[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 9] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 12311-12313] [From the U.S. 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 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 [[Page 12312]] 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 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. [[Page 12313]] 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 1,000 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. ____________________