DEA confirms nexus between Mexican narcotics traffickers & Colombia's FARC Guerrillas (Translation)

El Universal ( Mexico City ) ^ | January 31, 2007 | Jose Carreño ( translated by self )

[StJacques]

DEA confirms nexus between Mexican narcotics traffickers and the FARC

We know the contacts, they assure us; they are confident in the support of the new regime

Jose Carreño
El Universal (Mexico City)
Wednesday 31 January 2007

WASHINGTON. - The United States anti-drug agency (DEA) assured [El Universal] that it knows who the contacts are between Mexican narcotics traffickers and the guerrilla group the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

The head of operations of the DEA, Michael Braun, assured that the FARC obtains between 500 million and a billion dollars by their drug-related operations [annually].

Narcotics trafficking, he added, becomes an attractive option of guerrilla associations or terrorists to raise resources.

Braun provided information that the DEA will focus upon its objective in "following the money trail" as a method of striking blows at narcotics traffickers, guerrillas, and terrorists.

For his part, Donald Semesky, head of the Office of Financial Operations of the DEA, indicated that there is a good collaboration with U.S. financial establishments, but in the case of Mexico they do not have access to bank statements. In fact, he noted that the Mexican authorities are also limited in that sense.

According to his estimates, Mexican narcotics traffickers obtained 9 billion dollars in 2004 by their illicit activities in the United States.¹

Braun expressed his confidence in the action of the new Mexican government, on everything dealing with the recent extraditions, which would avoid the possibility that the drug lords now processed in the United States can continue with the direction of their organizations from prison. Nevertheless, he said that the [illegal] associations "are regenerating themselves."

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Translator's Note:

¹ At first glance this figure appeared to be in error and I have not been able to document it. However; the U.S. is estimated to have a $12 billion dollar a year cocaine habit and the Department of State estimates that over 70% of all cocaine entering the U.S. comes from Mexico, so it may be correct.

 

[StJacques]

The poignant nature of this issue at present is that Mexican President Felipe Calderon has launched a dramatic crackdown on some of the biggest drug operations in Mexico and, though by his own admission he still has a long way to go, Washington is responding most favorably; especially with regard to Mexico's recent extradition of 15 highly-sought criminals, most of whom were at the top of the drug trade.

It is not an accident that El Universal is putting out this information. Their reporters Raul Tortolero and Raymundo Riva Palacio tracked down the Chavez-FARC-EPR-PRD cocaine, arms, and money connection going back to May, 2005; an investigation which was fueled by El Universal's access to Segob, the Mexican Interior Ministry, who were actively investigating the ties. So from El Universal's perspective, DEA head Michael Braun is merely confirming some of what they have been reporting for almost two years now. That is the significance of this statement within Mexico. (Note: See "Comments," paragraph 4 in this thread for more.)

With the recent flare-up between Hugo Chavez and Felipe Calderon possibly inciting tensions among Calderon's supporters in Mexico, one wonders if the timing of the release of this statement by Michael Braun was sought to remind Chavez that Calderon and Mexico have plenty to present to the world as an indictment of the Venezuelan -- yes, now we can say it -- dictator, for his involvement in providing international support for the FARC and for his blatant and extensive interference in Mexican internal affairs.

[StJacques]

A combined Mexican Left Watch and Latin American Left Watch ping here.

Note to the Latin American Left Watch crew -- the ties between Chavez, the FARC, and drug running/gun running/cocaine dealing are an issue we have covered before.

[Enduring Freedom]

just columbians doing the jobs americans won't do

amnesty for all

[Cindy]

ON THE NET...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1761584/posts?page=1870#1870

[Alia]

Note to the Latin American Left Watch crew -- the ties between Chavez, the FARC, and drug running/gun running/cocaine dealing are an issue we have covered before.

Yes, this is true.

[Alia]

With the recent flare-up between Hugo Chavez and Felipe Calderon possibly inciting tensions among Calderon's supporters in Mexico, one wonders if the timing of the release of this statement by Michael Braun was sought to remind Chavez that Calderon and Mexico have plenty to present to the world as an indictment of the Venezuelan -- yes, now we can say it -- dictator, for his involvement in providing international support for the FARC and for his blatant and extensive interference in Mexican internal affairs.

Two other recent add-ons in light of your cite above: Chavez meeting with Castro (ites). Heroin population in Afghanistan is still a problem (very recently in the News, after quite some time of "silence" on the matter). PRD members murdered by murderers "unknown".

[StJacques]

Thank you for the several comments across a couple of posts Alia.

It's the murders of the PRD leaders that truly create concern in my mind that there might be something larger going on as it relates to our story. I'm watching for anything I see on that very closely, so if by any chance you -- or anyone who may be reading this -- ever run across anything on this story please ping me or freepmail me.

It's not so much that I have a suspicion that something bigger probably is going on as it is that I shudder at the larger implications of what might be going on. I'm holding my tongue since no one has said anything publicly yet, but I would really like to see some answers on this one.

[cll]

"Note to the Latin American Left Watch crew -- the ties between Chavez, the FARC, and drug running/gun running/cocaine dealing are an issue we have covered before."

We need to throw the islamofascists into that pot as well. It's here. It's real. And it is the biggest threat since the USSR.

[El Conservador]

Nope, not surprising.

Colombia ping.

[StJacques]

"Colombia ping"??

How long has this been going on? I used to live in Colombia and I pay a fair amount of attention to issues surrounding it. Is this a regular ping list? Because if it is I'd like to be on it.

Thank you for bringing some others on board El Conservador.

[El Conservador]

I don't remember how long I've been keeping the list, but I ping the list when I see any news concerning Colombia.

Claro, considérate añadido.

[StJacques]

Miraré adelante a oír de usted.

Y apenas de modo que usted sepa, viví por un año en Caldas; en Manizales y acerque allí.

¡Nos vemos!

[StJacques]

One more thing, I don't know if you saw this recent thread -- I'll skip going back any distance -- which I put up on Evo Morales attacking Uribe at the recent Mercosur summit:

Bolivia's Evo Morales Attacks Colombia for U.S. Ties at Mercosur Summit

[livius]

Was this before or after Chavez bought all the Bolivian coca production?

I think he's planning on controlling the drug market, which would give him a lot of political clout in countries such as Mexico, not to mention more funding for FARC in his arch-enemy, Colombia.

Calderón is trying very hard to restore law and order to Mexico and destroy the power of the drug cartels, but it's going to be a heck of a lot harder when they have the overt support of a state and a political figure who has already tried to interfere in Mexico.

[Kenny Bunk]

Drugs as a financing mechanism for Marxist guerillas began in the dim past in SE Asia. It took hold in SA a bit later when cocaine dollars began to flow in the billions. The CIA of the Nixon years invested a lot of time and energy in trying to prove that the popularization and mass marketing of drugs in the 1960's was actually a Soviet Communist plot to undermine America. I'm not so sure they were wrong, but they could never nail it.

FARC probably has more regular flights to Mexico than any other airline! Tijuana has used the business to refurbish downtown, which now houses the discrete offices of many international banks. Hmmm.... wonder why?

At one point the government of el moribundo ... none other than Fidel ... was up to its eyeballs in the traffic. Marxist rhetoric is so simple-minded and so appealing to today's mass-media influenced illiterates, that even narcotraficantes can indulge in it while they sock away billions!

It is completely natural for Chávez to want to horn in on FARC's action. He is really going to need the money to prop up his act.