Subscribe to our RSS feed
Counterterrorism Blog: More Evidence of the Criminal-Terrorist Nexus
Those who are skeptical of the growing ties between drug trafficking organizations and terrorist groups-which I think will be the real war we will be fighting for many years, given the resources obtainable by drug trafficking organizations-should read the latest UN Office of Drugs and Crime report.
U.S. denies man arrested in Venezuela is drug agent | U.S. | Reuters
The United States on Friday denied that a man arrested in Venezuela worked for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, after local authorities reported the detainee had identified himself as a DEA agent.
“He is not a DEA agent and he is not a U.S. [...]
On Wednesday (May 28, 2008), ABC Television announced that it will be broadcasting a series that will “focus on the efforts of border protection agencies to halt illegal smuggling and immigration.” Entitled “Border Security USA,” the series will cover operations around the US with Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) Officers, US Coast Guard, Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE), Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and other parts of the Department of Homeland Security that work to safeguard the nation. Working with DHS, the show’s cameras will be given unprecedented access to take viewers along for the ride to see what these people do, how they do it and what difference they make.
This is another instance where human rights abuses and the arrogance of security forces turn the oppressed against the security forces (and supporting governments), hampering the ability of the police and army to successfully do their jobs (in this case, prosecute the war on drugs).
From the Counterterrorism Blog:
It is interesting to note the first major conviction in the United States in a drug case tied to radical Islamist movements, in this case, the Taliban. (Many more case documents can be found here.)
“As an enemy of the United States, Khan Mohammed intended to ship heroin to the United States and [...]
Donnie Wahlberg set for new TNT drama - TV Squad
The title may change, but the set up is Donnie as a war hero who becomes an officer for the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration). His beat is Boston, Donnie’s hometown. The show is being scripted by Walon Green (Law & Order) and Avent will direct the [...]
Yesterday, Colombian officials announced that they were extraditing 14 suspected drug traffickers to the United States to face a host of charges ranging from conspiracy to import to cocaine manufacturing. Within the law enforcement and drug control community, the Colombian government’s move is unprecedented. The country has long maintained a tradition of refusing to extradite even its most notorious drug cartel leaders.
Narco-Terrorism Spreading to North America : Homeland Security National Terror Alert - Homeland Security News
A top official from the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs says that narco-terrorism is spreading into North America.
David Johnson, assistant secretary for the INL, says that the illicit drug trade is directly linked to known [...]
In honor of the 35th anniversary of the DEA, this spring’s lecture series highlights Drug Kingpins Across the Decades, with panel discussions covering Nicky Barnes & Frank Lucas (1970s), Pablo Escobar (1980s), The Arellano-Felix Organization (1990s) and Haji Baz Mohammad (2000s).
The Associated Press writes that Former Olympic ice dancer Pasha Grishuk was found to be the victim of GHB dropped into her drink.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration labels GHB a “predatory drug” that can be mixed with alcohol to reduce resistance from a victim before a sexual assault.
Spike TV Scores With UFC, ‘DEA’ Debuts - 4/4/2008 1:36:00 PM - Multichannel News
The combination of fresh Ultimate Fighting Championship fare and the bow of new original series DEA spiked ratings for Spike TV Wednesday, making it the top draw among key male demos in all of cable April 2 from 7 p.m. to [...]
Counterterrorism Blog: Venezuela Begins Media Counteroffensive in Washington Against Terrorism Charges
The Venezuelan Embassy in Washington sent a mass e-mail today with four attachments, intending to blunt growing concern in Washington that the Chavez government has cooperated with Colombia’s FARC terrorists. The counteroffensive is especially aimed at discrediting a resolution introduced by U.S. Congressmen to [...]
In Homeland Security: Afghanistan Now the World’s Leading Supplier of Cannabis
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently released its 2008 Opium Winter Rapid Assessment Survey, which shows that Afghanistan not only provides 90% of the world’s supply of opium, but is now also the top supplier of cannabis, the source of [...]
Alleged distributor of counterfeit pharmaceuticals extradited from Asia
Randy Gonzales, 40, a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines, was extradited to the United States from Bangkok, Thailand, for conspiring to import and distribute counterfeit pharmaceutical drugs into the United States, United States Attorney Don DeGabrielle and Robert Rutt, Special Agent in Charge of the [...]
Spike TV announced today the launch of a reality show that chronicles the real-life battles faced by the nation’s premier drug cops at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. In allowing cameras to get this close to the action, the DEA is shedding its traditionally tight-lipped persona and breaks new ground in educating the public about the risks its agents face every day. Check out a trailer for the show, called simply “DEA,” on Spike TV’s website.
Security Debrief contributor Asa Hutchinson teams with former Congressman J.C. Watts to publish an op-ed in the Washington Times calling for retroactive application of more equitable sentences between crack and powder cocaine.
“The truth is that for years our legal system has enforced an unfair approach to sentencing of federal crack cocaine offenders. The attorney general’s [...]
I’ve been accused of many things in my public career, but as a former U.S. Attorney and head of the DEA, nobody has ever accused me of being soft on crime - particularly drug crime. So you may be surprised to find me coming down on the other side of our respected Attorney General with regard to sentencing guidelines on crack and powder cocaine.
As the former head of the DEA, I applaud the decision of the U.S. Sentencing Commission to reduce the disparity and unfairness between penalties for convictions associated with crack cocaine and powder cocaine. I have been a long time advocate for reducing the 100 to 1 disparity on sentencing of crack and powder cocaine convictions because it offends the high principle of equal treatment under the law.
Given the critical role of the DEA in the nation’s federal law enforcement constellation, it’s disappointing that the White House has not announced a successor to Karen Tandy, who has already left the agency. There are a number of qualified candidates – qualified from an operational perspective as well as a political perspective.
Top among such candidates is the current Deputy Administrator and Acting head of the agency:Michele Leonhart.