Pubdate: Wed, 26 Apr 2000
Source: Irish Examiner (Ireland)
Copyright: Examiner Publications Ltd, 2000
Contact:  http://www.examiner.ie/

SPAIN IS NOW EUROPE'S DRUG BAZAAR, SAYS REPORT

SPAIN has become Europe's ''primary clearing house,'' for drugs, with 
Spaniards themselves largely responsible for letting international criminal 
organisations infest the country, according to the Geopolitical Drug Watch, 
a non profit organisation that monitors drug trafficking.

In a 248 page report, the Paris based organisation said that Spain has 
emerged as a ''gigantic drug bazaar'' where criminal groups trade goods and 
services.

The Geopolitical Drug Watch, or OGD, cited alleged corruption among elected 
officials, police, the judiciary - and even chemistry professors. It cited, 
for example, police officers and judicial officials in Galicia, in northern 
Spain, acting as informants for drug traffickers.

The report also cited joint ventures between Galician smugglers and 
Colombian producer exporters with unprecedented profits in 1999.

''World attention has always been focused on the Netherlands, with 
Rotterdam as the gateway to Europe because of its liberal drug laws, but 
the truth is that the seizure of cocaine, heroin and hashish in Spain last 
year broke all records,'' said OGD Director Alain Labrousse.

Following the death of eight Colombians in Spain in 1999, Spaniards took 
over the Colombian cocaine networks in Europe, especially in the area of 
money laundering, the report said.

Because of its geography as well as its tourist industry, Spain has become 
the preferred point of entry into Europe for North African, Latin American 
and Turkish drug traffickers, Mr Labrousse said.

Last year, 400 tons of hashish, 17 tons of cocaine and one ton of heroin, 
were seized at various entry points in Spain, according to the report.

''It's up to Spain's European neighbours to help enforce the fight against 
drugs,'' Mr Labrousse said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D