Colombia-DEA
10-31-1995
^By ANDREW SELSKY=
^Associated Press Writer=
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) _ U.S. drug agents operate more independently in Colombia than they've acknowledged, in one case searching a Cali cartel leader's farm for bodies, according to taped conversations between American officials.
On the tapes, which Washington privately acknowledges are authentic though possibly edited, U.S. officials also discuss efforts to have cartel figures and witnesses against them sent, or lured to, the United States for trial.
The revelations come as U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration operations are under increasing criticism by some Colombians.
Colombian Congressman Carlos Alonso Lucio released excerpts of the tapes in early October and later gave reporters copies of the tapes in full. Although Lucio said the tapes indicate the DEA operates with too much autonomy in Colombia, U.S. officials have accused the congressman of being an ally of the Cali cartel.
It would be in the interest of drug traffickers to diminish the DEA's role in Colombia, which supplies 80 percent of the world's cocaine and has a police force riddled with corruption.
Though the DEA officially claims its agents merely accompany Colombian forces on missions and provides intelligence, the taped conversations, elements of which were confirmed by U.S. Ambassador Myles Frechette, show they sometimes plan and lead operations.
The tapes also suggest that U.S. officials are making plans to bring captured drug traffickers to the United States, even though Colombia's constitution bars extradition of its citizens.
One conversation alluding to this point is between Robert Nieves, director of the DEA's International Affairs office in Washington; Tony Senneca, the DEA chief in Colombia; and a woman identified on tape as Mary Lee Warren.
Sources in Washington identified Mary Lee Warren as a deputy assistant attorney general who supervises international drug trafficking cases. Her office refused to comment.
DEA spokesman James McGivney said Nieves retired last Friday, but that it had nothing to with the disclosure of the tapes.
Nieves introduces Mary Lee into the conversation with a warning that he and Senneca have been speaking cryptically because they are not on a secure telephone.
NIEVES: ... I shared with you a memo that Tony wrote a while back where he talked about doing some innovative and bold things, and possibly relaxing certain, um, prohibitions we are currently working under ...
They confirm they are on the same wavelength, then discuss ways they could proceed, in Nieves words, "if we actually get our backs against the wall on some individuals."
NIEVES: We can find creative ways of accomplishing some things, perhaps?
MARY LEE: I want to find _ let me just be clear. First in my mind is finding creative ways of getting bodies here.
NIEVES: Yeah, okay, I'm with you (laughs). That's the goal.
MARY LEE: Bodies to help and bodies as targets ...
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the three were not discussing plans to snatch traffickers to the United States. However he conceded it was possible they were talking about luring them to America.
Colombia's drug lords are terrified of trial in the United States, where they face stiff sentences. Traffickers fought a war against Colombia's government in the 1980s to force it to ban extraditions.
But the United States has sometimes circumvented extradition restrictions and U.S. courts have consistently supported the kidnappings of suspects abroad for trial, notably Panamanian military leader Manuel Noriega.
Another section of the tape, a conversation between Nieves and Senneca, refers to an operation on a farm.
U.S. Ambassador Frechette confirmed Monday that the operation occurred: The search in August by a DEA team, flown from the United States with dogs trained to detect bodies, of a ranch owned by Cali cartel leader Helmer Herrera.
On the tape, Senneca says Colombia's national police chief and the head of narcotics police have been briefed on the operation. Rank-and-file police agents, however, don't know the details.
SENNECA: They don't know what the operation is yet, all they know is ... that they're doing something with us.
Frechette said authorities were suspicious Herrera's farm was a cartel killing ground. He would not say whether human remains were found.
The developments come as U.S.-Colombian relations are at their lowest point in years. President Ernesto Samper is under investigation for allegedly accepting millions of dollars from the Cali cartel, the world's biggest narcotics syndicate, to win the 1994 elections.
Samper's office blamed a foreign conspiracy against the president, and the interior minister suggested DEA agents were involved. The DEA denied it.
In a move expected to further rattle Colombia's government, the United States will allow Colombian prosecutors to interview Guillermo Pallomari, the Cali cartel's financial chief, who surrendered to authorities in the United States after contacting DEA agents here.
Corrupt politicians fear their links to the Cali cartel will be exposed.
