U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL STRATEGY REPORT, MARCH 1996

United States Department of State

Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

OTHER USG ASSISTANCE PROVIDED

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION

The primary contribution of DEA in implementing our international counternarcotics strategy is accomplished through the 70 offices that DEA maintains in 49 countries worldwide. The DEA overseas mission is fivefold: (1) conduct bilateral investigative activities, (2) coordinate intelligence gathering, (3) engage in foreign liaison, (4) coordinate training programs for host country police agencies, and (5) assist in the development of host country drug law enforcement institutions.

In most countries where DEA maintains offices, DEA carries out all of the above functions with emphasis determined on the basis of the conditions existing in each country. In a few cases, where the level of drug trafficking is minimal, or the Host Nation's drug enforcement system is advanced, DEA Country Office may limit its function to selected activities instead of the lull range of programs indicated above.

With the exception of DEA's training mission which is addressed elsewhere, the following are a few examples of the assistance DEA provided host nation counterparts in furtherance of our mission during 1995:

(1) Bilateral Investigations: DEA's Country Offices work with elements of the Host Nations (HN) Law Enforcement Agencies (LEA) to investigate activities of drug traffickers that lead to indictments and prosecutions in either the host country, the US or a third country. Whenever appropriate and feasible, intelligence information on major traffickers operating in host countries is shared with HN LEAs to enhance their investigative knowledge. Some examples of DEA's work with HN LEAs follow: In Colombia, DEA led the United States government (USG) sponsored portion of the bilateral investigations which resulted in the dismantling of the Cali cocaine mafia by the Colombian National Police (CNP). The capture of the Rodriguez-Orejuela brothers and Jose Santacruz-Londono in the summer of 1995 were unprecedented actions against the Cali drug mafia. Prior to these arrests, the Cali drug mafia leadership had operated with virtual impunity for over 15 years.

Other joint investigative programs in Colombia resulting in tremendous successes were the Selva Verde and Skyweb programs. Operation Selva Verde targets the production and transportation vulnerabilities of the Cali cocaine mafia throughout Colombia. During 1995, the program resulted in the seizure of 25 metric tons of cocaine products (Base/HCl), 63 metric tons of marijuana, 120 kilograms of heroin/morphine and the destruction of 52 major cocaine production facilities. Skyweb which began in October 1995, targets the Cali mafia's general aviation aircraft fleet. During its initial 30 day period of operation, CNP investigators, supported by DEA Special Agent Advisors, seized 22 trafficker aircraft valued at $36 million.

In Thailand, during 1994, DEA initiated Operation Tiger Trap in support of the US Embassy Country Team counternarcotics aim to increase the Thai Government's focus on drug trafficking as a national security issue. Operation Tiger Trap is the most significant US and Thai cooperative enforcement and prosecution effort directed at the hierarchy of the Shan United Army (SUA). The goal of Operation Tiger Trap was to reduce the heroin supply to the United States by disrupting SUA heroin trafficking operations in Thailand. On October 31, 1995, continued joint operations between the Royal Thai Police and DEA resulted in the arrest of CHANG Yin-Lung. Chang is a high ranking member of the SUA. He was arrested at his residence in Ban Tham, an ethnic Chinese village in Chiang Rai Province. CHANG's Shan United Army base of operation was in Mong Tai/Mong Taw, Burma, where he managed heroin refineries. CHANG was the eleventh suspect apprehended under the Tiger Trap Operation.

Throughout 1995, the trafficking activities of Khun Sa and the Shan United Army (SUA) had been seriously hampered and disrupted by local events that also affected Khun Sa's authority and the security of the SUA. Based on coaxing from DEA, the Thai government officially closed the Thai-Burma border adjacent to SUA-controlled territory in late 1994 and continued their border enforcement throughout 1995. This effectively restricted the flow of necessary supplies that the SUA required to sustain its forces, resupply its refineries, and transport heroin into Thailand. In addition, military pressure from the Burmese Army, the arrest of the Tiger Trap defendants, and the internal power struggles within the SUA served to disrupt operations of the SUA.

