[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 9, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1191-E1193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTRODUCTION OF DRUG KINGPINS BANKRUPTCY ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL McCOLLUM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 9, 1999

  Mr. McCOLLUM.  Mr. Speaker, I am today introducing the ``Drug 
Kingpins Bankruptcy Act of 1999,'' which is intended to extend the 
reach of United States sanctions to the world's most significant narco-
trafficking organizations. I am especially pleased to be joined in this 
important initiative by Representatives Rangel, Goss, Gilman, and Mica; 
companion legislation was introduced recently by Senators Coverdell and 
Feinstein.
  The legal precedent for this legislation was the successful 
application of sanctions in 1995 and 1996 against the Cali Cartel 
narco-trafficking organization and its key leaders. Executive Order 
12978, issued by the Clinton Administration in October 1995, had the 
effect of dismantling and defunding numerous business entities tied to 
the Cali Cartel. Coordinated law enforcement efforts by the U.S. and 
Colombian Governments in support of these sanctions put the Cali Cartel 
kingpins out of business.
  Unlike earlier and more limited sanctions initiatives, the ``Drug 
Kingpins Bankruptcy Act of 1999'' is global in scope and specifically 
focuses on the major cocaine, heroin, and amphetamine narco-trafficking 
groups based in Mexico, Colombia, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and 
Southwest Asia. If enacted, this legislation will encourage U.S. law 
enforcement

[[Page E1192]]

and intelligence agencies to better coordinate their efforts against 
the leaders of the world's most dangerous multinational criminal 
organizations. This initiative will assist U.S. Government efforts to 
identify the assets, financial networks, and business associates of 
major narcotics trafficking groups. If effectively implemented, this 
strategy will disrupt thee criminal organizations and bankrupt their 
leadership.
  This ``Drug Kingpins Bankruptcy Act of 1999'' is intended to 
supplement--not to replace--the United States' policy of annual 
certification of countries based on their performance in combating 
narcotics trafficking. This bill will properly focus our Government's 
efforts against the specific individuals most responsible for 
trafficking in illegal narcotics by attacking their sources of income 
and undermining their efforts to launder the profits generated by drug-
trafficking into legitimate business activities.
  The bill requires the Secretary of the Treasury--in consultation with 
the Attorney General, the Director of Central Intelligence, the 
Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of State--to prepare and submit 
a list of the world's most significant narcotics traffickers on January 
1st of each year. The Director of the Office of National Drug Control 
Policy shall review this list for submission to the President by 
February 1st of each year. The President then shall formally designate 
these major narco-traffickers on March 1st of each year as constituting 
an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign 
policy and the economy of the United States. Individuals and entities 
linked to major narcotics trafficking groups may be added to the list 
by the President at any time during the year.
  The effect of this legislation will be to block the assets of any 
specially designated drug trafficker that come within the control of 
United States law enforcement authorities. Second, it will block all 
assets of any other individuals who materially assist, provide 
financial or technical support, or offer goods and services to such 
specially designated narcotics traffickers. Third, it will block the 
assets of any persons, who are determined by the United States 
Government as controlled by or acting on behalf of specially designated 
narcotics traffickers. Fourth, designation on this list will result in 
the denial of visas and inadmissibility of specially designated 
narcotics traffickers, their immediate families, and their business 
associates.
  The bottom line objective of these provisions is to bankrupt and 
disrupt the major narcotics trafficking organizations. The targets of 
this bill are not only the drug kingpins, but those involved in money 
laundering, in acquiring chemical precursors to manufacture narcotics, 
in manufacturing the drugs, in transporting the drugs from the drug 
source countries to the United States, and in managing the assets of 
these criminal enterprises.
  The ``Drug Kingpins Bankruptcy Act of 1999'' establishes a precedent 
for the future content and scope of the ``Global Drug Kingpins'' list 
by specifically identifying the first group of 12 named individuals 
from Mexico, Burma, Thailand, Colombia, and Haiti. This ``Dirty Dozen'' 
includes many of the world's most significant narco-traffickers, such 
as Khun Sa of Burma, Ramon Arrellano Felix of the Tijuana Cartel, 
Vicente Carrillo Fuentes of the Juarez Cartel, and Wei Hsueh-Kang of 
the United Wa State Army. Virtually all of these individuals are 
billion-dollar criminals with global assets and organizations that 
threaten the security and freedom of all Americans.
  The first ``Global Drug Kingpins'' list has been developed with the 
close cooperation of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation. I am especially pleased to report that 
one of the kingpins originally identified by the DEA and the FBI for 
inclusion in this list was extradited to the United States by the 
Mexican government on June 1, 1999; as a result of this extradition, we 
have now filled this vacancy with a major money launderer from the 
Eastern Caribbean, who has been sought for extradition on numerous U.S. 
indictments.
  I look forward to quick passage of this important crime-fighting 
legislation and hope that the Clinton Administration would implement 
this initiative on its own.

