JPRS ID: 8957 WORLDWIDE REPORT NARCOTICS AND DANGEROUS DRUGS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: JPRS
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00850R000200050059-0
• Release Decision: RIF
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 61
• Document Creation Date: November 1, 2016
• Sequence Number: 59
• Content Type: REPORTS

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2~ FEBRUARY 198~ CFOUO 9r80) 1 0 F 1
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JPRS L/8957
29 February 1980
_ Woridwide R~ ort ~
~
- NARCOTICS AND DANGEROUS DRUGS
, CFOUO 9/80) -
~Bi~ FOREIGN BROADCASI" IfVFORMATION SE~VICE
FOR OFFICIAI, USE ONLY
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~ Unfamiliar names rendered phonetically or transliterated are
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FOR OFFICIAJ~ LTSE OiIL~' -
JP~S L/8957
~
29 February 1980
- WORLDWIDE R~PORT
~iARCOTICS AND DANGEROUS DRUGS
(FOUO 9/80)
CONTENTS PAGE
ASIA `
BURMA
N~rcotics Squads Unite To Stem Drug Flow From 'Golden
Triangle'
(Francis Daniel; REUI'F~S, 19 ~~eb 80) 1
PAKISTAN
Briefs =
HasY~isii Concealed in Guitar 1+ -
- RS 50 Crore Charas Seizure 4
LATIN AMERICA
BRAZIL
Detective Arrested, Charged With Cocaine Trafficking
(JORNAL DO BRASl"L, 12 Jan 80) 5
Attorney, Trafficker Rrrested With Marihuar~,Cocaine
(~JORNAL DO BRASIL, 18 Jan 80) ........e........... 7
_ ~
Briefs
New Drug Used ir~ Recife 8
FRG Seeks Trafficer's Extraaition 8
- Three Traffickers Arrested 8
MEXICO
- Cust~ms Guard Implicated in Marihuana Smuggling
(E'L DI'ARIO DE NUEVO LAREDO, 10 Jan 80) 10
- z - [III - WW - 138 FOUO]
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CONTENTS (Continued) F~age
- Members of Notorius Drug Trafficking Ring Captured
- (EL BRAVO, various dates) 12
Court Action Initiated
Trafficker Protected From Transfer -
- Details on Ringts Activities
Char~es Denied, Abuse Claimed -
Marihuana Smuggler Given Seven Year Prison Sentence
(II, BRAVO, 16 Jan 80) 18
Briefs
Warden Acquitted in Escape 19 '
Coahuila Peyote Plantation Destroyed 19
Armed Drug Trafficer Held 19
' Marihuana Trafficker Sentenced 20
VENEZUELA
- Margarita Said To Be New Transshipment Point -
(EL tTNI~~tSAL, 10 Jan 80) 21
Cocaine Seized, Three Traffickers Arrested
(EL iJ1VIVERSAL, Jan 80) 22 ~
- WEST EUROPE
- AUSTR IA
Briefs
Ih ug Ring Uncovered 23 -
BELGIUM
Drug Enforcement Head Arrested for Drug Trafficking
(Rene Haquin; LE SOIR, 23 Jan 80) 24 `
DENMARK
Report Discusses Narcotics Use in Prisons
_ (Carl-Joh~.n Rosenberg; ~1KTUELT, 4 Jan 80) 2.8
_ Copenhagen Antinarcotics Chief Discusses Drug Problem -
(Poul Flemming; BERLINGSKE TIDIIVDE, 6 Jan 80)....... 31
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- CC:~'ENTS (Continued)
. Prisoners' La~ayer Attacks Plan To�Isolate Addicts
(Solveig Rodsgaard; BF~LINGSKE TIDENDE, 7 J~.n ~0).. 34 -
Fris on Authorities Announce Measures To Stop Drugs
(BERLIPdGSKE TIDENDE, 3 Jan 80) 37
~ Authorities Arrest Turks Smuggling 80 Percent Morphine _
Ba.se Drug
(BERLINGSKE TIDENDE, 31 Dec 79~ 39 -
_ Police Arrest Italians for Smuggling 2 Kilos of Heroin
' (Anders Wiig; BERLIlVGSKE iIDENDE
, 9 Jan 80) 40
_ Two Arrested, Accused of Bringing Heroin From Spain
- ( BEP,I,INGSKE TIDENDE, 12 J~,n 80 ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . !~2
FRANCE
_ Drug Usage Now Said To Be 'Endemic' _
(LE MONDE, lg Jan 80) 43 _
Serious Increase in Heroin Addiction Noted
- (Serge Chau~rel-Leroux; LE FIGARO, l~+ Jan 80) 45 .
Briefs
1979 D~g Toll ~7
Drug Users Sentenced ~7
~ SPAIN ~
i Cocaine Seized, Traffickers Arrested
- (YA, 27 Dec 79) ~+8
SWEDEN
~ Smuggli:ng Suspects Thought To Be !~iding U.S. Political -
Group -
- (Leif Dahlin; DAGF~VS NYHErER, 5 Feb 80) 5o r
Judge Pa.sses Final Sentences in Stockholm Hashish Case
(Claes von Aofsten; SVENSKA DAGBLADET, 26 Jan 80) . 54
Police Arrest Iranian in Opium Smuggling Case
(I,~if Dahli.n; DAGENS NYHETgZ, 28 Jan 8G) 55 ~
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BURMA -
NARCOTICS SQUADS UNITE TO STEM DRUG FLOW FROM 'GOLDEN TRIANGLE'
_ London REUTERS in English 0308 GMT 19 Feb 80 ^
= [Article by Francis Daniel]
[Text] Singapore, 18 Feb, REUTER--Narcotics squads here are combining
_ with neighboring countries to fighC an expected flow of drugs from the
y "Golden Triangle," the world's biggest opium producing area.
