From: "JP Viken" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I was told by a "seasoned" retired dea agent that it is common knowledge among those in undercover roles now that these operations are staged to: eliminate unwanted competition, dispose of cutouts no-longer needed (eg like the carlos lehderer bustout); get rid of excess supply or low grade drugs, put on a show for the public and congress to further the appearance of drug war legitimacy. ----- Original Message ----- From: David Goldman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, December 23, 1999 10:16 AM Subject: [CIA-DRUGS] Sting of Cali Traffickers in Georgia....... > From: David Goldman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Strange that they took 3 years to finish the sting....... > And if they can do it to sting the cartels, then certainly covert operators > would know how to use brokerages for real money laundering....... > > David Goldman > > Dec 23, 1999 - 09:07 AM > > Sting Operation Uses Bogus > Stock Firm to Net Drugs, Cash > By James Pilcher > Associated Press Writer > > TUCKER, Ga. (AP) - A three-year sting operation that > used a bogus stock brokerage to lure drug smugglers > has netted $72 million worth of cocaine, $10 million in > cash, and the indictments of five Colombians, federal > agents said. > > The sting, called "Operation Juno," had Drug > Enforcement Administration agents posing as brokers > in an office in this Atlanta suburb. > > "This was a prop, to be sure, but we had to make sure it > was as legitimate as possible," John Andrejko, special > agent in charge of the DEA's Atlanta office, said > Wednesday. It was the first time a brokerage was used > in a drug sting, he said. > > The five Colombians, whom authorities say are linked to > the Cali drug cartel, were indicted by a federal grand > jury on money laundering and drug trafficking charges. > Another 47 people have been arrested nationwide. > > DEA acting administrator Donnie Marshall said in a > release that the operation represents a "new level of > U.S./Colombian cooperation." > > Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence Anderson said that > he expects Colombian authorities to arrest the five men > and extradite them to the United States for prosecution. > > Agents did not make any stock trades, but did actually > launder millions to keep up appearances. > > Agents took in the money during 59 pickups in public > places such as the streets of Rome, Italy, and New York > and mall parking lots in Chicago and Baltimore. The > cash was handed to agents in duffel bags filled with > $100,000 to $500,000, and then funneled through > several accounts. > > The sting began in 1996, soon after authorities in > Colombia found 386 kilograms of cocaine frozen in a > container of unprocessed fish headed for the United > States. > > AP-ES-12-23-99 0905EST > © Copyright 1999 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This > material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or > redistributed. > Brought to you by the Tampa Bay Online Network > > > --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- Win $25,000 and sign up for the drkoop.com health newsletter today <a href=" http://clickme.onelist.com/ad/DrKoop ">Click Here</a> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