                             WEI HSUEH-KANG

                         @ PRASIT CHIWINITPARYA

                      @ CHARNCHAI CHIWINNITIPANYA

       DOB: 06/29/52.
       Criminal Organization: Commander of the United Wa State 
     Army (UWSA), Southern Military Region. The UWSA is considered 
     the largest scale narcotics processing and trafficking 
     organization in Southeast Asia and as such, poses the 
     greatest threat to Thailand, the U.S. and the international 
     community.
       U.S. Pending Criminal Charges: August 30, 1993, Eastern 
     District of New York, Conspiracy to Import Heroin into the 
     United States.
       Wei Hsueh-Kang had been sentenced to death (in absentia) by 
     the Royal Thai Government for his involvement in a 1,496 
     pound heroin shipment seized off the coast of Thailand in 
     1987. This sentence has since been reduced to life in prison.
       Status: Thai fugitive. Currently residing in Burma.

                              CHANG CHI-FU

                               @ KHUN SA

       DOB: 02/17/33 (ALT: 02/12/32).
       Criminal Organization: Former Head of the Shan United Army 
     @ Mong Thai Army.
       U.S. Pending Criminal Charges: December 20, 1989, Eastern 
     District of New York:
       1. Conspiracy to Import Heroin into the United States.
       2. Operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE).
       3. Distribution of Heroin in Both Burma and Thailand.
       4. Importation of Heroin into the United States.
       5. Possession of Heroin with Intent to Distribute & 
     Distribution of Heroin.
       6. Attempted Distribution of Heroin in Thailand.
       7. Attempted Importation of Heroin into the United States.
       Status: U.S. Fugitive. Residing in Burma under the 
     protection of the Burmese Government.

     JOSE DE JESUS AMEZCUA-CONTRERAS (AKA JESUS AMEZCUA-CONTRERAS)

       DOB: 07/13/63 (alt 07/31/64), (alt 07/31/65).
       Criminal Organization: Amezcua-Contreras Organization.
       U.S. Pending Criminal Charges:
       February 11, 1993, Southern District of California:
       (1.) Conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to 
     distribute.
       (2.) Attempted possession of cocaine with intent to 
     distribute.
       June 18, 1998, Southern District of California:
       (1.) Operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise to 
     manufacture and distribute methamphetamine.
       (2.) Conspiracy to possess ephedrine.
       Status: U.S. fugitive. Arrested June 1998 in Mexico. 
     Incarcerated in Mexico. Provisional Arrest Warrant request--
     for purpose of extradition. Extradition on appeal in Mexico.

                     LUIS IGNACIO AMEZCUA-CONTRERAS

       DOB: 02/22/64 (alt 02/21/64), (alt 02/21/74).
       Criminal Organization: Amezcua-Contreras Organization.
       U.S. Pending Criminal Charges:
       December 21, 1994, Central District of California:
       (1.) Conspiracy to manufacture, possess with intent to 
     distribute, and distribute methamphetamine.
       (2.) Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
       (3.) Possession of a listed chemical with reasonable cause 
     to believe the chemical would be used in the manufacture of 
     methamphetamine.
       (4.) Conspiracy to launder money.
       (5.) Money laundering.
       June 18, 1998, Southern District of California:
       (1.) Operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise to 
     manufacture and distribute methamphetamine.
       (2.) Conspiracy to possess ephedrine.
       Status: U.S. fugitive. Arrested June 1998 in Mexico. 
     Incarcerated in Mexico. Provisional Arrest Warrant request--
     for purpose of extradition. Extradition on appeal in Mexico.

