Our Full Service DEA

Apparently, arming the Mexican drug cartels is not enough - now the NY Times reports that the DEA also helps launder their money:

December 3, 2011

D.E.A. Launders Mexican Profits of Drug Cartels

By GINGER THOMPSON

WASHINGTON — Undercover American narcotics agents have laundered or smuggled millions of dollars in drug proceeds as part of Washington’s expanding role in Mexico’s fight against drug cartels, according to current and former federal law enforcement officials.

The agents, primarily with the Drug Enforcement Administration, have handled shipments of hundreds of thousands of dollars in illegal cash across borders, those officials said, to identify how criminal organizations move their money, where they keep their assets and, most important, who their leaders are.

They said agents had deposited the drug proceeds in accounts designated by traffickers, or in shell accounts set up by agents.

The officials said that while the D.E.A. conducted such operations in other countries, it began doing so in Mexico only in the past few years. The high-risk activities raise delicate questions about the agency’s effectiveness in bringing down drug kingpins, underscore diplomatic concerns about Mexican sovereignty, and blur the line between surveillance and facilitating crime. As it launders drug money, the agency often allows cartels to continue their operations over months or even years before making seizures or arrests.

So when did this start?  Sometime after 2006, when Calderon took power in Mexico.  The Times says "the past few years"; I am highly confident that if any of their sources had claimed this started under Bush the Times would have been delighted to say so.

 

Comments

[Clarice]

I share that suspicion.

Why is this being leaked now? My spidey sense suggests we will find some crossover with F & F.My long experience examining LE also suggests not all of those launderers were very good at accounting and forgot to turn over or report quite a lot of it.

[Jack is Back!]

Uh, oh. Tebow throws TD pass to start the 3Q. Broncos now within 1 pt. of lead. Another comeback?

(A) B, left you a translation on prior thread.

[gmaX]

Another shoe about to drop, and the Times is carrying water for Holder and Napolitano again ( probably more correct to use "still".)

[Ignatz]

I wonder if the drug cartels have gotten their waivers from Obamacare yet.

[Captain Hate]

Another touchdown pass from TEBOW!

Suck it, haters.

[MayBee]

Ha ha ha ha haha, Igs!

[Jack is Back!]

CH,

I think Tebow does this to make Merrill Hoge's head expode. Did you see how Parcells handled him to day on ESPN Pre Game show? A thing of beauty by the Big Tuna. Really, Hoge needs a new act.

[Captain Hate]

No I missed it JiB; but anything that upsets Hoge makes me very happy.

I've heard that the sex cannon isn't distinguishing himself today. Between him and Sanchise this might be an all purpose LOL @ the QB game.

[Ignatz]

--I've heard that the sex cannon isn't distinguishing himself today. Between him and Sanchise this might be an all purpose LOL @ the QB game.--

Translation please, JiB.

[Ignatz]

With Oakland being crushed by Miami and Denver currently losing to Minnesota shouldn't the league be able to declare the AFC west moribund this year and pick a playoff team from another division to take the West's place?

[Captain Hate]

sex cannon == Rex Grossman
Sanchise == Mark Sanchez

[Jack is Back!]

Hey, Skiins up by FG. 16-13. Fred Davis has made Grossman look like Greatman.

How about that Tebow guy. Tied it up. Vikings on the move. I am back and forth to both games. Mediocrity is such a rush.

[Ignatz]

Thanks CH.
JiB had translated a particularly difficult narciso reference on another thread so I asked for his skills on this one.

[BR]

"...to identify how criminal organizations move their money, where they keep their assets and, most important, who their leaders are."

Same specious excuse as used in Fast and Furious.

Un-f-believable!

[narciso]

There's really nothing new under the Sun;

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1316/is_n9_v25/ai_13276719/

[Jack is Back!]

Sanchez TD to Holmes. 20-16 Jets. 6 mins to go. Too bad the Skins have Grossman instead of Tebow.

[Janet]

Bumper Sticker of the day from the conservative treehouse -

[Jack is Back!]

Denver ties it up on Prater FG. A minute + to go for Ponder. Tebow made a great throw into the zone on 3rd down and the wide out just could not handle it.

[Captain Hate]

Interception Broncos.

[hit and run]

Ignatz:
and Denver currently losing to Minnesota

Not for long.

[Jack is Back!]

Skins are toast.

But Ponder throws INT to allow Tebow to win another one in the 4Q. Atheists everywhere are blowing their brains out.

[Captain Hate]

JiB, I think that's a TD if Thomas doesn't hesitate on the route.

[Jack is Back!]

TEBOW!

Prater FG does the charm. No INTs by Tebow - big difference.

[narciso]

INT,? I don't know what that means

[boris]

pass interception?

More likely than integer or interrupt.

[PD]

Colts maintain their perfect record. Can the Packers do the same?

[Jack is Back!]

I am thinking about starting a Broncos bandwagon. Any takers? This way I don't have to watch the Skins self-destruct at 1;00 but I can do more stuff like golf, reading and cooking until 4:00 when the Broncs come on.

Good game on now - The Pack against the G-men. Tied up 7-7.

[PD]

I think Tebow does this to make Merrill Hoge's head expode.

Ain't going to happen. All that steel wool on top of his head will hold it together no matter the pressure.

[PD]

Packers pass defense sure stinks.

[Captain Hate]

I am thinking about starting a Broncos bandwagon. Any takers?

Oh yeah; I'm in.

[PD]

Run defense not too stellar, either. Sheesh.

[Jack is Back!]

CH,

I wonder how many Skin fans, Miami fans, Eagle fans, et. al. are jumping on the Bronco bandwagon? With DirectTV they could be the new America's Team. Of course, once I jump on bandwagons they usually collapse. Sigh:(

[hit and run]

Pass defense ok there.