__J A bumper harvest--totalling about 800 tons of illicit raw opium--is
expected this season from the jungle-clad border region straddling Burma,
; Thailand and Laos, according to Singapore Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) -
- officials.
- Opium production in ttie Golden Triangle fell sharply last year because of
_ a sev2re drought but the situation has changed drastically after good ~
rains this season, the officials said. _
The main opium harvesting period in the region is usually from January
to March. But the officials, quoting Thai intelli.gence sour~es, said
some of the harvested raw opium was already in the process of being ;
_ refined int~ heroin and morphine before shipment to lucrative Western '
= niarkets in the coming months.
Most of the underground opium refineries are in remote jungle areas along
the Thai-BurmESe border and not easily accessible to law enforcement
agencies of the two countries, the officials said. -
� "It is a kind of no man's land where the opium fa~tories function in
- relative safety," one officiai added. -
The illicit cultivation of opium poppies and their harvest are largely
under the control of rebel hill tr~ibesmen and remnants of the former ~
nationalist Chinese Kuomintang army who find the drug trade a good source
- of rev~nue.
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Well-organized international syndicates operating from various centers
in Southeast Asia distribute the refined opium through an elaborate
- network almost encircling the globe.
But officials here said the five members of the Association of Southeast
_ Asian Nations (ASEAN)--Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines
- and Indonesia--wei~e coordinating their efforts to break the "Asian
connection."
"We t~ave 'hot lines' to all ASEAN countries and Hong Kong. We also ~
- cooperate with Interpol which gives us daily movements of drug syndi-
cates all over the world," one official said.
But all these efforts, including tough new laws prescribing the death _
- penalty for drug trafficking, appear to have had only limited success ~
so far.
Officials here admit that drugs were still finding ~heir way to the West
- through a number of transit points in the region--Hong Kong, Bangkok,
Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Singapore.
They said, however, there were clear indications that some of the big-
~ time drug operators from Hong Kong and Singapore had shifted their base
~ of operation to Western cities.
Singapore also is gradually losing its importance as a drug transit
center following the introduction of new drug laws under which anyone
carrying more than 15 grams (half an ounce) of heroin can be condemned
to death, the officials said. _
Five people have been hanged here since the new laws came into effect
~ four years ago--three of them Malaysians and the other two Singaporeans. _
A number of other foreigners, including Aniericans and Australians, also
were charged under the ne~ laws but escaped capital punishment because -
the heroin content found in the contraband they were carrying was less
than 15 grams. -
Malaysia and Thailand also have introduced the death penalty for drug
trafficking. Anyone caught with heroin in Malaysia can be flogged as `
well.
In recent years, some drug traffickers in Thailand were executed 'i~y the
firing squad under executive orders. In Malaysia about 20 peogle had
- been sentPnced to death for trafficking in drugs, but no executions have
been carried out so far.
_ Southeast Asian countries are threatene' by spreading addiction 3mong
their o~an people. And the expected increase in the flow of drugs from
_ 2
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the Golden Triangle could make the situation worse, officials here
said.
A Malaysian minister said recently that drug addiction within the coun- ~
try was graver than the communist insurgen~y now confined mainly to the
Thai-Malaysian border.
_ The number of drug addicts in Malaysia had swollen tn 300,000 among a
population of 10 million, according to the minister.
- The total number of drug addicts in ~=-gapore is estimated to be less
than 10,000. But narcotic officiais said the drug problem could nat be
eradicated completely in Singapore.
It has the third largest harbor in the world, an international airport
- with a turn-over of more than a million passengers a year and a causeway -
linking the island with the Malaysian peninsula.
A number of drug syn3ica_tes have been smashed in Singapore and else- -
- where in Southeast Asia during the past sev~ral years but the opium trail -
from the Golden Triangle was still very much active, a senior official
said.
This island state is strengthening both its customs and intelligence
work, he added.
CSO: 5300
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- PAKISTAN
BRIEFS
HASHISH CONCEALED IN GUITAR--A fo.reigner, identified as Verrips Marinus
- Adrianus, was arrested on Friday last from Karachi airport with 1~ kilos
of hashish oil in his possession. The accused, who was going to Los
Angeles, had concealed the hashish in a costly Guitar. He said he had
- bought the contraband from Afghanistan from where he came to Karachi via
Quetta. According to custom authorities Verrips ha,3 earlier visited
Pakistan four times under fictitious names. jText] jKarachi MORNING
NEWS in English 5 Feb 80 p 5]
RS 50 CRORE CHARAS SEIZURE--The CIA polic;e while patrolling on Tuesday -
arrested a truck driver Abbas and his accomplice Yar Hasan and recovered
from t:ieir possession 1,850 kilogram contraband charas worth about Rs 50
crore. According to the details SP and DSY CIA after getting infor;nation
that a gang is involved in smuggling out the charas formed a four-member -
- team comprising Inspector Mohammad Fareed SI Shamshad Khan SI Anwar
- Zeb and ASI Abdul Jaleel for investigation. The team while patrolling
Super Highway on Tuesday night caught a truck near Octroi post and during
_ the checking found 1;850 kilogram contraband charas valued about Rs 50
crore in the international market. A case under Section..3/4 of Islamic
Law Ordinance has been registered against the accused and investigation is
_ in progre~s.--PPI. [Text) [Karach~i MORNING NEWS in English 31 Jan 80 p 1]
CSO: 5300 ~
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BRAZ IL
DETECTIVE AR.RESTED, CHARGED WITH COCAINE TR:.FFICKING
" Rio de Janeiro JORNAL DO BRASIL in Portuguese 12 Jan 80 p 15
[Text] Early yesterday morning on Morro do Andarai, agents of the P-2
(Secret Service), 6th BPM [Military Police Batallion], ar.rested detective
Osmar Severino Ribeiro (Osmar Negao) and three other men, alleged by the
police to be traffickers. Taken in the act at the drzg sales point of
Edson ~arros Rainha, who was also arrested, the pris~ners had 82 grams of
- cocaine (valued at 100,000 cruzeiros) and a.38-caliber revolver, No.