                      RAMON EDUARDO ARELLANO-FELIX

       DOB: 08/31/64.
       Criminal Organization: Arellano-Felix Organization.
       U.S. Pending Criminal Charges: September 11, 1997, Southern 
     District of California: Conspiracy to import cocaine and 
     marijuana.
       Status: U.S. fugitive. Not arrested. Provisional Arrest 
     Warrant request.

                        VICENTE CARRILLO-FUENTES

       DOB: 10/16/62.
       Criminal Organization: Juarez Cartel, formerly known as 
     Amado Carrillo-Fuentes Organization.
       U.S. Pending Charges:
       October 6, 1993, Northern District of Texas: (1.) 
     Conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine.
       August 6, 1997, Western District of Texas:
       (1.) Operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE).
       (2.) Conspiracy to import and possess with intent to 
     distribute controlled substances.
       (3.) Importation of controlled substances.
       (4.) Possession with intent to distribute controlled 
     substances.
       (5.) Money laundering.
       Status: U.S. fugitive. Not arrested. Provisional Arrest 
     Warrant request.

                          ARTURO PAEZ-MARTINEZ

       DOB: 08/31/67 (alt 11/22/66).
       Criminal Organization: Arellano-Felix Organization.
       U.S. Pending Charges:
       June 27, 1997, Southern District of California: (1.) 
     Conspiracy to import cocaine.
       December 19, 1997, Southern District of California:
       (1.) Operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE) to 
     launder money.
       (2.) Conspiracy to distribute and the distribution of 
     cocaine.
       (3.) Conspiracy to import and the importation of cocaine.
       (4.) Aiding and abetting.
       Status: Arrested in Mexico. Incarcerated in Mexico. 
     Provisional Arrest Warrant request.

                         OSCAR MALHERBE DE LEON

       DOB: 01/10/64.
       Criminal Organization: One of the key leaders of the Juan 
     Garcia Abrego drug trafficking organization, also known as 
     the Gulf

[[Page E1193]]

     Cartel. The Juan Garcia Abrego organization is known by U.S. 
     law enforcement agencies for its importation of large 
     quantities of controlled substances, its propensity for 
     violence, and its efforts to corrupt officials on both sides 
     of the U.S. Mexico border.
       U.S. Pending Charges: May 1995, District of Southern Texas:
       (1.) Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to 
     distribute cocaine.
       (2.) Conspiracy to commit money laundering.
       (3.) Operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise.
       Status: Arrested in Mexico. Incarcerated in Mexico. 
     Provisional Arrest Warrant Request. Extradition on appeal in 
     Mexican courts. Extradition to U.S. may take place after 
     completion of his sentence in Mexico for weapons offenses.

                         LORQUET SAINT-HILAIRE

       Criminal Organization: One of the key leaders of a 
     Colombian-Haitian drug trafficking organization that has 
     moved significant quantities of cocaine from Colombia through 
     Haiti and then into Florida. On October 5, 1995, Saint-
     Hilaire and five of his associates conspired to rob and kill 
     a federal agent who was acting in an undercover capacity. 
     Although the federal agent was shot at by Saint-Hilaire, he 
     was not injured. All five of Saint-Hilaire's associates were 
     later convicted on numerous drug and assault violations.
       U.S. Pending Charges: October 1995, District of Southern 
     Florida:
       (1.) Conspiracy to commit narcotics offenses.
       (2.) Assault against a U.S. federal officer.
       (3.) Attempt to rob mail, money or other property of the 
     U.S.
       Status: Believed to be residing in the vicinity of Port de 
     Paix, Haiti. Provisional Arrest Warrant Request. No 
     extradition treaty in effect with Haiti.

