cannabisnews.com: Colombia Cartels Moving Into Peru 





Colombia Cartels Moving Into Peru 
Posted by FoM on July 24, 2001 at 08:54:30 PT
By Michael Hedges
Source: Houston Chronicle 
Peru has seen a huge increase in crops of heroin-producing opium poppies as a result of U.S.-backed efforts to fight drugs in neighboring Colombia, Peru's ambassador said in a letter to U.S. lawmakers. In the letter, Ambassador Carlos Alzamora said that "the situation is a clear indication of the first effects of the spillover of Plan Colombia: Intelligence information shows that Colombian criminal cartels are relocating their opium poppy operations in Peru." 
Congress has approved, with the backing of the former drug czar, Gen. Barry McCaffrey, the ambitious $1.3 billion Plan Colombia, aimed at wiping out cocaine and heroin production in southern Colombia. Alzamora addressed the letter to Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., chairman of the House International Relations Committee, to urge Congress not to cut funding for an $800 million Andean Regional Initiative proposed by the Bush administration. The project is designed to protect the nations bordering Colombia from drug cartels relocating there. A senior Bush administration official said he was not familiar with the letter, but backed its sentiments. Hyde, whose committee may vote on the Andean plan today, could not be reached. Through the mid-1990s, Peru produced a major percentage of the coca leaves used to make cocaine sold in the United States. But Draconian anti-drug efforts, including a controversial program of shooting down suspected drug smuggling aircraft, forced narcotics cartels to move their coca crops into Colombia. Alzamora's letter detailed what the ambassador said was a new drive to grow opium poppies in the same regions once dominated by coca leaf growers. Democrats, with some Republican backing, have proposed using some of the money for other projects, including diverting about $38 million into an international campaign to fight AIDS. That proposal has been co-sponsored by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston. Alzamora urged Congress to leave funds intact. "I take the liberty to insist in my request that the funds proposed for Peru in the Andean Regional Initiative are not reduced and, if that is possible, they are increased," he wrote. Critics of the federally financed war on drugs said the letter illustrated the never-ending appetite for U.S. dollars in drug-producing countries. "I don't think it is surprising that countries fighting the drug war are trying to get as much money from the United States as possible," said Ian Vasquez, a Latin American analyst for the Cato Institute, a Washington think tank opposed to federal anti-drug efforts. President Bush's first budget sought to expand the Plan Colombia initiative by providing more than $800 million for countries on Colombia's borders to contend with anticipated movements into those areas by drug growers under pressure. About $200 million of that money is earmarked for Peru. The southern area of Colombia is controlled by the FARC, or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, a guerrilla movement that U.S. officials said is providing protection for drug cartels in exchange for money used to buy weapons and other equipment. Vasquez said that as soon as Plan Colombia was approved, the Colombian police began a crackdown on drug production in the southern part of their country. "As a result, for the past year or so, there has been an increase in drug trafficking in Peru," said Vasquez. "That is a reversal of an earlier trend in which Peru had pushed production of coca leaves (the raw material for cocaine) into Colombia." Alzamora said there is evidence that the Colombian cartels are moving into the Andean valleys of Peru to grow opium poppies, which are used in the production of heroin. As recently as 1998, Peruvian military drug eradicators found that about 350 acres of poppies were being grown there, Alzamora said. But this year, 11,500 acres of poppies have been destroyed and another 20,000 acres have been discovered in recent weeks. Note: Neighbor's ambassador asks U.S. for more anti-drug funds.Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)Author: Michael HedgesPublished: July 23, 2001Copyright: 2001 Houston Chronicle Contact: viewpoints chron.com Website: http://www.chron.com/ Related Articles & Web Sites:Cato Institutehttp://www.cato.org/Colombia Drug War Newshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/colombia.htmDrug War Strategy To Face Attackhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10389.shtmlCongress Challenges Cost of Unwinnable Drugs Warhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10381.shtml
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Comment #7 posted by MICHAEL CALI on August 30, 2001 at 14:11:21 PT
OVERLORD OF DRUGS
I MR. CALI AM PLACING THE UNDERSTANDINGS OF THE MATTER OF THE DRUGS IN LATIN AMERICA. THE LIFE OF THE CONROLS ISN,T HOLD BY THE WAY ONE WOULD THINK, IT'S MATTER OF SUCH HAS BEEN VIEW BY DEGREES OF NON-PROGRESS. THE PLAINS OF CORPS ARE THE MAIN FACTOR FOR CONTROL. THE CONNECTIONS FOR TRADES ARE THE MAIN ANSWER FOR PROCEEDINGS. THE DEGREES FOR A COMPLETE PROGRESS OF RESPECT IS PLACE FOR CONTROLS. THE MATTER FOR THIS TYPE OF UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE FUTURE IS NOT HOW IT WOULD BE. THE INDIFFERENT OF THE OUTCOME IS THAT THE MAIN TRADES ARE MADE WORLD-WIDE AND WITH THE DEGREES OF THE POLICE. THE GOVERNMENT ALSO ARE THE FACTORS OF SUCH MATTERS. THE OUTCOME OF LIFE IN THE RESPECT OF THIS SHOULD BE PLACE OUT OF THE PLACES IT'S DEGREES HAVE BEEN PUT. THE MAIN TURN OF THIS SHOULD PUT THOSE COUNTRY'S INTO THE RESPECT IT SHOULD HAVE, AND PUT STANDARDS BACK TO IT'S RIGHT PLACE. THANK YOU.