- 983166, in their possession.
Osmar iVegao is implicated in several investigations, and has been suspended
from police duty in the Diverse Situations Department of the Public Safety
Secretariat. In 1975 his name appeared on a list of corrupt police offi-
cers who provided protection for trafficker Milton Goncalves Thiago,
"Cabecao," on Morro do Faz-Quem-Quer, in Rocha Miranda.
A few days earlier, together with officers of the 20th Police Precinct [DP]
in Grajau, agents had attempted to raid the "smoke hole" of trafficker
Edson Barros Rainha and his brother Toinho. Day befure yesterday, the
_ polica received an anonymous phone call reporting the arrival of a large
quantity of drugs and decided to go up the h~ll.
_ The police planned the assault for dawn, when they would be less notice-
able. Reaching the "smoke hole" in one of the alleys on the hill, they
surprised six men, two of whom managed to escape. Meanwhile, Osmar Nagao
attempted to divert the agents' attention, identifying himself as a police
officer, while anather trafficker unsuccessfully tried to hide the cocaine,
which was in a plastic bag.. Osmar Negao said he had only been having a
- conversation with friends, and was not aware the cocaine was there.
_ Who They Are
Taken to the 20th llP, the prisoners were identified as Gilberto de Oliveira,
single, aged 25, of 496 Rua Andarai; L uis Carlos dos Santos, married, aged
37, of 1733 Joao Vicente Road; Edson de Barros Rainha, single, aged 32, of
959 Rua Leopoldo; and Osmar Severino Ribeiro, "Osmar Negao," single, aged
~ 48, of 340 Rua Alcacaribis.
5
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_ Edson's and Osmar Negao's records are on file in the Narcotics Division
Delegacy, and the trafficker was being sought for drug trafficking on _
Morro de Andarai, Morro do Borel and seve~al other locations. He operated
his sales point with his brothers Toinho and Tico, until the latter was
killed during a robbery, by his own victim.
Th e detective was named in the investigation of Cabecao, who stated on his
arrest that he had paid 60 police officers every month for protection. The
~ de tective was also arrested two years ago as he came 3own from Morro do
- Borel, after P2-2 agents with binoculars had observed him talking with =
traffickers and taking a check. On his arrest, he ~ould not explairi the
- reason for the 60,000-cruzeiro check, and answered to an inquiry in the -
19th DP.
Weeping copiously and claiming he had nothing to do with the drug that was
seized, Luis Carlos dos Santos said he was the treasurer of the Sports ~
Writers' Association of Rio de Janeiro and that he worked at Maracana, b ut .
- he could not substantiate this,
~
- 6363
CSO: 4401
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= 13RAZIL.
- ATTORNEY, TRAFFICKEB ARRESTED WITH Mr1RIHUANA, COCAINE
Rio de Janeir~ JORNF.L DO BRASIL in Por~uguese 18 Jan 80 p 15
` (Text] Attorney Lea Marcins Barros, aged 28, was arrested yesterday at
_ 1300 hcurs as he was leaving the house af No 790 Ladeira do Tabajaras, in
_ Copacabana. He was in possession of 13 grams of cocaine and 4 marihuana _
cigarettPS, acquired from trafficker Jose Carlos Lourenco de So4za, aged
' 29, opeiator of a"smoke hole" at that location and arrested with Barros. _
The pair was picked up in the attorney's Chevette, license no RJ-D2-00-55. _
The mar~.huana was found in the glove compartm~nt and ~he c~cain.e was under -
the carpetin~. The two men were taken to the 12th bP ;Police Precinct] in
- Copacabana by of�icers of the 18th BPM [Military Police Batallion]. As of -
- 2100 hours they sti11 had not been booked, because of the iarge nUmber of
requests that tize charge be dropped.
Client
~ Patrolmen Pzulo, Viano, Citonio and Santana, Radio Patrol 54/0101, of the
19th BPM, had been staking out the house at 790 Ladeira dos Tabajaras, _
- where girls and boys were often seen enterin~ and leaving after a short
time. Yesterday, the patrolmen observed the Chevette drive up with the -
attorney, who entered the house and came out accompanied by Jose Carlos.
The patrolmen made the arrest before the car could le.ave, and took the
~air to the 12th DP. At the precinct, Barros said he had gone to the house _
because the trafficker was his client, but he could not explain why the
- drugs were concealed in two places in the Chevette. -
' Within an hour after the arrest, Candido de Oliveira, counselor of the OAB
[Brazilian Bar Association], arrived at the 12th DP to assist Barros, and ~
attorneys Arthur Levigne and Joao Carlos Castelar came to his defense.
