Pubdate: Fri, 01 Dec 2000
Source: Saint Paul Pioneer Press (MN)
Copyright: 2000 St. Paul Pioneer Press
Contact:  345 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN 55101
Website: http://www.pioneerplanet.com/
Forum: http://www.pioneerplanet.com/watercooler/
Author: Stephen Buckley, Washington Post Foreign Service

BRAZILIAN PROBE FINDS OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN DRUG TRAFFICKING

RIO DE JANEIRO

A probe into organized crime and drug trafficking released Thursday by the 
Brazilian Congress implicated nearly 200 public officials, including at 
least 10 national and state congressmen and an array of policemen, judges, 
mayors and city councilmen.

The congressional committee that directed the inquiry recommended that 75 
police officials be investigated for crimes ranging from extortion to drug 
trafficking. Ultimately, the report implicated more police than drug dealers.

The 5,000-page report is the culmination of an investigation, begun in 
April 1999, that has gripped this nation of 170 million people for months. 
The inquiry marked the first time Congress has taken such a long and 
detailed look into the country's $25 billion drug-trafficking trade.

The probe uncovered drug-trafficking networks that involved some of the 
most powerful members of Brazilian society -- politicians, entrepreneurs, 
lawyers and police officials -- and touched 17 of the nation's 26 states.

Critics of the investigation have argued that members of the congressional 
committee were interested in easy publicity and in pursuing political 
enemies. One senator is even pushing for an investigation of the committee 
itself.

The investigating committee doesn't have the power to indict citizens. But 
it can seek expulsion of Congress members accused of wrongdoing and can 
recommend further investigation of others, with the ultimate goal of 
indictment.

The attorney general's office was expected to prosecute many of the 
officials accused of wrongdoing. Diplomats, politicians and human rights 
activists expressed hope that the sweeping investigation will lead to 
prison sentences for those authorities, marking an important step in 
Brazil's efforts to move away from impunity.

``What the investigation has done is to show how much drug traffickers in 
this country depend on the support of very influential people,'' said James 
Cavallaro, director of Global Justice, a Brazil-based human rights group.

The congressional probe riveted the nation with hearings that featured the 
testimony of scores of witnesses, many of them hooded or hidden by screens.

Rio de Janeiro was perhaps the state hit hardest by the congressional 
probe. The committee's report accused 11 police officers of being involved 
in drug trafficking. 
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