                            JHON RAUL CASTRO

       DOB: 09/05/63
       Criminal organization: One of the key leaders of a major 
     cocaine trafficking organization based in Miami and Medellin, 
     Colombia. Castro's organization is known by U.S. law 
     enforcement agencies for its importation and distribution of 
     large quantities of cocaine from Colombia across the United 
     States. Since 1994, U.S. law enforcement authorities believe 
     that Castro has been responsible for the importation and 
     distribution of several thousand kilograms of cocaine through 
     cells located in Miami, Boston, New York, Chicago, Houston, 
     and Los Angeles.
       U.S. Pending Charges: February 1999, District of Southern 
     Florida:
       (1.) Conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
       (2.) Other substantive drug charges being prepared.
       Status: Believed to be residing in the vicinity of 
     Medellin, Colombia. Provisional Arrest Warrant Request. 
     Extradition request proceedings have been initiated with the 
     Colombian Government.

                         RAFAEL CARO--QUINTERO

       DOB: 10/24/52 (alt 11/24/55), (alt 10/24/55).
       Criminal Organization: Caro-Quintero Organization.
       U.S. Pending Criminal Charges:
       April 29, 1987, Central District of California:
       (1.) Conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to 
     distribute controlled substances.
       (2.) Operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE).
       (3.) Criminal forfeiture.
       (4.) Possession of controlled substance.
       (5.) Alien in possession of firearm.
       (6.) Aiding and abetting.
       (7.) False identification documents used to defraud United 
     States.
       (8.) False statement.
       (9.) Travel act conspiracy.
       July 14, 1988, District of Arizona:
       (1.) Operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE).
       (2.) Conspiracy to import a controlled substance.
       (3.) Importation of a controlled substance.
       (4.) Bribery.
       (5.) Exportation of currency.
       (6.) Aiding and abetting.
       July 30, 1991, Central District of California:
       (1.) Violent crimes in aid of racketeering.
       (2.) Conspiracy to commit violent crimes in aid of 
     racketeering.
       (3.) Conspiracy to kidnap a Federal Agent.
       (4.) Kidnapping of a Federal Agent.
       (5.) Felony murder of a Federal Agent.
       (6.) Aiding and abetting.
       (7.) Accessory after the fact.
       Status: U.S. fugitive. Incarcerated in Mexico. Provisional 
     Arrest Warrant request.

                  CHARLES MILLER AKA: EUSTACE O'CONNOR

       DOB: 03/29/60
       Criminal organization: Is the leader of a major Caribbean 
     drug trafficking organization based in St. Kitts that has 
     moved significant quantities of cocaine from Colombia through 
     the Eastern Caribbean and then into Puerto Rico, the U.S. 
     Virgin Islands and Florida. In October 1994, Miller and six 
     of his associates conspired to murder the Superintendent of 
     St. Kitts' Police. Since May 1996, the U.S. Government has 
     sought the extradition of Miller and two other notorious St. 
     Kitts' drug traffickers who are wanted in the U.S. on drug 
     trafficking charges. In October 1996 and again in January 
     1999, a St. Kitts magistrate ruled against the U.S. request 
     for Miller's extradition.
       U.S. Pending Charges: October 1994, District of Southern 
     Florida: Conspiracy to commit narcotics offenses.
       Status: Believed to be residing in the vicinity of 
     Basseterre, St. Kitts. Provisional Arrest Warrant Request. 
     Extradition request under deliberation by St. Kitts 
     Government since May 1996.

                          WILLIAM BRIAN MARTIN

       DOB: 08/02/63 (alt 08/02/62).
       Criminal Organization: Martin Organization.
       U.S. Pending Charges:
       May 4, 1993, District of Arizona:
       (1.) Operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE).
       (2.) Conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to 
     distribute cocaine and marijuana.
       (3.) Conspiracy to commit money laundering.
       February 23, 1994, District of Arizona:
       (1.) Conspiracy to distribute over 1000 kilograms of 
     marijuana.
       September 6, 1994, District of Arizona:
       (1.) Operating a Continuing Criminal Enterprise (CCE).
       (2.) Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 
     cocaine and marijuana.
       Status: Arrested in Mexico. Incarcerated in Mexico. 
     Provisional Arrest Warrant request. Extradition from Mexico 
     on June 1, 1999.

     

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