The three a.ttornel~s and the police would not allow the prisoners to be
photographed or interviewed. -
; Attorney Levigne said "it was not right for the press to name a member of
the bar as a trafficker or an addict." Outside the police station, =
private Santos said he had heard several police officers apologizing to in-
dividuals who phoned the 12th DP, and explaining that it was impossihle -
tn drop the chargp sir~ce the press already knew of the incident. _
F_ '62
Cso: 4401 7
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L-
_ BP.AZ IT~
. -
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~ BRIEFS
NEW DRUG USED IN RECIFE--Recife--The Narcotics Division has begun to in- ~
- vestigate the possibility that a new type of drug--based on a garden fer-
tilizer--is be~ng used in combination with perfume. Although milder and
of shorter duration, its effects are said to be similar to those of ~
cocaine. At the beginning of the week, police arrested three drug addicts
charged with having kidnaped and corrupted three minors. They admitted _
to using a chemical compound prepared with a green-colored plant stimulant-- _
sold freely in commercial establishments. The product is quite inexpensive
and, according to the addicts. has gained wide acceptance, mainly because
it costs less than marihuana. Merchants say there is only one green pro-
- duct, whicr costs 50 cruzeiros per 200 grams, but they have not recorded
an increase in sales. [Text] [Rio de Janeiro 0 GLOBO in Portuguese 18 Jan
" 80 p 15] 6362
- FRG SEEKS TRAFFICKER'S EXTRADITION--Brasilia--Yesterday the Federal Supreme
i Court [STF] received an urgent appeal from the FRG for the extradition of
Fakl Herman Werner, who i.s accused of trafficking in drugs, incl~iding
heroin and marihuana. Werner, aged 39, is already under preventive arrest
in Brasilia, and the Federal Police are considering re~easing hi~ to the
STF. Fakl Werner has been sentenced to prison twice, the first time in
1972, when German police found 8.5 kilograros of hashish in his car. He -
was carrying them in a leather pouch encased in the front seat and out-
- fi.tted with 45 linen pockets. He was sentenced to three years in prison ;
- and paid a 5,000-mark fine. Iteleased after serving two years, he was !
- arrested again in 1975 and again convicted. Placed on probation, he fled !
, to Brazil. [Text] [Rio de Janeiro JORNAL DO BRASIL in Portuguese 11 Jan
80 p 8] 6362
THREE TRAFFICKERS ARRESTED--Charged with selling cocaine in the halls of
the Court, Luis Antonio Guedes da Cruz, aged 30, a file clerk for the -
Fourth Family Court, and floor polisher Newton Ferreira, aged 43, were
arrested yesterday afternoon by three inspectors of the Narcotics Depart- ~
ment, where the two men are being held inc~mmunicado. Also arrested on
- suspicion of invol~~emf-nt was Antonio Alvaro Sacramento, aged 22, a coffee
vendor at the coi~~c. Police officer Jorge Mendes said that at the time
of his arrest Nzwton was delivering three packets of cocaine to Luis
a
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Antonio and was c4rrying 14 more packets in a sack. One of the officers
reported that the arrest was the result of an accusation, and that he
_ "had been keeping an eye on Luis Antonio in the hope of surprising him.�"
Antonio Alvaro was arrested because he was present during the exchange.
The Narcotics Division has no previous record on the tTao men directly in-
- volved. According to officer Mendes, however, Newton said he had already _
been investigated for trafficking under the terms of Article 281 of the
= Penal Code. The packets of cocaine ha~�e reen sent to the Criminology !
Institute for analysis. The Police added that Newton also had some mari-
huana leaves in his bag. They are attempting to establish a link between
the two men and drug trafficking rings. [Text] [Rio de Janeiro 0 GLOBO
In Portuguese 9 Jan 80 p 10] 6262
CSO: 4401
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MEXICO _
- CUSTOMS GUARD IMPLICATED IN MARIHUANA SMUGGLING
1
Nuevo Laredo EL DIARIO DE NUEVO LAREDO in Spanish 10 Jan 80 Sec D p 7
[TextJ Statements were taken yesterday in the second district court from
guard Rolando Garcia Hinojosa and his codefendant, Efren Gonzalez Oliva- r
res, alias "E1 Menso," in c~nnection with the charges brought against them
by tne federal prosecutor.
The former denied having engaged in drug trafficking, while the latter ad-
mitted his guilt, possibly for the purpose of bearing the full brunt of -
the law and releasing his codefendant, Rolando Garcia Hinojo~a, of all
guil t .
Garcia Hinojosa was accused of having committed a crime against health in
the degree of marihuana transportation, and Efren Gonzalez was charged with -
- being presumed guilty of the same crime, but in the degrees of possession
and transportation of cannabis ind3.ca.
The two presumed drug traffickers were released from jail yesterday morning,
_ and taken before Cayetano Hernandez Valencia. -
Garcia Hiriojosa admitted to knowing his codefendant, but maintained that,
on the day of the inci~ents for which they were arrested, Gonzalez Oliva-
res had asked him to take him to the "Los Alamos" farm to pick up a bag ~
of dirty laundry, and that he did not think that it was to pick up mari�-
- huana, claiming that he had never been involved in the drug business. -
Gonzalez Olivares, for his part, confirmed the statement that he had made
- at the agency of the Federal Public Ministry. ' -
- The customs guard and Gonzalez Olivares were arrested on 3 January by fe- L
deral agents who were making an inspection tour of an outlet leading to
Miguel Aleman,
In the 1979 Ford pickup truck driven by Rolando Garcia Hinojosa, the fede-
ral ag~nts found 8 kilograms of marihuana. Then they went to a farm, where ~
they seized an additional 20 kilograms of the same drug.
