Cannabis News DrugSense
  Colombia Anti-Drug Police Chief Dumped
Posted by CN Staff on May 10, 2002 at 17:56:12 PT
By Jared Kotler, Associated Press Writer 
Source: Associated Press  

justice The head of Colombia's antinarcotics police was removed on Friday after about $2 million dollars in U.S. drug war aid allegedly vanished into the pockets of some of his officers. The widening corruption scandal had already led to the suspension of some U.S. aid to Washington's key drug war ally and the dismissals of at least 12 police officers.

Gen. Gustavo Socha was reassigned to a police unit that provides security to dignitaries, said Gen. Ernesto Gilibert, chief of the Colombian National Police.

He said Socha has not been found personally involved in any wrongdoing, calling him "an honest man, a transparent man," but said he had to go to lend "transparency" to the investigation into the missing funds.

On Thursday, the U.S. Embassy said it had suspended some aid to the counter-narcotics police after discovering two months ago that a "significant amount of money" was missing.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States believed action would be taken against still more Colombian police officials.

"When that's happened, we can resume full administrative support for Colombian counternarcotics police activities. There's about $2 million involved," Boucher said.

A U.S. Embassy official said about 20 members of the police are believed to have taken money "for personal ends."

The embassy official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the pilfered account covers police administrative expenses and other items including fuel for vehicles. It receives about $4 million in U.S. aid per year, part of Washington's support to President Andres Pastrana's "Plan Colombia" drug-fighting effort, the official said.

The Bogota newspaper El Tiempo also reported that about $2 million was involved, and that the money apparently had been paid out to fake companies for goods including fuel, water, gasoline, vehicles and parts.

The U.S. Embassy said Washington's confidence in the Colombian anti-narcotics police remained "unshaken" despite the lost funds.

"This type of incident can happen in any organization," the embassy said in a statement, adding that it expected aid would be resumed once action is taken against officers who were involved.

Gen. Jorge Linares, currently National Police operations chief, will take Socha's place.

Colombia's anti-narcotics police have managed hundreds of millions of dollars of U.S. aid over the years, much of it for the aerial fumigation of illegal drug crops, using U.S.-supplied aircraft and herbicides.

Washington has pumped in $1.7 billion in aid in the last two years to the police, military and civilian institutions, most of it for anti-drug operations, with police getting about 15 percent of the assistance. The Bush administration seeks to widen Washington's aid to help Colombia battle leftist insurgents who are financed by drug trafficking, extortion and kidnapping

Complete Title: Colombia Anti-Drug Police Chief Dumped After U.S. Funds Disappear

Source: Associated Press
Author: Jared Kotler, Associated Press Writer
Published: Friday, May 10, 2002
Copyright: 2002 Associated Press

Related Articles & Web Site:

Colombia Drug War News
http://freedomtoexhale.com/colombia.htm

Portion of U.S. Aid to Colombia Disappears
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12790.shtml

US Halts Anti-Drug Aid To Colombia
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12787.shtml

The Colombia Quandary - Patrick Leahy
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12746.shtml


Home    Comment    Email    Register    Recent Comments    Help

 
Comment #1 posted by p4me on May 10, 2002 at 19:45:24 PT
it is called back peddling
It sure looks like they are throwing out their justification for everyone to see. They know people will have to side on ending funding when you mention theft of funds. Murder, torture, human rights abuses, and an environmental disaster were kept quite while they were and are happening. Announcing a theft of funds when it could easily be covered up is the governments way of saying we are wrong.

The rest of the world is screaming over Columbia. I remember reading an Amsterdam site when the US just got the use of two Dutch Bases in the Caribbean. He was ashamed for Holland.

Backpeddle faster you bastards. VAAI

[ Post Comment ]


  Post Comment
Name:        Password:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comment:   [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]

Link URL:
Link Title:


Return to Main Menu


So everyone may enjoy this service and to keep it running, here are some guidelines: NO spamming, NO commercial advertising, NO flamming, NO illegal activity, and NO sexually explicit materials. Lastly, we reserve the right to remove any message for any reason!

This web page and related elements are for informative purposes only and thus the use of any of this information is at your risk! We do not own nor are responsible for visitor comments. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 and The Berne Convention on Literary and Artistic Works, Article 10, news clippings on this site are made available without profit for research and educational purposes. Any trademarks, trade names, service marks, or service names used on this site are the property of their respective owners. Page updated on May 10, 2002 at 17:56:12