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Comment #6 posted by Sudaca on July 25, 2001 at 09:20:49 PT
Airline bust in Chile - 
The airline is called AeroContinente; it's not on TV here, and I doubt any newspapers will pass the story since it probably holds little interest for the people in this country.Here's some info, but its all in spanish. If you're up to reading in Spanish, then I suggest go to www.elmostrador.cl and search for AeroContinente. This is still making waves and news in Chile. Here's a list of headlinesDOSSIER: La ''Operación Icaro'' Centenares de pasajeros esperaban iniciar normalmente su vuelo Aero Continente hacia Lima la noche del jueves 18 de julio de 2001. No lo hicieron ese día: una sorpresiva operación relámpago emprendida por Investigaciones, apoyada por el Consejo de Defensa del Estado y ordenada por el Quinto Juzgado del Crimen de Santiago descabezó a la firma en Chile y dejó sus aviones en tierra, dentro de una investigación por supuesto lavado de dinero. La noticia fue dada a conocer esa misma noche en exclusiva por El Mostrador.cl.  24 de Julio de 2001:Aero Continente: pilotos interponen medida precautoriaAdemás, los congresistas peruanos Ronaldo Reategui, Willy Serrato y Gerardo Saavedra solicitaron una reunión con la presidenta del CDE, Clara Szczaranski, para conocer la situación que está atravesando la empresa y entregarle un informe realizado por los propios parlamentarios de Perú donde exculpan a la línea aérea de toda irregularidad. 23 de Julio de 2001:Juez interroga a ejecutivos de Aero ContinenteLa diligencia se lleva a cabo en la Brigada de Inteligencia Antinarcóticos de la policía civil. En ese lugar se encuentran detenidos el ciudadano peruano Máximo Zadi Desme Hurtado y los chilenos Jorge... 20 de julio de 2001:Aero Continente: Juez autorizó reanudación de vuelosEn el mismo caso la presidenta del CDE, Clara Szczaranski, anunció que ese organismo solicitará al Quinto Juzgado del Crimen de Santiago que pida la extradición del dueño de la firma, Fernando Zevallo... 20 de julio de 2001:La delación que involucró a Zevallos en tráfico de drogasEl proceso del Ministerio Público peruano, encargado de perseguir a Zevallos por sus delitos, comprobó que desde enero de 1995 hasta abril de 1999 éste ingresó a ese país más de 43 millones de dólares... 20 de julio de 2001:Exclusivo: los documentos que inculpan al dueño de Aero ContinentePor Jorge Molina SanhuezaEl jefe del cartel "Los Norteños", Jorge López, hoy condenado, declaró ante la justicia peruana cómo hizo tratos con Fernando Zevallos para que trasladara su droga. "(...) Le presté un millón y medio... 20 de julio de 2001:Aero Continente: lo barato costó caro a decenas de frustrados pasajerosCerca de doscientas personas se vieron impedidas de continuar viaje tras la intervención que sufrió la aerolínea durante la Operación Icaro, mediante la cual se investiga presunto lavado de din... 20 de julio de 2001:Llegó a Santiago último vuelo de Aero ContinenteLa tripulación no quiso comentar lo sucedido con la empresa, debido a que desconocían la situación por la que atraviesa la compañía.... 19 de julio de 2001 :Operación "Icaro": Perú comenzó investigación sobre proceso en Chile "El Gobierno comenzó hoy una investigación para tener la información necesaria" sobre el proceso judicial iniciado en Chile, dijo el Presidente Peruano, Valentín Paniagua... 19 de julio de 2001:Aero Continente denuncia exceso policialTambién dijo que hubo irregularidades en el procedimiento empleado en la incautación de aviones de la empresa y acusó a sus competidores de intentar sacarlos del mercado a través de una permanente gue... 19 de julio de 2001:Juez dictó doce órdenes de arraigo Las medidas afectan a ciudadanos chilenos y peruanos vinculados a Aero Continente... 