- ,
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Upon making his state~ent ~n the office ~f the state prosecutor, Efren Gon-
zalez Olivarss said that, on 10 December 1979, at a ranch owned by him,
they had unl~aded 2,500 kilograms of marihuana purchases in Acayuca, Vera-
cruz, and Matias Romero, Oaxaca. They carried it in a trailer truck to the L
bo,rder in Tamaulipas, and shipped most of the drug to the American side
- acros~ the river between the towns of Los Angeles and Guardados de Abajo.
: Tomorrow, Friday, Hernandez Valencia will decide upon the legal status of -
the two individuals in custody.
_ ' y7p .~f
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Efren Gonzalez Olivares, alias "E1 Menso," was phoCographed while leaving _
the premises of the second district court, where he made his preliminary
_ statement.
2909
CSO: 5330
. ~
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r~xice _
J
_ MEMBERS OF NQTORIOUS DRUG TRAFFICKING RING CAPTURED _
Court Action Initiated
- H. Matamoro:~ EL BRAVO in Spanish 15 Jan 80 p 8
[Text] The members of the powerful drug trafficking ring disbanded last Sa-
- turday by the Federal Judicial Police will be placed at the disposal of the
first penal court this morning, at the latest; and the latter will act on -
behalf of the Federal Court to make the first study of the preliminary in-
, vestigation and to issue the orders for official imprisonment. Investiga- -
tior,s of the same case are being continued both here and on the American
side, by the DEA.
Considerable influence was being used yesterday to have some of the drug
. traffickers released immediately. A great deal of pressure is being exert-
ed by high-rankin~ personages in an attempt to benefit those individuals, `
who have been deeply involved in the drug traffic for many years, a business
- which enableci them to become wealthy.
The commanders of the Federal Judicial Police and the agency of the Federal
Public Ministry t~oth agreed yesterday in stating that, despite all the pres-
sure that is imposed and the influence being used, all those in custody are
too deeply implicated, chiefly because the corpus delecti has been obtained, -
namely, the vehicles in which they were transporting the drugs, and many of
those individuals were arrested on the same site where the drugs were locat-
- ed.
- Upon being questioned about this case yesterday, Alfredo Olivares Osuna said
that the agency of the Public Ministry worked overtime, so as to oversee
everything and not allow any pressure, pursuing the preliminary inve.~tiga-
tion without any interrruption. -
He noted that those in custody, including the ringleader, Melquiades Sosa
Cantu, made their preliminary statements at dawn on Sunday, after which
the group was transferred to the prj.son under heavy guard.
This made it possible for the preliminary investigation to be nearly ::omplet-
_ , ed by yesterd.ay af ternoon; and, this morning at the latest, the eight ii~~ii- -
viduals under arrest will be at the disposal of the first penal judge, Ru-
_ ben Gonzalez Chapa.
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The prosecutor stated: "They have all confessed to their drug trafficking
activity; the main vehicles that they had used to transport the drugs were
confiscated from them; and the corpus delecti has be~n obtained. They have _
- no outlet; they are caught."
- He said that some of the vehicles might be returned later, but that the ~
judge would decide. on this, although i~ would take many months far this ~
to occur. As tor the individuals in custody, he said that it wc+uld be
extremely difficult for them to procure their release.
Moreover, the commander of the Federal Judicial Police who carried out the
action to arrest this ring of narcos said that it had been proven that Mr
Melquiades Sosa Cantu was running the ring, although his son had also ap-
peared as chief during recent months. He said that both were completely
implicated.
He also remarked that the probe would continue, and that it was quite like-
ly that other individuals involved in this ring would be arrested. -
Meanwhile, on the American side, the antidrug department, DEA, is continu-
ing its own series of investigations to apprehend the persons there who
were the contacts of the Melquiades Sosa drug traffickers, both father and
- son. ~
Trafficker Protected From Transfer
?i, Matamoros EL BRAVO in Spanish 17 Jan 80 p 16
[Text] The dr~.g trafficker and double murderer Melquiades Sosa Cantu peti-
tioned for and obtained yesterday protection from the federal court so as
not to be transferred to the La Loma penitentiary in Nuevo Laredo. Mel-
quiades Sosa took this action following rumors that he might possibly be
transferred to Nuevo Laredo for investigation concerning other cases of
drug trafficking.
Meanwhile, considerable in.fluence is being used in an attempt to procure
the release of the head of the d~ug trafficking ring as soon as possible.
The protection against the transfer was granted yesterday morning by the -
second district judge, after which notices were sent to the various po-
lice and judicial offices in Ma.tamoros regarding the benefit which had _
- been granted to the arrested drug trafficker, Melquiades Sosa Cantu.
- The notices also state that this benefit does not in any way preclude
investigations carried out in the case for which he was arrested. -
- It was learned that Sosa Cantu decided to obtain protection against a
- transfer to the La Loma penitentiary because he feared that this would
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I
= occur at any moment; since, the day before yesterday, there were many ru-
mors afoot that the head of the drug trafficking ring ~~as going to be moved
elsewhere to be investigated in connection with many other marihuana ship-
ments seized at various times.
~ Sosa Gantu fears that, if he is taken to Nuevo Laredo, he may be qtiestioned
more closely by the regional commander, Manuel Espindola, and his partici-
pation in many more drug trafficking cases may be discovered. It is said
that this criminal leader had been operating with his ring for over 10 ~
- years, although in former times he had operated i.n the drug traffic as a
mere "mule;" and even when he was in jail for murder, h2 was identified -
as the one controlling the drug traffic inside the municipal prison.