During 1995, the Ankara, Turkey Country Office, in conjunction with the Turkish National Police, conducted an investigation of Jafaar Rayhani, a major heroin distributor and money launderer. Rayhani was the focus of an international investigation involving other European countries as well as the United States. The investigation resulted in an indictment against Rayhani in the Southern District of California for money laundering. He is now in prison in Los Angeles awaiting trial. To date, over seven million dollars in assets, belonging to Rayhani have been seized in the United States, and over three million dollars in Europe. This operation also identified associates of the defendant in many European countries.

In September 1995, Peruvian authorities seized a Bolivian-registered DC- 6 aircraft carrying a shipment of 4, 175 kilograms of cocaine HCL in Lima, Peru based on investigative information provided by the La Paz, Bolivia Country Office. The cocaine was hidden inside a shipment of furniture destined for Mexico. In a follow-up joint investigation, Bolivian authorities and DEA learned that many Bolivian police and airport personnel were involved in facilitating this four ton shipment. As a direct result of this investigation, the Bolivian Minister of Government, Carlos Sanchez Berzain, ordered a major shake-up of the Fuerza Especial de la Lucha Contra Narcoticos the Bolivian counternarcotics police.

In September 1995, a bilateral investigation between the DEA Tegucigalpa, Honduras Country Office and the national police force, Fuerza Seguridad Publica, resulted in the seizure of 120 kilograms of cocaine. Vehicles with false compartments were being used to transport the cocaine from Panama to Guatemala.

In Jamaica, DEA initiated Operation Prop Lock which proved to be one of the most successful collaborative efforts in the Caribbean. The goal of the operation was to reduce drug-related smuggling through the Jamaican corridor by seizing US registered aircraft utilized, followed by swift prosecution of its owners. Excellent cooperation from the Jamaican Constabulary Force contributed to the 12 significant seizures and ten arrests during the initial phase of the operation.

On August 22, 1995, a combined Royal Thai Police, Royal Thai Navy, and DEA operation resulted in the arrest of a Cambodian Army Colonel during the attempted delivery of three tons of marijuana to a DEA undercover Special Agent on an island near the Thai/Cambodia border. The Colonel was a major trafficker and illustrated the growing problem of Cambodian officials involved in trafficking.

(2) Coordinate Intelligence Gathering: In conjunction with the Government of Colombia, the DEA Bogota Country Office actively gathered and acted upon intelligence which ultimately led to arrests of major Cali mafia figures Miguel Rodriguez-Orejuela, Gilberto Rodriguez- Orejuela, and Jose Santacruz-Londono. Joint intelligence efforts in all areas, especially in the Cali and Medellin programs, took the form of search warrants, document analysis, and informant debriefings. Joint intelligence efforts led to the destruction of 14 cocaine HCL laboratories, 47 cocaine base laboratories, and two heroin laboratories along with significant narcotics seizures.

Joint intelligence developed under other Bogota Country Office initiatives led to joint enforcement actions which resulted in the seizure of approximately 41,473 kilograms cocaine HCL, 15,154 kilograms cocaine base, 124 kilograms heroin, 329,802 kilograms marijuana, 34 kilograms hashish, 110 kilograms morphine, five gallons hashish oil, and US$13,709,337.

On April 23, 1995, acting on intelligence information provided by the Panama City Country Office, the Panamanian Technical Judicial Police (PTJ) and the Panamanian Drug Prosecutor's Office arrested Mario Fung, a major cocaine transporter for the Cali cartel. Fung is responsible for trafficking 100-200 kilograms a month from Tocumen International Airport in Panama.

Similarly, DEA provided actionable intelligence to the PTJ which resulted in the seizure of the Sail vessel (SV) Michael Angelo and the arrest of two crew members. Secreted inside hidden compartments on board the vessel was approximately 2,000 kilograms of cocaine. The SV Michael Angelo is one of a series of seven vessels used by the Cali cartel to transport cocaine via Mexico to the US This is the third largest cocaine seizure in the history of Panama.

In April 1995, acting on intelligence information provided by the DEA, the Nicaragua National Police (NNP) initiated surveillance on a well known trafficking group out of Bluefields, Nicaragua regarding an ongoing smuggling venture off the coast. As a direct result, the US Coast Guard in concert with NNP patrol vessels identified two suspect vessels and seized 1,400 kilograms of cocaine. In addition, ten members of the Bluefields organization were arrested and are currently awaiting trial.

