2.1 KiB
Colombia is a country in South America that has been significantly impacted by drug trafficking, particularly through the operations of the Cali Drug Cartel. The country's political landscape has also been influenced by these illicit activities.1
Drug Trafficking and Political Influence
The Cali Drug Cartel, led by figures like Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela and Jose Santacruz Londono, controlled a vast portion of the world's cocaine trade. The cartel's influence extended to the highest levels of Colombian government, with allegations that the newly elected president, Ernesto Samper Pizano, accepted $3.7 million in campaign funds from Gilberto Rodriguez, effectively aligning him with the drug lords.1
Michael Abbell, a former United States Department of Justice official, was indicted for laundering money for the Cali Drug Cartel. Surveillance reports indicated his frequent visits to Gilberto Rodriguez's home in Bogota, Colombia. The law firm of Kaplan, Russin and Becchi, where Abbell worked after leaving the United States Department of Justice, had offices in Bogota.1
Michael Riconosciuto claimed that Robert Booth Nichols paid Abbell to "crowbar" the extradition of Cali Cartel leaders, as they were considered "intelligence people." This suggests a complex interplay between drug trafficking, intelligence operations, and political influence within Colombia.1
Financial Operations
Michael Riconosciuto also mentioned the "Workers Bank" in Colombia in the context of money laundering operations for the Wackenhut Corporation people. He claimed to have set up "virtual dead-drops" for this bank, a method to circumvent ACH reconciliations on a daily basis, indicating sophisticated financial illicit activities originating from or passing through Colombia.1
Footnotes
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Seymour, Cheri. The Last Circle: Danny Casolaro’s Investigation into the Octopus and the PROMIS Software Scandal. First Edition. TrineDay, 2010. ↩︎