The State Judicial Police and the Preventive Police have known about the
illegal activity of Melc~uiades Sosa Cantu and his relatives for a long -
time, but no one dared to touch him, because he was protected by various
- officials and powerful individuals in this town.
It should be noted that, exactly a year ago, Federal Judicial Police agents
under orders from Benit~ Estrada Villagomez conducted several investiga-
- tions in which they discoverpd that Melquiades Sosa had formed a drug
traffickirtg ring with various relatives.
At the time, only one person was arrested, but the probe was halted after
- highly influential persons charged that while in custody he had been beaten
- by the Federal Judicial Police.
" Nevertheless, the Federal Judicial Police slowly continued their constant
- probe until, last Saturday morning, they managed to capture nearly all the
- members of that drug trafficking Mafia controlled by Melquiades Sosa Cantu,
who has not been helped thus far i~y any of the influence and protection
which he has en~oyed.
It was also reported that, possibly today, Melquiades Sosa and his seven
drug trafficking accomplices may make their preliminary statement before
_ the first penal j udge, Ruben Gonzalez Chapa, will will act on behalf of
the federal court.
Details on Ring's Activities
H. Matamoros EL BRAVO in Spanish 18 Jan 80 p i0
- [Text] The drug trafficking ring led by Melquiades Sosa Cantu made so much
money in its activities that its members paid cash for the late-model ve- _
hicles which they purchased recently. Also, in the last marihuana purchas-
ing transaction which they made, they paid a total of 330,000 pesos in cash.
The foregoing was learned from the questioning to which both the drug traf-
ficking chief, Melqu~ades Sosa Cantu, and the members of ring, were subject-
ed; all of whom had become very wealthy ~in - a short period of time. Some
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~
- of them may possiblq have been in the business for about 10 years, while
Melquiades Sosa Cantu had spent far longer in it.
According to the probe conducted by the Federal Judicial Police, about a -
month ago one of the members of the narco ring bought a 1980 Fo:.d pickup =
truck in thp town of Harlingen which cost nearly 400,000 pesos, a sum which
was paid in cash. ,
= Other vehicles had also been purchased previously, but in the same manner;
- thereby indicating the large amounts of money which that ring had available,
as a result of its illegal activity. ~
They confessed that they carried only small shipments, weighing from 200 to ~
400 kilograms as a maximum; but the trips wera very close together, and
hence their economic power rose at a fast pace.
= The Federal Judicial Police noted that this is one of the heaviest blows !
against the drug traffic in recent months, since the entire ring was brok- ;
en up, although some accomplices were not captured.
According to the Federal Judicial Police, "Arrests were made ranging from
_ the chief to the mere loader of marihuana, and it is difficult to accom-
~ plish something like this." They added that it is difficult because, on
many occasions, only one or two persons can be caught, and the rest of a '
ring manages to escape. '
The Federal Police commander, Victor Manuel Martinez Guerra, stated that,
fortunately, precautions were taken in the operations at the Barranquitas
farm, owned by Melquiades Sosa Cantu, where he and most of his accomplices
_ were apprehended. !
- It was also noted that the action was so swift that none of the drug traf-
_ fickers had~an opportunity to escape to the American side. i
Charges Denied, Abuse Claimed ,
' I
-i H. Matamoros EL BRAVO in Spanish 19 Jan 80 p 8 ~
[Text] The eight members of the drug trafficking ring recently disbanded
by the Federal Judicial Police made state~ents yesterday before the first
penal judge, Ruben Gonzalez Chapa, telling him that they knew nothing ,
- about the marihuana shipment that was seized from them last we~k. '
Those individuals, advised by their defense attorney, stated that they had
been subjected to abuse by the federal agents; but, from all appearances,
they are attempting to go free at all cost, by using a series of ruses.
Those who made their preliminary statements to the first penal judge yes-
terday were the chief of the drug trafficking ring, Melquiades Sosa Cantu, -
_ 1.5
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and I~telqui~.cies Sosa Rios, Maria de la Luz Torres Alvarado, Humberto and
Mario Sosa Campos, Alberto Guadalupe Garza Atkinson, Antonio Silva ~Iaz-
quez and Alnarto Martillo Lizardi. -
All of these indivi.duals, some of wnom have long-standing records as drug
traffickers, made a full confession of their participation in this illegal
acttvity to the federal prosecutor, Alfredu Olivares Osuna; but, whzn in
= court, on the other hand, they brought up a series of questions in an at-
tempt to shifk the blame. ~
~ H:;weve~:, with the skillful intervention of the penal judge, Ruben Gonzalez
Chapa, as well as the questioning tu which they were subjected in that
probe by Alfredo Olivares Osuna, s~ho acted as assistant prosecutor, the
drug traf�ickers embarked upon a series of contradictions which iaill sure-
ly prove detrimental to them in the trial to which they will be brought.
_ Among the contradictions of the arrested individual, Antozio Silva Vazquez,
- is the fact that he claimed to have bought the 1979 Mexican model Dodge
ptckup truck in Mexico City, for the sum of 160,000 pesos, whereas its
price there is o~er 300,000 pesos, and even more because he admitted having
bought it from a dealer.
- Also, Antonio Silva claimed not to know the Sosa family, and said that he _
had been given the 200-liter tanks found on his *_ruck by an unidenti�ied
person from San Fernando.
The head of the drug traffieking ring, Melquia~tes Sosa Cantu, cynically
stated that he did not know that the marihuana shipment seized from them
was located in ane of the buildings on his farm.
For their part, his relatives, Melquiades Sosa Rios and Humberto and Mario
Sc~sa Campos said that they did not know the bwner of the drugs, because
they had been placed in charge of them.
