Pubdate: Wed, 29 Aug 2001 Source: Register-Guard, The (OR) Copyright: 2001 The Register-Guard Contact: http://www.registerguard.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/362 Author: The Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption) CREW ALLEGES AGENTS STOLE CASH DURING DRUG BUST PORTLAND - Authorities are investigating allegations that federal customs agents stole from crew members during a cocaine bust aboard a ship that sailed here from Colombia. Roughly 10 members of the crew, which consisted of 18 Americans and three Hondurans, said they had items stolen during the nine-hour search that concluded with the seizure of 70 pounds of cocaine. "One person lost $700, another person $500, one person $70-something and another about $68," Barrett Newman, the ship's third mate, told KATU news. Joe Meisenheimer, agent in charge with the U.S. Customs Service in Portland, said the agency's internal affairs office in Seattle is investigating. "I think we reacted very quickly and I think that the investigation will be very thorough and complete," he said. The cocaine found aboard the Overseas Harriette is valued at $3 million, and was the largest bust of its kind in Portland, officials said. The drugs were discovered during a routine search. While officials were fortunate to catch this shipment, it raises questions of how many drugs are coming through Portland, and whether its relatively small customs presence can adequately stop the flow. "While I think the traffickers are smart enough to figure out where the big presence is, and go for the weakest point, I don't think Portland is the weakest point," Meisenheimer said. "But our presence here - law enforcement in general - is less than the major cities and traffickers will look for those weak points." The ship left Colombia earlier this month for Portland, where it was to add a shipment of grain and head for North Korea. Customs officials got a tip that a crew member on a ship with a similar name would be smuggling cocaine to Houston. A ship's officer meanwhile had found the drugs in an overhead compartment of the exercise room. It is unclear if the drugs were intended for Portland, North Korea or some other destination. Given the tip, dealers might have thought the ship was headed to Houston. "That's the rumor," Meisenheimer said. The authorities arrested Luis Rochez, 27, of Honduras, on charges of suspected drug smuggling. He was arraigned in Portland on Monday and remains jailed pending a bail hearing. He faces 10 years to life in prison. Rochez, the ship steward, told authorities he would be paid $93,000 to smuggle the cocaine. He said two men tossed him the packages as he stood on the stern of the ship in Columbia. "If this amount is coming, it's probably a pattern of other amounts that are coming; it's significant not by the weight, but by the trend," Meisenheimer said. "This is just one little glimpse into narcotics trafficking," he added. "We're a major hub on the I-5 traffic corridor between Los Angeles and Vancouver, British Columbia. While we may not be the largest use destination, I'm sure we're involved in significant trafficking." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens