[NYTr] Corrupt ex-Pres of Panama Implicated in Drug Money Laundering Scheme

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

[While the Times and the Miami Herald gossip on about the $800,000
suitcase to Argentina, don't expect them to pay any attention to this
one:  the corrupt ex-President of Panama, who as one of her final acts
in office freed the CIA assassin Luis Posada Carilles -- in jail for one
of his many attempts to kill Fidel Castro -- and then immediately phoned
her patrons in Washington to report he was on his way out of the
country, has now been implicated in a scheme to launder drug money
through the company of some Colombian kingpin trafficker.  

Meanwhile yet another high-ranking member of the Colombian military
(which receives mucho dinero from the yanqui "war on drugs") is being
accused of big-time drug dealing. How does the DEA keep track of their
friends and enemies of the week (of course, with a score card.) -NY
Transfer]


Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

Mireya Moscoso Involved in Drug Scandal

Panama, Aug 14 (Prensa Latina) The disclosure by former Colombian
soccer player Freddy Rincon that ex President Mireya Moscoso proposed
him to invest money in a company of money laundering from drug
trafficking was noticed Tuesday by the Panamanian press.

Despite lawyers' denial, the country's important dailies like La
Prensa, Panama-America, La Estrella de Panama and Critica report in
detail Rincon's accusation, also published in Colombia by RCN and El
Pais.

Rincon is currently imprisoned in Brazil, subject to an extradition
request by Panama, for alleged links with money laundering through the
Nautipesca Company, owned by Colombian drug trafficker Pablo Rayo
Monano. 

According to a RCN investigation, Rincon said to the Brazilian justice
that Rayo Montano advised him to invest in Panama and later that
proposal was done by the then President Moscoso.

The former president said in a press release that the country publishes
for second time rash information, to try to establish any link between
her and the former Colombian soccer player.

sus/iff/ln

                                    ***

Colombian Admiral Tied to Drug Traffic

Bogota, Aug 14 (Prensa Latina) A new chapter to the scandal shaking the
Colombian military forces, linking top-ranking officials to
drug-traffickers, was added Tuesday with the linkage of Colombian
Admiral Gabriel Arango Bassi.

The Colombian naval officer claimed his innocence, but Colombian
Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos said there was an ongoing
investigation and that other members of the Navy are involved.

Last week, in the same scandal, former commander of Special Forces Col.
Alvaro Quijano and battle commander against insurgents in Valle del
Cauca, Maj. Carlos Gil Londono, were also arrested.

The Prosecutor's Office informed that at least 20 high-ranking officers
are under investigation, and radio station Caracol Radio reported that
last year the Armed Forces and police retired more than 1,200 soldiers
for discipline problems and lack of service.

Army Commander Gen. Mario Montoya emphasized that their retirement will
not exonerate them from penal prosecution for their actions.

hr/ccs/tac/rc