Drug Lords Used Historic Schooner to Ferry Cocaine to NYC: Officials

[Judi Lynn]

Source: NBC

Drug Lords Used Historic Schooner to Ferry Cocaine to NYC: Officials
By Jonathan Dienst and Joe Valiquette

 Written By NBC New York Posted: 01/22/2016, 03:30pm

Colombian drug lords are accused of using a historic navy ship nicknamed "the floating embassy of Spain" to sail cocaine from South America to New York City, law enforcement officials tell NBC 4 New York.

The cartel allegedly paid two crew members aboard the Juan Sebasian de Elcano -- a 371-foot steel-hulled, four-masted schooner built in 1927 for training purposes -- to ferry drugs to New York City in April and May 2014.

Authorities say the two crew members were paid about $32,000 to hide the drugs on the boat during a voyage to Manhattan. When the boat docked on Manhattan's west side on May 14, 2014, the two crew members allegedly traveled to the Bronx to deliver the cocaine to dealers for the cartel.

Authorities say that two days later DEA agents and NYPD officers along with and state police moved and made seven arrests as the drugs were being moved through Stamford, Connecticut. More drugs and weapons were found at the Bronx safehouse.


Read more: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Columbian-Drug-Dealers-Smuggle-Drugs-Spanish-Sail-Boat-Ship-NYC-366231261.html

[valerief]

1. TPTB used the Afghanistan War to ferry opium to the U.S. nt

[EX500rider]

2. So you think the US govt was running opium into the US? lol good one

The opium trade is run by Afghani warlords using the taliban for protection, the drugs then ago across the border to Pakistan and then smuggled out of the port of Karachi around the world. Some also goes across the borders into Iran and north into the 'Stans for distribution in Russia.

[reddread]

3. coke, crack, heroin, glue

http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/03/opinion/03iht-edlarry.html

[EX500rider]

5. The CIA does lots of shady stuff in the name of national security..

....but a opinion piece from 1993 about allegations that officers of a special Venezuelan anti-drug unit funded by the CIA smuggled more than 2,000 pounds of cocaine into the United States "with the knowledge of CIA officials" isn't much proof.

Some government officials in every country take bribes to look the other way while things are smuggled...that does not mean the "TPTB" approved of any of it.

[reddread]

6. I would so get your hindsight checked.

[valerief]

7. Well, why were our soldiers protecting the opium fields during the time

when Afghanistan went from supplying 10% of the world's opium to over 90%? For the Iranians and Russians?

[EX500rider]

8. Protecting them from who?

And ignoring them to concentrate on taking out the Taliban isn't the same as "protecting them".
Have any links to that that don't involve "Global Research", RT News, or someones blog?

It's tricky to take on because western troops eradicating a farmers sole income just drives them into the arms of the Taliban.
And alternative crops aren't as popular since the don't pay as well.

Since the Taliban allegedly makes Afghanistan's opium business easy, offering credit, seeds and fertilizer to farmers to grow the drugs that fuel the Taliban insurgency, the US authorities are determined to change that momentum by offering similar incentives to steer farmers away from the drug trade and toward alternative, legitimate crops, like grapes, wheat and saffron.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_production_in_Afghanistan#Counter-narcotics_policy

What the US is currently doing to fight the opium trade:

http://www.state.gov/j/inl/rls/rm/2014/221295.htm

[grahamhgreen]

9. Have you not seen the photos of US troops protecting the opium fields?

[EX500rider]

10. No...I have seen pictures of US troops walking thru poppy fields on patrol..

....it's a bad idea to do other things on patrol then stay alert and keep moving.

Who exactly would the US guard poppy fields from and why?

And please no links to crackpot or propaganda sites like Global Research or Infowars or RT.....or blogs.

Basically the US is pro eradication but has to go slowly in contested provinces since wiping out a farmers livelihood drives them into the arms of the Taliban.

If you want the facts of the matter read this:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/world/asia/21marja.html?_r=0

[reddread]

4. Barry Seal

[vinny9698]

11. When I was in the US Army during the Viet Nam war, GIs were smuggling dope from Morocco and Viet Nam

Air Force planes do not go through customs, air crews would buy hashish and then just bring it in.
Our mail clerk came from Viet Nam, back then if you had less then 90 days left on your enlistment you were discharged, if you had more than you would be assigned to a base near your enlistment city. This guy would have have radios with the inside of the house radio taken out and a kilo of marijuana installed. He would then have the packages delivered to a fake soldier stationed at our base. He then would hold the package for a few days to see if their was a tale, if not he would then sell it.