News and Document archive source
copyrighted material disclaimer at bottom of page

NewsMinecabal-elitecia-drug-mafia — Viewing Item


Colombia wants US solders trial for cocaine smuggling { April 7 2005 }

Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
   http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4420329.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4420329.stm

Last Updated: Thursday, 7 April, 2005, 12:18 GMT 13:18 UK
Colombia 'will not try US troops'

A group of US soldiers arrested for alleged cocaine smuggling cannot be allowed to stand trial in Colombia, Washington's envoy to Bogota has said.

Colombian senators have been calling for the men, who were based in the country, to be extradited from the US.

But US ambassador William Wood said the soldiers are immune from prosecution.

More than 200 Colombian citizens have been extradited to the US to face trial for drug trafficking, under a bilateral deal between the two countries.

Colombian politicians have asked the government to push for the US to hand over the men, arguing that the extradition agreement works both ways.

"In practical terms, these military personnel committed the alleged crime in Colombia, and according to the extradition treaty, which is bilateral, they should be tried here," legislator Gustavo Petro said.

President Alvaro Uribe, who is visiting China, has said he will review the issue "very carefully".

Embarrassment

The US ambassador in Colombia has said the men cannot be extradited because of an agreement between the two countries signed in 1974.

He also argued that the men were working for US embassy staff in Colombia and therefore qualify for diplomatic immunity.

He sought to assure Bogota that the soldiers, who are thought to be in military custody somewhere in the US, would not escape justice.

"We do not tolerate corruption," he said.

The whole affair has been extremely embarrassing for the US, which supplies Colombia with hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to fight drug trafficking, says the BBC's Jeremy McDermott.

However, he adds that the Colombian authorities are unlikely to insist upon the extradition because they depend on the US aid.

Aid recipient

Five US soldiers were arrested at a US military base in Texas after they stepped off a flight from Colombia on 29 March.

They are suspected of attempting to smuggle 16kg (35 lb) of cocaine on a US military aircraft.

According to the Associated Press news agency, one of the men was later released.

The agency also reports that three of the five suspects were initially detained on Colombian soil - a point Colombian senators say supports their demands for extradition.

The US has more than 1,000 soldiers and civilian contractors working in Colombia as part of a plan to combat a 40-year-old Marxist insurgency and one of its major revenue sources - the cocaine trade.

Colombia is the third biggest recipient of US military aid, after Israel and Egypt.


barry-seal
gary-webb
munich-israelis-1972
Antidrug colonel wife runs colombia drugs { July 14 2000 }
Bcci and cia drug hearings
Britian losing drug war { May 22 2003 }
Cia admits employing nazis { April 28 2001 }
Cia admits ties to contra drug dealers { July 17 1998 }
Cia agent commits first terrorist act of western hemisphere { May 18 2005 }
Cia agent exposes cia coldwar crimes { January 9 2008 }
Cia bombs iranians blames communists 1953
Cia confirms contra drug trafficking { November 30 1998 }
Cia connection la crack trade { September 13 1996 }
Cia contras crack cocaine { September 19 1998 }
Cia did not report drug dealings { June 16 1998 }
Cia drugs la { October 19 1996 }
Cia drugs watergate { May 17 1988 }
Cia investigated for killing american citizen { March 23 1995 }
Cia lawsuit brings back 1875 supreme court case { January 11 2005 }
Cocaine shifting bolivia peru
Colombia wants US solders trial for cocaine smuggling { April 7 2005 }
Crack cocaine cia
Defending fabia ochoa vasquez { May 18 2003 }
Ex fbi agent charged in gangland murders { March 29 2006 }
Fabio witness said lying { May 10 2003 }
Fbi agent indicted in mob killings { March 30 2006 }
Fbi battles mob bosses
Fbi helped mob in crime spree { March 30 2006 }
Fbi works with mob murderers { November 2 2007 }
Former lapd officer mike ruppert
Gingrich troubled by allegations { September 17 1996 }
History 101 cia drugs { June 16 1998 }
Hoover mafia { August 25 2002 }
Israeli us ecstasy ring { April 1 2003 }
Los angeles latino gangs violence skyrocket { January 2007 }
Mafia boss controlled works contracts and politicians { April 11 2006 }
Mississippi sheriff tied to mafia drugs murder
Monroe kennedy mafia
New york cops served as mafia hitmen { March 11 2005 }
Number 3 cia official investigated for bribery { March 3 2006 }
Nypd decorated cops murdered for mafia { April 6 2006 }
One man dangerous game { June 5 1985 }
Roselli [gif]
Testimony maxine waters { March 16 1998 }
Wsj mena coverup

Files Listed: 42



Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security
Archives
Support one-state solution for Israel and Palestine Tea Party bumper stickers JFK for Dummies, The Assassination made simple