In response to the changing cocaine threat in Mexico, the Northern Border Response Force (NBRF), expanded its scope of operations to include maritime, land and fast mover smuggling. Based on information provided by DEA, on April 17, 1995, the NBRF seized a record $6.35 million at the Mexico City International Airport. The cash was concealed in 13 air conditioning units, which were to be shipped to Bogota aboard a Mexican airliner. On June 20, 1995 the NBRF's maritime program seized 13.5 metric tons of hashish from a vessel en route to Chihuahua, Mexico from Pakistan.

In Peru, the highest profile intelligence collection project is Operation Pajarito, a high Frequency radio intercept program, which produces the majority of actionable intelligence keying the Peruvian Air Force in its extremely successful air space denial to suspected narco- aircraft. Close coordination of intelligence between the Lima Country Office and the DEA Country Offices in Bogota and Brasilia has been essential to impede trafficker aircraft transiting the neighboring countries. In 1995, Operation Pajarito provided precise information leading to the neutralization of 17 aircraft transporting an estimated 8,500 kilograms of base/HCL. An additional seven aircraft were confiscated resulting in the seizure of 4,800 kilograms of cocaine HCL.

In 1995 in Thailand, the DEA Bangkok Country Office in cooperation with the Royal Thai Police Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) established the Chiang Mai Intelligence Center (CMIC). The CMIC provides valuable intelligence on Southeast Asia trafficking groups.

In the spring of 1995, the DEA Singapore Country Office initiated Operation CUBS, an intelligence probe into the Chinese Underground Banking System in Singapore. This century old informal "banking" system allows for the international transfer of funds using trusted business and family relationships. It operates using a system of "chits" or promissory instruments executed among participants whose relationships have been well established over long periods. The system is used by Asian drug traffickers to move funds and facilitate their transactions. Operation CUBS has identified individuals and businesses involved in the money transfers. The information gathered identified significant targets for further investigations and enforcement actions with the objective of seizing any funds identified as drug proceeds. It is being used to identify trafficking generated proceeds in accounts as well as significant targets and illicit drug networks in the US

(3) Engage in Foreign Liaison: In May 1995, DEA initiated Operation TRIANGLE, a multi-faceted tri-national approach involving the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. This DEA concept, announced and coordinated at the 1995 IDEC Conference, is the first stage of the Mexico/Central American Regional Counternarcotics interdiction strategy. Operation TRIANGLE's purpose was to simultaneously target and arrest transporters of illegal drugs, weapons, and aliens through these countries. This operation also included the location of and destruction of illicit crops and clandestine airfields. Mexico took on the leadership role in this operation and coordinated the participation of the Mexican Federal Judicial Police, the Instituto Nacional para el Combate a las Drogas (INCD), the Mexican Army, Navy and Air Force, the Federal Highway Police, as well as State, Local and Municipal Law Enforcement Agencies. Mexico's seizures include 1,506 kilograms of cocaine, 15 metric tons of marijuana, 36 kilograms of opium, 2,921 kilograms of methaqualone, three vessels, two vehicles, 13 weapons, and 27 arrests. DEA will continue to promote these coordinated efforts to increase the enforcement capacity of the participating countries.

Another unprecedented achievement exhibited was Operation UNIDOS, a ten day simultaneous regional enforcement operation by Mexico and all countries of Central America (Panama, Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Costa Rica). This broad enforcement operation was designed to immobilize major trafficking organizations by targeting and securing all available smuggling routes, eradicating illicit crops and destroying clandestine airstrips. During this saturation enforcement effort, Mexico authorities seized 4,837 kilograms of cocaine, 36,321 kilograms of marijuana, 119 kilograms of marijuana seed, five kilograms of ephedrine, 13 kilograms of amphetamine, two aircraft, 145 vehicles, six maritime vessels, 200 weapons, and two tons of munitions. In addition, 109 fugitives were arrested and 15 clandestine airstrips destroyed. It is important to also note that 1,428 fields of opium poppy were destroyed, equaling an area of 182.5 hectares, that could have produced an estimated yield of 2,190 kilograms and 916 marijuana fields destroyed, equaling an area of 88.6 hectares, that could have produced an estimated yield of 106.3 metric tons. As evidenced by the seizures and arrests in Mexico, Operation UNIDOS can be considered one of the most significant regional successes in counterdrug efforts for 1995.

