COLOMBIA: US drug smugglers protected by military

On April 7, Washington's ambassador in Bogota explained that the US would not extradite US soldiers caught smuggling cocaine in Colombian territory, because they had "diplomatic immunity". The envoy, fending off Colombian parliamentarians' calls for extradition, sought to "assure" Bogota that the men would "not escape justice". The five US soldiers were formally arrested on March 29 on US soil, although at least three were initially detained in Colombia. One has been released, the others are being held at a secret location, believed to be awaiting military trial. More than 200 Colombian citizens have been extradited to the US under a bilateral extradition treaty. There are 1000 US soldiers in Colombia, which is the third biggest recipient of US military aid.

From Green Left Weekly, April 27, 2005.

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From GLW issue 624