A veteran British mercenary and arms trafficker who allegedly became involved in Colombia's drug war in the early 1990s was arrested this week as he tried to attend a chemical weapons safety class in Texas, U.S. officials said yesterday. David Brian Tomkins, 63, was arrested Thursday when he arrived in Houston, where he was scheduled to attend a survival class at Fort Bliss, Tex., according to Dean Boyd, a spokesman for the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE) of the Department of Homeland Security. Taking the class was a requirement to be hired by a U.S. firm involved in reconstruction efforts in Iraq. [continues 436 words]
Iran, U.A.E. Used as Transit Points Financial officers of al Qaeda and the Taliban have quietly shipped large quantities of gold out of Pakistan to Sudan in recent weeks, transiting through the United Arab Emirates and Iran, according to European, Pakistani and U.S. investigators. The sources said several shipments of boxes of gold, usually disguised as other products, were taken by small boat from the Pakistani port of Karachi to either Iran or Dubai, and from there mixed with other goods and flown by chartered airplanes to Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. [continues 1181 words]
WASHINGTON - Financial officers of Al Qaeda and the Taliban have quietly shipped large quantities of gold out of Pakistan to Sudan in recent weeks, transiting the United Arab Emirates and Iran, according to European, Pakistani, and US investigators. The investigators said several shipments of boxes of gold, usually disguised as other products, were taken by small boat from the Pakistani port of Karachi to Iran or Dubai, and from there mixed with other goods and flown by chartered airplanes to Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. [continues 814 words]
Financial officers of al-Qaida and the Taliban have quietly shipped large quantities of gold out of Pakistan to Sudan in recent weeks, transiting through the United Arab Emirates and Iran, according to European, Pakistani and U.S. investigators. The sources said several shipments of boxes of gold, usually disguised as other products, were taken by small boat from the Pakistani port of Karachi to either Iran or Dubai, and from there mixed with other goods and flown by chartered airplanes to Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. [continues 1164 words]
The al Qaeda and the Taliban have quietly shipped large quantities of gold out of Pakistan to Sudan in recent weeks, traveling through the United Arab Emirates and Iran, according to European, Pakistani and U.S. investigators. The sources said several shipments of boxes of gold, usually disguised as other products, were taken by small boat from the Pakistani port of Karachi to either Iran or Dubai, and from there mixed with other goods and flown by chartered airplanes to Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. [continues 772 words]
It Appears To Have Come From Sale Of Stored Opium, Heroin Financial officers of al Qaeda and the Taliban have quietly shipped large quantities of gold out of Pakistan to Sudan in recent weeks, transiting through the United Arab Emirates and Iran, according to European, Pakistani and U.S. investigators. The sources said several shipments of boxes of gold, usually disguised as other products, were taken by small boat from the Pakistani port of Karachi to either Iran or Dubai, and from there mixed with other goods and flown by chartered airplanes to Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. [continues 885 words]
Financial officers of al Qaeda and the Taliban have quietly shipped large quantities of gold out of Pakistan to Sudan in recent weeks, transiting through the United Arab Emirates and Iran, according to European, Pakistani and U.S. investigators. The sources said several shipments of boxes of gold, usually disguised as other products, were taken by boat from the Pakistani port of Karachi to either Iran or Dubai, and from there mixed with other goods and flown by chartered airplanes to Khartoum, the Sudanese capital. [continues 326 words]
BOGOTA, Colombia - A new generation of Colombian drug traffickers, light-years ahead of the traditional Medellin and Cali cartels in using the Internet and other modern technology, has sharply increased cocaine production and smuggling in the past two years despite growing budgets for law enforcement, according to senior U.S. and Colombian intelligence officials. These officials in the United States and Colombia said the nimble new organizations and their high-tech gear are reversing the gains of earlier years that crippled the older, better known cartels. Despite having more resources than ever before, the officials acknowledged that they are finding out little about the new organizations that now control the multibillion dollar business of producing cocaine and heroin in Colombia and moving it, mostly through Mexico, to consumers in the United States. [continues 1635 words]
BOGOTA, Colombia - A new generation of Colombian drug traffickers, light-years ahead of the traditional Medellin and Cali cartels in using the Internet and other modern technology, has sharply increased cocaine production and smuggling in the past two years despite growing budgets for law enforcement, according to senior U.S. and Colombian intelligence officials. These officials in the United States and Colombia said the nimble new organizations and their high-tech gear are reversing the gains of earlier years that crippled the older, better known cartels. Despite having more resources than ever before, the officials acknowledged that they are finding out little about the new organizations that now control the multibillion dollar business of producing cocaine and heroin in Colombia and moving it, mostly through Mexico, to consumers in the United States. [continues 1623 words]
Guerrillas' Firepower Superior to Army's BOGOTA, Colombia -- Despite Colombian and U.S. efforts to stem the flow of drugs and guns that have helped build Latin America's most powerful guerrilla insurgency, the Marxist-led rebels are amassing a sophisticated arsenal from new sources in the the former Soviet Bloc that is rapidly changing the balance of power in Colombia's civil war, officials say. The rebels' new firepower was first put on public display last fall, when guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) emerged from the jungle for the opening of peace talks. Colombian and U.S. officials were stunned to see parading rebels carrying thousands of new AK-47 assault rifles, Dragunov sniper rifles and other weapons from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. [continues 968 words]