^By ANDREW SELSKY=
^Associated Press Writer=
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) _ U.S. drug agents operate more independently in Colombia than they've acknowledged, in one case searching a Cali cartel leader's farm for bodies, according to taped conversations between American officials.
On the tapes, which Washington privately acknowledges are authentic though possibly edited, U.S. officials also discuss efforts to have cartel figures and witnesses against them sent, or lured to, the United States for trial.
The revelations come as U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration operations are under increasing criticism by some Colombians.
Colombian Congressman Carlos Alonso Lucio released excerpts of the tapes in early October and later gave reporters copies of the tapes in full. Although Lucio said the tapes indicate the DEA operates with too much autonomy in Colombia, U.S. officials have accused the congressman of being an ally of the Cali cartel.
It would be in the interest of drug traffickers to diminish the DEA's role in Colombia, which supplies 80 percent of the world's cocaine and has a police force riddled with corruption.
Though the DEA officially claims its agents merely accompany Colombian forces on missions and provides intelligence, the taped conversations, elements of which were confirmed by U.S. Ambassador Myles Frechette, show they sometimes plan and lead operations.
The tapes also suggest that U.S. officials are making plans to bring captured drug traffickers to the United States, even though Colombia's constitution bars extradition of its citizens.
One conversation alluding to this point is between Robert Nieves, director of the DEA's International Affairs office in Washington; Tony Senneca, the DEA chief in Colombia; and a woman identified on tape as Mary Lee Warren.
Sources in Washington identified Mary Lee Warren as a deputy assistant attorney general who supervises international drug trafficking cases. Her office refused to comment.
DEA spokesman James McGivney said Nieves retired last Friday, but that it had nothing to with the disclosure of the tapes.
Nieves introduces Mary Lee into the conversation with a warning that he and Senneca have been speaking cryptically because they are not on a secure telephone.
NIEVES: ... I shared with you a memo that Tony wrote a while back where he talked about doing some innovative and bold things, and possibly relaxing certain, um, prohibitions we are currently working under ...
They confirm they are on the same wavelength, then discuss ways they could proceed, in Nieves words, "if we actually get our backs against the wall on some individuals."
NIEVES: We can find creative ways of accomplishing some things, perhaps?
MARY LEE: I want to find _ let me just be clear. First in my mind is finding creative ways of getting bodies here.
NIEVES: Yeah, okay, I'm with you (laughs). That's the goal.
MARY LEE: Bodies to help and bodies as targets ...
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the three were not discussing plans to snatch traffickers to the United States. However he conceded it was possible they were talking about luring them to America.
Colombia's drug lords are terrified of trial in the United States, where they face stiff sentences. Traffickers fought a war against Colombia's government in the 1980s to force it to ban extraditions.
But the United States has sometimes circumvented extradition restrictions and U.S. courts have consistently supported the kidnappings of suspects abroad for trial, notably Panamanian military leader Manuel Noriega.
Another section of the tape, a conversation between Nieves and Senneca, refers to an operation on a farm.
U.S. Ambassador Frechette confirmed Monday that the operation occurred: The search in August by a DEA team, flown from the United States with dogs trained to detect bodies, of a ranch owned by Cali cartel leader Helmer Herrera.
On the tape, Senneca says Colombia's national police chief and the head of narcotics police have been briefed on the operation. Rank-and-file police agents, however, don't know the details.
SENNECA: They don't know what the operation is yet, all they know is ... that they're doing something with us.
Frechette said authorities were suspicious Herrera's farm was a cartel killing ground. He would not say whether human remains were found.
The developments come as U.S.-Colombian relations are at their lowest point in years. President Ernesto Samper is under investigation for allegedly accepting millions of dollars from the Cali cartel, the world's biggest narcotics syndicate, to win the 1994 elections.
Samper's office blamed a foreign conspiracy against the president, and the interior minister suggested DEA agents were involved. The DEA denied it.
In a move expected to further rattle Colombia's government, the United States will allow Colombian prosecutors to interview Guillermo Pallomari, the Cali cartel's financial chief, who surrendered to authorities in the United States after contacting DEA agents here.
Corrupt politicians fear their links to the Cali cartel will be exposed.
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