Th~ ,,ther drug traffickers claimed that they had been forced to admit to
_ being such, since they wera tortured by the Federal Police; but they did
not show any traces of that torture.
Moreover, ye~terday afternoon, the federal prosecutor, Alfredo Jlivares _
Osuna, stated that, despite the specious arguments used by the drug traf-
fickers in custody, their erime is the sa~e, and they will have to pay for
it in prison. The proceedings involving the preliminary statements lasted
- about 10 hours. _
i6
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c ~
. R
.L i~ , ~
- ..~'~Y~~'�
. _ ~,`"1 '
n� .
e
; r
t~ .(.i. - 5 -
i,
Drug trafficker Melquiades Sosa Cantu sought and obtained protection from
the federal court yesterday so as not to be transferred to another prison.
Simultaneously, considerable influence was being wielded in an attempt to
release him from jail. _
~ F
: ~r..p J H �t`t 7 ~
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The leading members of Melquiades ~osa Cantu's drug trafficking ring, namely,
his son, Melquiades Sosa Rios, and his nephews, Mario and Humberto Sosa Cam- -
po�s , will have to appear before the first penal court today to make their
preliminary statements.
2909
CSO: 5330
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MEXICO
- MARIHUANA SMUGGLER GIVEN SEVEN YEAR F'RISON SENTENCE
- H. Matamoros EL BRAVO in Spanish 16 Jan 80 p 12 =
- [Text] It was announced yesterday that a 7-year prison sentence was imposed
on the drug trafficker Carlos Martinez, alias "La Pingua," for crimes against
health, whereas he no longer has any problem in connectinn with the death
of Pedro del Fierro Gonzalez and the theft of launch engines.
It was stated that all that is required is that the Associated Court of -
~ Monterrey confirm the sentence, which will occur at any moment.
It was also learned that the defense for Carlos Martinez, alias "La Pingua,"
or "El Manitas," will contest the sentence, in an attempt to have that in- _
- dividual released on bail.
The defenders af the aforementioned individual under arrest are doing every-
, thing possib'_e to have the sentence nullified so as to procure his release.
"La Pingaa" has already spent about 7 months in the local ~ail, after having
been arrested by forces of the ~ederal Judicial Police then under the com-
mand of Gerardo de Avila, who caught him sending sev~ral launch engines
across the mouth of the river. -
Upon being subjected to intensive ques~ioning, "La Pingua" confessed that he
had been sending shipments of marihuana to the American side.
There was also a warrant for his arrest because he was ident-ified as the own-
er of a shipment of marihuana which was seized about 4 years ago.
In addition, a warrant for his arrest was pending for having killed Pedro
- del Fierro Gonzalez with several gunshots in an incident which occured 4
and.a half years ago, inside the "La Posta" bar, at 6th and Hernan Cortez.
-
In connection with that murder, "La Pingua" posted bail through Raul Garza
_ Trevino in the second penal court. He was also released insofar as the
launch engine smuggling was concerned; but it was reported that he would -
have to serve a 7-year jail term in the case wherein he was cited as the
~ owner of a marihuana shipment.
2909
CSO: 5330
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I~II:XICO
BRIEFS
WARDEN ACQUITTED IN ESCAPE--Yesterday, Daniel Reyes Torres, former warden
in Ciudad Acuna, was released at the order of the associated eighth circuit
- court with h~adquarters in Torreon, Coahuila, which studied his case since
- he had been held for trial for the crime of the escape of convicts. Daniel
Reyes was a.rrested by the Federal Judicial Police officer, Iram Giner, af-
ter it had been learned that the warden allowed the convi~.~t Gabriel ~apata
Flores, alias "E1 Chino," who has been convicted of the crime of drug traf-
ficking, to leave the prison. The associated eighth circuit court was of
the opinion that there was not sufficient evidence against the former war-
den, because although it was true that the convict left the prison with
the warden's consent, it is likewise true that he returned there. [Text]
[Piedras Negras EL DIARIO DE PIEDRAS NEGRAS in Spanish 15 Jan 80 Sec B p
1] 2909
COAHUILA PEYOTE PLANTATION DESTROYED--Federal agents located and destroyed
a hallucogenic mushroom plantation on a site known as "Las Tapas," in the
municipality of Sabinas, Coahuila. The operation took place last Thursday,
after federal agents detailed to this border port received a complete re-
- port on the production of peyote in that area. The investigation began a
few days ago and, yesterday morning, the headquarters in which Manuel Es-
' pindola Martinez is chief, announced the results of the raid made on the
"Las Tapas" farm on the "E1 Progresso" communal lands in the municipality
of Sabinas, Coahuila. According to the Federal Judicial Police, the plan-
tation covered an expanse of 22 by.55 meters, with a density of from two
~ to three cactuses per square meter. The federal officers requested instruc-
tion from the coordinating agency for the antidrug campaign in the nortli-
east zone, and Alfredo Aaron Ju.arez Jimenez issued or3er to destroy the
hallucinogenic mushrooms after first obtaining some sampl~s which will be
used as part of. the pertinent preliminary penal investigation. The Fede-
ral Judicial Police did not reveal whether any individuals were arrested
in the course of this action. Tex~ ~Nuevo Laredo EL DIARIO DE NUEVO LI~REDO
in Spanish 12 Jan 80 Sec D p 4~j 2gog
ARMED DRUG TRAFFICKER HELD--Maria Rios Ayala, aged 35, was held for trial
_ by Miguel Conde Camacho, agent of the Federal Public Ministry, in tY?e dis-
- trict court of this town, for crimes against health in the degree of drug
" possession and distribution, as well as carrying firearms. According to
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.
