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