Pubdate: Wed, 02 Jun 2004
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2004 BBC
Contact:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/558

PERU AIRLINE CHIEF FACES DRUG BAN

Zevallos Strenuously Denies Any Wrongdoing

The White House has put the founder of Peru's main airline, Aero 
Continente, on its list of foreign "drug kingpins".

Fernando Zevallos, who has been the subject of investigations in both Peru 
and the US, denies any wrongdoing.

Washington has also ordered US-based assets belonging to Mr Zevallos and 
Aero Continente to be frozen.

Under US legislation, people placed on the US list of drug traffickers and 
their businesses are denied access to the American financial system.

The White House's announcement came hours after a court in Lima opened 
proceedings against Mr Zevallos, 46, on cocaine trafficking charges.

The trial was adjourned to 11 June to allow prosecutors more time to 
prepare their case, a judiciary spokesman told AP news agency.

'Plot'

The US Drug Enforcement Administration says its has launched more than 30 
investigations into Mr Zevallos.

He insists he is the victim of character assassination by convicted drug 
dealers turned informers, overzealous US drug agents and business rivals.

On Tuesday the US administration froze US-based assets belonging to Mr 
Zevallos, five other people, and seven companies linked to him.

"The US government has reason to believe that the six individuals and seven 
entities identified... either assist in or provide financial or 
technological support to the international narcotics trafficking activities 
of Fernando Zevallos," said a spokesman for the US embassy in Lima.

Other additions to the White House's list of "drugs kingpins" include 
people from Mexico, Jamaica, Afghanistan, and India.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D