19 de julio de 2001:La declaración oficial de Aero Continente: "Hubo exceso policial" [texto completo]19 de julio de 2001:Clara Szczaranski, sastisfecha“Me parece que todavía hay un poco de confusión al mezclar el delito de lavado de dinero con el de tráfico de estupefacientes. La única conexión se debe a que el origen de los capitales sea ilícito y... 19 de julio de 2001:Lan Chile traslada a pasajeros de Aero Continente El acuerdo fue logrado por el administrador nombrado por el tribunal, Herman Chadwick Larraín, sobrino del ex presidente de Lan Chile, Sebastián Piñera. Clara Szczaranski se reunió esta mañana con el... 19 de julio de 2001 :Aero Continente pide "garantías" al gobierno peruano "Así como acá [en Perú] se le dio garantía a una empresa chilena [Lucchetti] que vimos todos los peruanos en un video que estaba comprando una resolución. Nosotros no tenemos nada de malo, no hemos c... 18 de julio de 2001:Los personajes de la "Operación Icaro" Aero Continente "aterrizó" en el mercado chileno el 18 de mayo del 2000 cuando inauguró su primer vuelo a Concepción. La empresa peruana proyectó una inversión inicial de US$10 millones, la que inclu... 18 de julio de 2001 [nota actualizada al 19 de julio]:Exclusivo: incautan aviones de Aero Continente por lavado de dineroPor Jorge Molina SanhuezaFueron detenidos el ciudadano peruano Máximo Zadi Desme Hurtado; los chilenos Jorge Schomburgk, gerente general de la empresa; el ex socio constituyente Félix González y Jorge Portilla. Este está casa... 
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Comment #5 posted by kaptinemo on July 25, 2001 at 04:01:02 PT:
Sudaca, could you give us more information?
I don't spend much time watching the tube, so if this incident you are talking about was on the news, I missed it. This is the first I've heard of it. Could you give us the name of the airline?
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Comment #4 posted by SWAMPIE on July 25, 2001 at 01:54:23 PT
CHASING THE TAIL SYNDROME
This "Pinkie-and-The Brain"attitude is going to get us into another huge war!Already it seems that South America is under the thumbs of our government enough to become another group of U.S.controlled territories that will not be allowed to think for themselves.The"Brain"will always never be satisfied unless he can"Take-Over The World"!!!The people who do the grunt-work for"The-Brain"shall be known as"Pinkie"!!!We castrate animals who become too agressive,we should do the same to these rodents too!!!Maybe that will slow them down a bit!!How about a nice"Lobotomy"???I hear they were in fashion awhile back!!!  These A$$holes haven't got a clue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     ONWARD THROUGH THE FOG!!!       SWAMPIE
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Comment #3 posted by mayan on July 24, 2001 at 16:35:01 PT
Insanity
Like any thinking person didn't see this coming?Will Americans ever stand up?This country is going to hell.
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Comment #2 posted by Sudaca on July 24, 2001 at 13:41:53 PT
Sucess!!
Forseeably Plan Colombia has had the effect of stimulating the export of traffickers to the surrounding countries. Which gives an excuse to keep on building the military budget to control an ever widening area of "national security concern" , i.e. south america is going the way of southern united states of Amerika.In Chile the gov't has just uncovered a bust in which an entire airline has been shutdown and their airplanes confiscated; this is a peruvian Airline , suspected of being a front for trafficking and money laundering. The Peruvian Narco that allegedly manages the business lives in FLORIDA and has been CLEARED by the DEA of having any dirty business. He only manages a little empire of british islands paper companies and ran the airline at a loss for a number of years because its fun...so.. eventually the exports will reach the USA as well, and the dirty rich traficantes will become a ruling power here as well. Or did that happen already?
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Comment #1 posted by Patrick on July 24, 2001 at 10:06:42 PT
Sound familiar
Doesn't this just reek of Vietnam and Cambodia. "Sorry guys the enemy moved over the border and we are not authorized to go there!" Here we go again. Please, elect politicians with the backbone to see failed policies and the courage to correct them before the taxpayers money goes towards arms and munitions in a lost cause.
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