[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 64 (Tuesday, May 19, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H3376-H3377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          OPERATION CASABLANCA

  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, today I rise to compliment our Customs 
Service, our DEA and our other law enforcement officers for the 
successful money laundering undercover operation, code named 
``Casablanca.''
  An extensive money laundering ring of Colombian and Mexican drug 
dealers, who have been using dozens of Mexican and American banks to 
launder and disguise their billions of dollars of ill-gotten gains, 
have now been broken up. Many individuals have been arrested, millions 
of assets have been seized, along with tons of illicit drugs.

[[Page H3377]]

  The substantial funds that this operation uncovered flowing from the 
illicit drug trade underscores just how serious the challenge is from 
these illicit drug dealers and the corruption they foster in the 
banking system and in democratic institutions throughout the world.
  The magnitude of the disclosure and expanse of the monies and 
influence from illicit drugs shows our need for a serious and 
meaningful war on drugs. Our drug czar, Barry McCaffrey, believes that 
the term ``war on drugs'' is not appropriate to apply to the problems 
of drugs in our Nation. Many of us disagree. Our Speaker's task force 
efforts will hopefully turn this around.
  Operation ``Casablanca'' makes it clear that what is at stake here 
deserves a war footing by our Nation and the international community. 
We need to fight drugs on all fronts, including both the demand and 
supply side simultaneously, as well as hitting them in the pocketbooks, 
just as ``Casablanca'' has done.

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