MiamiHerald.com/ By David Goodhue
A California senator who chairs a congressional caucus on
international drug trafficking warned last week that Cuba could become a
significant hub for illegal drugs entering the United States in the
near future.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) made the remarks while leading a hearing on what several observers consider the growing possibility that the Caribbean could become an even larger transit zone for illegal drugs. If the trend happens or is happening, it is likely because of increased pressure international law enforcement is placing on violent drug cartels in Mexico and elsewhere in Central America, these observers say.
While mentioning the growing drug violence throughout the Caribbean during opening statements of the Feb. 1 hearing of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, Feinstein said Cuba should not be considered immune from the problem.
“I would be remiss not to mention Cuba. Just 90 miles from Florida, Cuba has the potential to be a major trans-shipment point for illicit drugs,” she said.
The statement comes just weeks after Cuba’s state-run newspaper, Granma, reported the communist government last year confiscated more foreign-borne drugs than in any time during the past seven years.
It also comes as U.S. officials are making public statements over concerns about increased smuggling activity in the Caribbean as a whole.
In October, William Brownfield, assistant secretary of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, testified in front of Congress that increased attention on Mexico would likely force drug smugglers to look to the Caribbean as a gateway to get their products into the United States.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) made the remarks while leading a hearing on what several observers consider the growing possibility that the Caribbean could become an even larger transit zone for illegal drugs. If the trend happens or is happening, it is likely because of increased pressure international law enforcement is placing on violent drug cartels in Mexico and elsewhere in Central America, these observers say.
While mentioning the growing drug violence throughout the Caribbean during opening statements of the Feb. 1 hearing of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, Feinstein said Cuba should not be considered immune from the problem.
“I would be remiss not to mention Cuba. Just 90 miles from Florida, Cuba has the potential to be a major trans-shipment point for illicit drugs,” she said.
The statement comes just weeks after Cuba’s state-run newspaper, Granma, reported the communist government last year confiscated more foreign-borne drugs than in any time during the past seven years.
It also comes as U.S. officials are making public statements over concerns about increased smuggling activity in the Caribbean as a whole.
In October, William Brownfield, assistant secretary of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, testified in front of Congress that increased attention on Mexico would likely force drug smugglers to look to the Caribbean as a gateway to get their products into the United States.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/10/2634547/sen-dianne-feinstein-singles-out.html#storylink=cpy
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