Pubdate: Sat, 11 May 2002
Source: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (TX)
Copyright: 2002 Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas
Contact:  http://www.star-telegram.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/162
Author: Jared Kotler, The Associated Press

MISSING DRUG AID COSTS COLOMBIAN CHIEF HIS JOB

BOGOTA, Colombia - The head of Colombia's anti-narcotics police was removed 
on Friday after about $2 million in U.S. drug war aid allegedly vanished 
into the pockets of some of his officers.

The widening corruption scandal had already led to the suspension of some 
U.S. aid to Washington's key drug-war ally and the dismissals of at least 
12 police officers.

Gen. Gustavo Socha was reassigned to a police unit that provides security 
to dignitaries, said Gen. Ernesto Gilibert, chief of the Colombian National 
Police.

He said Socha has not been found personally involved in any wrongdoing, 
calling him "an honest man, a transparent man," but said he had to go to 
lend "transparency" to the investigation into the missing money.

On Thursday, the U.S. Embassy said it suspended some aid to the 
counter-narcotics police after discovering two months ago that a 
"significant amount of money" was missing.

State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States thought 
action would be taken against still more Colombian police officials.

"When that's happened, we can resume full administrative support for 
Colombian counter-narcotics police activities. There's about $2 million 
involved," Boucher said.

A U.S. Embassy official said about 20 members of the police are thought to 
have taken money "for personal ends."

The embassy official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the pilfered 
account covers police administrative expenses and other items including 
fuel for vehicles. It receives about $4 million in U.S. aid a year, part of 
Washington's support to President Andres Pastrana's drug-fighting effort, 
the official said.

The U.S. Embassy said Washington's confidence in the Colombian 
anti-narcotics police remains "unshaken" despite the lost funds.

"This type of incident can happen in any organization," the embassy said in 
a statement, adding that it expects aid to resume once action is taken 
against officers who were involved.

Gen. Jorge Linares, National Police operations chief, will take Socha's place.

Colombia's anti-narcotics police have managed hundreds of millions of 
dollars of U.S. aid over the years, much of it for the aerial fumigation of 
illegal drug crops, using U.S.-supplied aircraft and herbicides.

Washington pumped $1.7 billion in aid in the past two years to the police, 
military and civilian institutions, most of it for anti-drug operations, 
with police getting about 15 percent of the assistance. The Bush 
administration seeks to widen Washington's aid to help Colombia battle 
leftist insurgents who are financed by drug trafficking, extortion and 
kidnapping.
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