information obtained by EL SOL DE SINALOA, the woman was found to be carry-
ing in her belongings, in separate pl;ices, the sums of 22,500, 10,000 and
- 6,000 pesos, presumably ~he result of cocaine sales. That drug was found
in her possession at th~ time of her arrest by agents of the Federal Judi -
_ cial Police. Both the drugs and tY~e 22-caliber pistol being caxried by
Maria Rios A.ynla, as well as the aforementioned sums of mon.ey, were con-
fiscated by the police and submitted as evidence against her; andy there-
fore, upon being questior.~d by the social representative, the woman made
a statement confessing to the aforementioned crimes. The head of the Pub-
lic Ministry stated that when the presumed drug trafficker was placed at
the disposal of the first district court in Sinaloa, she was taken to the
facilities of the State So c ial Rehabilitation Institute, where she will
, rernain until her legal sta tus has been determined. Finally, Conde Camacho
noted that, in view of the overwhelming evidence, and the confession made
by the accused, the preliminary investigation was made quickly, since there
were no obstacles to it. He said that he considered it fitting to turn
the case over to the compe tent authorities, so that they may hand down a
decision regarding the offense, [Text] [Culiacan EL SOL DE SINALOA in
Spanish 17 Jan 80 p 8J 2909
MARIHUANA TRAFFICKER SENTENCED--Yesterday, the federal judge of the second
district court, Eduardo Aguilar, assigned to this town, began studying se-
veral sentences that he mus t sign within a few days, including that of
Gilberto Lopez Rivera, an individual convicted of the crime of marihuana
trafficking in the degree of poseess:~on of 2,800 kilograms of the harmful
grass, The report on the foregoing stated that the incidents which gave
rise to these proceedings o ccurred a few days ago, when Ruben Fonseca was
arrested, while Gilberto Lopez escaped, and both Paulino Lopez and Jesus
Alberto Lopez were captured. The latter pair Iater escaped, and are fugi-
tives from justice; while Gilberto Lopez was caught, and steps were taken
to sentence Ruben Fonseca. In their statements, they all agreed in iden-
- tifying Gilberto as the owner of the drugs; and his sentence is due to be
issued within the Zext few days. The drugs were seized on a farm located
near the municipality of Nueva Rosita, where the cannabis was concealed
in the cellar of the farmhouse, in 200-liter drums. It was ascertained
that the charges against Gilberto Lopez are very serious, because he was
reported to have been engaged in illegal marihuana trafficking for a long
time. [Text] [Piedras Negras EL DIARIO DE PIEDRAS NEGRAS in Spanish 16 Jan
80 Sec B p 1] 2909
CSO: 5330
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- VENEZUEZA
MARGARITA SAID TO BE NEiJ TRANSSH~PMEAIT POINT �
Caracas EL UNIVERSAL in Spanish 10 Jan 80 pp 1-18
[Text] The town of Margarita benefits least from the free port and yet
there are rings made up of Venezuelans and foreigners and minorities
which have been favored by the measure.
This allegation was made by Bishop of Margarita Msgr Tulio Chirivella,
, who analyzed the island's current situation at the request of the -
_ reporter. ~
- Msgr Chirivella said that although the free port 'has brought benefits in "
some areas, it has also created serious problems. Along those lines he
revealed what in his opinion were the benefits and th2n pointed out the
_ negative aspects.
= He szated that previously there was a shortage of pe~ple on the island,
for they were forced to emigrate to the mainland because of a shortage
of work or study opportunities.
= With the economic growth it has ~een possible to increase education and
besides the nucleus of the Universidad del Oriente, there is the -
Technological Institute of the Sea, the La Sall~ Feu~ndation, and almost
- every district has a high school and other school facilities. Sources
~ of work have been created and the tnwn has been given services, which _
has slawed down immigrarion. This is the positive aspect.
"The problem arises from the fact that when the area was first declared
a free zone and then a free port, no control mechanisms were created,
nor were many aspects which would later be negative for the town taken
into account," said the bishop.
"This is why the Margarita people have benefitted the least. The store
employees earn very low salaries. The fr~e port brought us drugs and
crime and people who are not from Margarita are now attempting to impose
_ casinos on us; we~are categorically opposed to this. -
"Margarita has become a tr~nsshipment point for drug traffic," the ~
s bishop said, obviously worried. ~
_ So, yes, we defend the free port which has brought us great benefits,
but at the same time it has brought us great problems."
11937
CSO: 5300 21
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VENEZUELA
_ COCAINE SEIZED, THREE TRAFFICKERS ARRESTED
Caracas EL UNIVERSAL in Spanish 4 Jan 80 pp 2-7
[Text] Three presumed drug traffickers were arrested by agents of the
- Anti-Narcotics Division yesterday, and according to an authorized
spokesman for the Technical Judicia]. Police, the cacaine seized from them -
was estimated to be worth 200,000 t~~livars. =
: The announcement was made by Chief of Police Carlos Jimenez Lopez, who
: identif ied the suspec~ed drug traff ickers as follows: -
~
_ Ramon Alberto ',?alma Belandria, age 29; Marino Jose Guerrero Marquina,
_ 25; and Jesus Alfrede Maldonado Bor~as, 27.
"The cocaine," said Jimenez Lopez, "was ix~ vials, cigarettes, papers
and plastic bags."
. In a raid made on one of the suspect's homes, in the community of E1
Marques, Naiguata Street, the detec~ives found cocaine hidden in the
_ kitchen and b~hind the drapes. -
- ~.:~~>