cannabisnews.com: Colombia Anti-Drug Police Chief Dumped 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 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 PressAuthor: Jared Kotler, Associated Press WriterPublished: Friday, May 10, 2002 Copyright: 2002 Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:Colombia Drug War Newshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/colombia.htm Portion of U.S. Aid to Colombia Disappears http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12790.shtmlUS Halts Anti-Drug Aid To Colombiahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12787.shtmlThe 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