Pubdate: Thu, 23 Mar 2006
Source: Charlotte Observer (NC)
Copyright: 2006 The Charlotte Observer
Contact:  http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observer/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/78
Author: Mark Sherman, Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/colombia.htm (Colombia)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

U.S. INDICTS REBELS ON DRUG CHARGES

FARC Leaders Accused Of Trafficking More Than $25 Billion In Cocaine

WASHINGTON - The United States charged 50 leaders of Colombia's
largest guerrilla group with sending more than $25 billion worth of
cocaine around the world to finance their fight at home, a federal
indictment that depicts the rebels as major narco-terrorists.

The indictment made public Wednesday in U.S. District Court said the
leaders of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC,
ordered the killings of Colombian farmers who did not cooperate with
the group, the kidnapping and killing of U.S. citizens and the downing
of U.S. planes seeking to fumigate coca crops.

U.S. officials said the indictment strikes a blow against the group
because it lays out the FARC's hierarchy and details of its operations.

"Members of the FARC do not want to face American justice," Attorney
General Alberto Gonzales said.

He acknowledged that 47 of those charged remain at large, probably in
well-defended jungle strongholds that have so far proved beyond the
reach of Colombian authorities.

The FARC supplies more than half the world's cocaine and 60 percent of
the drug that enters the United States, the indictment said. "The
FARC's fingerprint is on most of the cocaine sold in America's
neighborhoods," said Karen Tandy, head of the Drug Enforcement
Administration.

Washington-based experts on Colombia said the actual numbers probably
are lower, but are significant. Right-wing paramilitary groups also
are heavily involved in the cocaine trade, the experts and the
indictment said.

The FARC uses proceeds from the cocaine trade to buy weapons in its
four-decade fight to overthrow the Colombian government, the
indictment said. A grand jury returned the indictment on March 1; it
remained sealed until Wednesday.

The U.S. and the European Union have designated the FARC a terrorist
organization.

Colombia President Alvaro Uribe, Washington's closest ally in South
America, has waged an aggressive fight against the FARC and stepped up
efforts to eradicate his country's coca crop. Uribe faces re-election
in May and has been leading in the polls. 
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