of fighting narcotics trafficking in
these areas.