BOGOTA, Colombia - Despite Colombian and U.S. efforts to stem the flow of drugs and guns that have helped build Latin America's most powerful guerrilla insurgency, the Marxist-led rebels are amassing a sophisticated arsenal from new sources in the the former Soviet Bloc that is rapidly changing the balance of power in Colombia's civil war, officials say. The rebels' new firepower was first put on public display last fall, when guerrillas from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) emerged from the jungle for the opening of peace talks. Colombian and U.S. officials were stunned to see parading rebels carrying thousands of new AK-47 assault rifles, Dragunov sniper rifles and other weapons from Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. [continues 1103 words]
Critics Say Island Banks Shelter Criminal Funds ST. JOHN'S, Antigua -- A government Web site on this tiny Caribbean island has tried to attract offshore investors by bragging that Antigua is bucking moves elsewhere "toward greater disclosure" of financial information. "The emphasis on non-disclosure provides a high comfort level," it said. The neighboring island of Nevis promises that companies set up on its territory need file "no annual return or accounts." Anguilla's Web site said companies can incorporate there in just 24 hours, while Dominica boasted of the "absence of tax treaties or exchange agreements with any other country." [continues 1436 words]
The Clinton administration and Congress, fearing the growing power of Marxist-led guerrillas financed by the drug trade, are near agreement on a three-year military aid package for Colombia that will total more than $1 billion, according to officials. Colombia produces 80 percent of the world's cocaine and about two-thirds of the heroin consumed in the United States. In recent years, both the guerrillas and right-wing paramilitary bands have engaged in the drug trade, earning tens of millions of dollars and gaining control of more than half of the country's territory. Colombian and U.S. officials stressed that the U.S. aid would be aimed at fighting drug trafficking, not at "counterinsurgency" operations against the guerrillas. But officials acknowledge that, in many areas of Colombia, the distinction is so blurred as to be meaningless. [continues 513 words]
Hill, White House Want $1 Billion-Plus for Anti-Drug Effort The Clinton administration and Congress, fearing the growing power of Marxist-led guerrillas financed by the drug trade, are near agreement on a three-year military aid package for Colombia that will total more than $1 billion, according to officials. Colombia produces 80 percent of the world's cocaine and about two-thirds of the heroin consumed in the United States. In recent years, both the guerrillas and right-wing paramilitary bands have engaged in the drug trade, earning tens of millions of dollars and gaining control of more than half of the country's territory. [continues 555 words]
WASHINGTON - The Clinton administration is preparing to greatly step up military and economic aid to Colombia in response to fears that the growing strength of drug-financed Marxist guerrillas there could undercut counter-narcotics efforts across the Andean region. In separate visits to Colombia, senior U.S. officials warned President Andres Pastrana last week that he risks losing U.S. support if he makes further concessions to the insurgents in an effort to restart stalled peace negotiations, according to sources familiar with the talks. But the officials -- the White House drug adviser, Barry McCaffrey, and Undersecretary of State Thomas Pickering also told Mr. Pastrana the United States will sharply increase aid if he develops a comprehensive plan to strengthen the military, halt the nation's economic free fall and fight drug trafficking, [continues 688 words]
WASHINGTON - The Clinton administration is preparing to greatly step up military and economic aid to Colombia in response to fears of the growing strength of drug-financed Marxist guerrillas. In separate visits to Colombia, senior U.S. officials warned President Andres Pastrana last week that he risks losing U.S. support if he makes further concessions to the insurgents in an effort to restart stalled peace negotiations, according to sources familiar with the talks. But the officials, White House drug czar Barry McCaffrey and Undersecretary of State Thomas Pickering, also told Pastrana the United States will sharply increase aid if he develops a comprehensive plan to strengthen the military, halt the nation's economic free fall and fight drug trafficking. [continues 526 words]
Leader must first step up drug war WASHINGTON -- The Clinton administration is preparing to greatly step up military and economic aid to Colombia in response to fears that the growing strength of drug-financed guerrillas there could undercut counternarcotics efforts across the Andean region. Senior U.S. officials warned President Andres Pastrana last week that he risks losing U.S. support if he makes further concessions to the insurgents in an effort to restart stalled peace negotiations, said sources familiar with the talks. But the officials, White House drug czar Barry R. McCaffrey and Undersecretary of State Thomas Pickering, also told Pastrana the United States will sharply increase aid if he develops a plan to strengthen the military, halt the nation's economic free fall and fight drug trafficking. [continues 402 words]
Officials Suspect Cocaine Smuggling Via Colombia Post U.S. officials are investigating six to eight American Embassy employees and dependents in Colombia for possibly using the mission's postal system to smuggle illegal drugs or other contraband to the United States, according to knowledgeable sources in Washington and Bogota. The investigations began after the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division charged the wife of the Army officer in command of the U.S. military's counter-drug efforts in Colombia with illegally shipping cocaine to the United States via the seldom-inspected government mail system. [continues 448 words]
U.S. officials are investigating six to eight American Embassy employees and dependents in Colombia for possibly using the mission's postal system to smuggle illegal drugs or other contraband to the United States, according to sources in Washington and Bogota. The investigations began after the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division charged the wife of the Army officer in command of the U.S. military's counter-drug efforts in Colombia with illegally shipping cocaine to the United States via the seldom-inspected government mail system. [continues 269 words]
Mission's Postal System May Have Been Conduit For Contraband Smuggling U.S. officials are investigating between six and eight embassy employees and dependents in Colombia to determine whether they used the mission's postal system to smuggle illegal drugs or other contraband to the United States, according to knowledgeable sources in Washington and Bogota. The investigations began after the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division charged the wife of the officer in command of the U.S. military's counter-drug efforts in Colombia with shipping cocaine to the United States via the seldom-inspected government mail system. [continues 937 words]