The year 1995 proved to be a significant year for furthering liaison with Thailand. Due to DEA's continued efforts, on January 18, 1996, Thanong Siripreechapong, a former member of Thailand's Parliament, became the first Thai citizen to be extradited from Thailand to face criminal charges in the US Thanong, escorted by DEA and US Customs Service Special Agents, traveled from Bangkok to San Francisco to face a 1991 indictment in the Northern District of California for his role in a criminal enterprise that smuggled multi-ton quantities of marijuana into the United States. Despite some last minute legal maneuvering by Thanong, and with the timely assistance of the Japanese Government, which granted an expedited clearance for Thanong's transit during a flight stop in Tokyo, the extradition proceeded smoothly. Now, Thai defendants charged with crimes in the US can no longer block extradition by claiming Thai citizenship, thus allowing for the likelihood of the eventual extradition of the 11 major heroin traffickers arrested under Operation Tiger Trap.

DEA, working with the Anti-Narcotic Force in Pakistan, achieved the extradition of Haji Mohammed Iqbal Baig and his top lieutenant Anwar Khattak to the US Baig is mentioned in over 151 DEA case files. To date, Pakistani authorities have seized more than 22.7 million dollars in assets belonging to Baig. Baig and Khattak have both pled guilty in the Eastern District of New York and are waiting sentencing.

The DEA Islamabad, Pakistan Country Office worked closely with the Anti- Narcotic Force in Pakistan to seize over six million dollars of assets belonging to Haji Ayyub Afridi, a powerful drug lord. This seizure forced Afridi into self-exile in the inaccessible tribal area of the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan. Subsequently, with his financial situation deteriorating, Afridi surrendered to DEA Agents in the United Arab Emirates on November 10,1995. Indicted in 1990 in the Eastern District of New York, Afridi was a well-established, wealthy and influential drug trafficker in Southwest Asia. Trial is set for mid-May 1996 in the Eastern District of New York.

The DEA Athens, Greece Country Office persuaded Bulgarian authorities to extradite two defendants from Bulgaria to the US These two extraditions are significant in that they represent the only extraditions from Bulgaria for narcotic violations. The first case involved a Nigerian trafficker wanted in New York for the importation of heroin to the US The second case involved a Yugoslavian national wanted in the Southern District of California for trafficking in cocaine and heroin.

In 1995, DEA was instrumental in urging the Government of Turkey to rant the 1988 Vienna Convention. Presently, DEA is working closely with the Turkish Government in adapting the Convention to their laws. Still pending before Turkish Parliament is the passing of money laundering legislation.

On May 8, 1995, a Thai national, now serving a life sentence in Thailand, appeared in US Federal Court in Arlington, Virginia to testify against a co-conspirator, marking the first ever prisoner transfer under the 1992 US/Thai Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty. Pompol Poontavee, serving a life sentence in Bangkwang Prison for a 1992 heroin conviction, testified against Chavid Suriyaphiuksh, who was arrested in January 1995 at Washington's National Airport, and was indicted for conspiring to import more than 30 kilograms of heroin into the US from Thailand. DEA' s offices in Bangkok and Washington, as well as embassy staff and DOJ/OIA, were instrumental in expediting the approval and execution of this transfer, a milestone in US/Thai counternarcotics cooperation.

In South America, through the annual International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC), DEA specifically focuses on bolstering all aspects of participating "Host Nation" enforcement efforts. Coordinated and cooperative operations are scheduled, common problem areas and recommended solutions are addressed, and available US operational and training assistance is discussed.

Based on significant ephedrine investigations in various countries to include Switzerland, DEA together with Swiss authorities held meetings to discuss the ephedrine diversion problem. These discussions culminated in Swiss Parliament successfully passing new precursor chemicals laws that include ephedrine.

The Swiss Parliament also agreed to adopt recommendations from the Chemical Action Task Force concerning a list of controlled chemicals and agreed to ratification of the 1971 - 1972 Vienna Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Although the enacting of the new precursor law is not expected in 1996, these actions signify important initial measures by the Swiss to control precursor drug laws exported from Switzerland.

