Pubdate: Mon, 22 Apr 2002
Source: New York Post (NY)
Copyright: 2002 N.Y.P. Holdings, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nypost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/296
Author: Devlin Barrett

N.Y. HIGH ON FOREIGN DRUG BUSTS

April 22, 2002 -- Manhattan U.S. Attorney James Comey has formed a new unit 
of prosecutors to take down top-level drug traffickers.

The International Narcotics Traffickers unit is designed to take advantage 
of new extradition laws that have been passed recently in South and Central 
American countries.

The INT, selected from veteran federal narcotics prosecutors and led by 
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Sullivan, will focus on cutting down the 
biggest importers of heroin and cocaine, Comey said.

Manhattan prosecutors have already corralled some of the top cartel leaders 
in Colombia and Mexico in recent years, and the feds clearly want to catch 
more of the powerful drug lords.

The unit will focus almost exclusively on making cases against the top drug 
kingpins and convincing foreign governments to hand them over for trial.

In a recent speech, Comey said his New York office had become a 
"pre-eminent" site for prosecuting smugglers - because so much of the 
contraband enters America through the city's ports and airports.

The push comes as Colombian drug lords are increasingly relying on 
Argentinean routes to bring drugs into the country.
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