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Five americans soldiers detained for smuggling cocaine Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/11280038.htm http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/world/11280038.htm Posted on Thu, Mar. 31, 2005 Army detains members for trying to smuggle cocaine BY IHOSVANI RODRIGUEZ South Florida Sun-Sentinel FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - (KRT) - Military officials announced Thursday that five U.S. Army personnel were detained this week for attempting to smuggle cocaine from Colombia aboard a military aircraft. The announcement was released by the Florida-based U.S. Southern Command Unit, which for years has led the military's counter-narcotics operations in Colombia. Officials, however, remained tight-lipped with details. "We found something and we're trying to put it out there," said the unit's spokesman Lt. Col. Eduardo Villavicencio. "But this remains an on-going investigation and we can't release anything further." The five allegedly tried to smuggle 16 kilograms of cocaine aboard an airplane. They were being held in the U.S, said Villavicencio. It remained unclear where the five were based or their ranks, but a spokesman with the U.S. Embassy in Colombia said three of the five were part-time duty personnel. No charges had been filed as of Thursday, and more arrests are possible, officials said. "We are aware of the matter," U.S. Ambassador to Colombia William Wood said in a written statement. "The Department of Defense is working closely with Colombian authorities and US law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation." Army Gen. Bantz Craddock, chief of the Miami-based U.S. Southern Command, told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee on March 15 that more than 222 million tons of cocaine was interdicted coming from Colombia last year. More than 342,000 acres of coca and 9,500 acres of opium poppy - record amounts - were destroyed in Colombia last year. The United States has provided Colombia with $3.3 billion in mostly military aid to Colombia since 2000 to help in the fight against narcotics trafficking and terrorism. There are about 800 U.S. troops currently stationed in Colombia as part of the efforts. In Miami-Dade, the street value of cocaine is currently at about $600-$700 per kilogram, said Miami Police spokeswoman Herminia Salas-Jacobson. South Florida Sun-Sentinel Ruth Morris contributed to this report. --- © 2005 South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

38 year war Aggresive us backed colombia strategy expected to be brutal { January 25 2004 } Blast rocks elite club { February 8 2003 } Colombia albright Colombia burning { May 31 2002 } Colombian leader says peasant killing was accident { April 13 2004 } Combatants { July 31 2001 } Drug war { December 27 2002 } Explosions capital { August 8 2002 } Farc inside Farc terror Five americans soldiers detained for smuggling cocaine Ira farc Land reform Ny stock exchange richard grasso met farc Occidental oil bombs civilians { January 9 2003 } Opium colombia Plan colombia seen as failing { July 12 2003 } Plane goes down { February 14 2003 } Punish colombia airforce { November 16 2002 } State of emergency Troops kill 5 they mistook for rebels { April 12 2004 } Unabridged military relationship { February 7 2003 } Us aids paramilitaries { May 17 2001 } Us captive pows { February 25 2003 } US deals with colombians linked to death squads Us heading deeper { May 3 2002 } Us releases aid colombia { July 9 2003 } US soldiers trafficing arms to paramilitary groups { May 5 2005 } War in colombia unnoticed { September 29 2003 } War tax Files Listed: 31

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