(4) Coordinate Training Programs for Host Country Police Agencies:

Addressed in the International Training Section

(5) Assist in the Development of Host Country Drug Law Enforcement Institutions: In May 1995, the DEA Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Country Office, in conjunction with the Department of State, supported the establishment of the Ministerio Publico' 5 Direccion Investigacion Criminal (DIC). The DIC is a newly formed civilian directorate with its own Special Drug Prosecutor that will handle all enforcement matters including drug prosecutions. This action is a significant step toward reform because it places drug law enforcement under a civilian lead organization, and not under the current military rule.

The DEA Tegucigalpa Country Office worked closely with the Ministerio Public's Direccion Investigacion Criminal in developing new money laundering, asset forfeiture, and enhanced enforcement capability legislation. These legislative enhancements will empower police and prosecutors with the necessary tools to be effective. This proposed legislation is before a special commission for review which will then be passed on to the 1996 Honduran Congress for approval.

The DEA Nicosia, Cyprus Country Office initiated a program to encourage the Government of Lebanon to institute chemical control in drug producing areas and recognize the importance of chemical control as a law enforcement issue. The DEA Nicosia Country Office advised the Lebanese Judiciary Police Force on methods of implementing a chemical control program that identified the most common precursor and essential chemicals used by Lebanese drug traffickers to produce cocaine and heroin. This resulted in Lebanon making some changes in their internal control of precursor chemicals. The Public Prosecutor of Lebanon has issued an order restricting the importation and use of Acetic Anhydride to prevent diversion for use in the production of heroin.

The DEA Lagos, Nigeria Country Office persuaded the Nigerian National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to re-institute the joint US- Nigerian Task Force, disbanded approximately three years ago due to the corruption of the Nigerian participants. The DEA Lagos Country Office now selects all officers for the Task Force. Through the Task Force, the DEA Lagos Country Office provides on-the-job training to these select NDLEA Agents and identifies promising and talented Agents for future advancement opportunities. The DEA Lagos Country Office also persuaded the NDLEA Chief to form an Internal Affairs Unit, which will handle corruption cases.

During 1995, the Asuncion, Paraguay, Country Office (ACO) initiated the establishment of a new investigative unit under the Secretaria Nacional Antidrogas Direccion de Narcoticos dedicated to working only high-level violators. Also, an assessment of training/logistics capabilities of the Government of Paraguay (GOP) anti-narcotics has been conducted by the ACO, and training requests were initiated. Department of State funding was also used to purchase much needed equipment for GOP anti- narcotic forces.

The DEA Panama Country Office was instrumental in assisting the Panamanian Government to strengthen their anti-money laundering controls. As a result, in March 1995, a presidential decree formalized the position of "drug czar" and established a special commission to oversee money laundering control efforts. Also, in November 1995, a law was passed to modify Panama's criminal statute against money laundering. This new legislation empowers the Technical Judicial police and the Drug Prosecutors Office with the legal tools to effectively arrest and prosecute drug related financial crimes.

On October 11, 1995, in Thailand, authorities arrested two men in the first successful use of a special provision in the nation's Narcotics Conspiracy Statute. The events leading up to the arrests started in April 1994, when DEA Special Agents in Songkhla and Singapore, in cooperation with Thailand's Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and Indonesian National Police (INP), launched a joint investigation of the Thamanoon Sae Pae organization, an ONCB target for ten years. The investigation culminated a month later in Jakarta.

INP officials arrested three organization members and seized a record 30.8 kilograms of heroin. Subsequently, the investigation turned to Thamanoon and led to his October 11 arrest, along with that of another individual. In their prosecution, Thai authorities intend to rely on subsection five of the conspiracy law, which recognizes narcotics seizures made outside Thailand as potential evidence for conspiracy charges against traffickers within the country. Embassy Bangkok reports that continued application of this portion of the law stands to be worthwhile and promising.

With DEA Athens, Greece Country Office's assistance, the Government of Albania conducted a marijuana eradication operation. This operation resulted in the destruction of approximately 60,000 marijuana plants. This was the first major joint law enforcement operation in Albania and was considered a success.

[Editor’s Note: An EXCEL file; see Charts and Graphs Directory]