[Jack is Back!]

Clay Mathews. It is in the blood. How champions differentiate themselves. The Pack makes it so easy - so far.

[PDinDetroit]

I wonder what the DEA's "CUT" is?

[MayBee]

Next up:DEA agents buying drugs in an effort to understand why users seem to enjoy them so dang much.

[henry]

They could just ask POTUS :: duck ::

[Clarice]

Nah, MayBee, that was just to persuade their confidential informants that they were solid..or the cartel members--or...even I'm running out of alibis and I've got millions of them..

[Ignatz]

--INT,? I don't know what that means--

LOL, narc.

[Clarice]

William Jacobson found an unbelievable endorsement from years past in the WS and you won't believe who wrote it.

http://legalinsurrection.com/2011/12/gingrich-may-be-a-lightning-rod-but-he-also-embodies-the-revolution-like-no-one-else/

[PDinDetroit]

Next up:DEA agents using drugs in an effort to understand why users seem to enjoy them so dang much.

FIFY

[PD]

Tom Coughlin must have the worst percentage of successful challenges in the history of the universe.

[Captain Hate]

I wonder how many Skin fans, Miami fans, Eagle fans, et. al. are jumping on the Bronco bandwagon?

There's a reason that it was the featured 1 oclock game on my local Fox station. It's one of the best stories of an otherwise lackluster NFL season other than the Packers; even a godless heathen POS like Goodell has to realize that.

The improbable wins remind me of when George Blanda used to rescue the Raidazz after Mad Bomber Lamonica needed relief. It was never pretty (although Tebow made some nice tosses today) but very effective.

[Ignatz]

--Ignatz:
and Denver currently losing to Minnesota

Not for long.--

Yep, H&R, I spoke too soon.
Tebow has the hated Broncos finishing up like the Raiders of Lamonica, Blanda and Warren Wells.

[Ignatz]

LOL, CH. You should be worried we're thinking alike.

[PD]

You should be worried we're thinking alike.

We'll conclude that, when you start using phrases like "stupid bint" and "Mika's cans."

[Extraneus]

Rough day for the Rex Ryan haters. :-)

[narciso]

This fellow fits the theme of the thread;

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2011/12/04/obamas-ambassador-to-belgium-blames-muslim-anti-semitism-on-israel/

[Captain Hate]

Iggy, it must mean the comparison is a valid one.

[MarkO]

"I am thinking about starting a Broncos bandwagon. Any takers?"

Hop on.

[Al Gore]

Tom Coughlin must have the worst percentage of successful challenges in the history of the universe.

I wouldn't go that far.

[PD]

It's in the Packers favor this time, but it's ridiculous that a 5-yard penalty is an automatic first down.

[Ignatz]

--You should be worried we're thinking alike.--

--We'll conclude that, when you start using phrases like "stupid bint" and "Mika's cans."--

Just cause I don't use em doesn't mean CH hasn't got me thinkin em.

[Rick Ballard]

Clarice,

I believe we'll find that the DEA is simply doing a little outreach to the cartel community in an effort to strengthen the President's GOTV effort in the southwest. After all, the cartels are very effective in mobilizing certain sectors within the electorate using methods which ensure almost complete cooperation.

[PD]

I wish Cobb would figure out that he never gets anything by running sideways on punt returns.

[narciso]

So, the proxenos (although hard to say for who) has an interesting background

http://www.weeklystandard.com/blogs/defending-weathermen-muslim-anti-semitism_610983.html

[PD]

Colts and Packers. Two perfect teams!

[Army of Davids]

"The 48 Laws of Power"...Robert Greene

I can't recommend this book enough.

Forget "Rules for Radicals" Alinsky. This is the one book to read to understand Obama.

[Clarice]

Rick, you might have hit the nail on the head. It's the Mexican division of ACORN, Las Pepitas.

[Army of Davids]

Extremely disappointed in Cain's withdrawal.

And I understand that there may be fire there (more likely on the last woman than the others).

Worth noting...

This was a political orchestrated smear campaign that he went through. 3 Mondays in 4 weeks. The timing, nebulous substance and phased roll-out of this smear was impressively strategic.

It was a masterpiece.... and while the beltway media machine was glad to run w/it as it came dribbling out...it's not likely that the media did the leg work on most of this IMHO.

I suspect Axelrod and a team of Obama political operatives. Likely only Romney has the means to do this....and he has no history of this kind of thing.

Obama's operatives were likely very active after the Obama's election in going after Palin. While I think they are done w/ Cain via the media....they will likely go after him in other ways. It's important for them to crush him completely....as they effectively did to Palin.

[Clarice]

Good luck with that. except for very few posters here, it doesn't seem as if the old smear trick has worked even before we learned his colon cancer treatment probably made the tales even more improbable.

Fox reports Cain is endorsing Gingrich tomorrow. I bet he'll be a good campaigner for him, too.

[narciso]

It seems things haven't changed much in approximately 2500 years;

It seems clear that, towards the end of the decade, Themistocles had begun to accrue enemies, and had become arrogant; moreover his fellow citizens had become jealous of his prestige and power.[16][65] The Spartans actively worked against him, trying to promote Cimon (son of Miltiades) as a rival to Themistocles. Furthermore, after the treason and disgrace of the Spartan general Pausanias, the Spartans tried to implicate Themistocles in the plot; he was, however, acquitted of these charges.[71] In Athens itself, he lost favour by building a sanctuary of Artemis, with the epithet Aristoboulë ("of good counsel") near his home, a blatant reference to his own role in delivering Greece from the Persian invasion.[65] Eventually, in either 472 or 471 BC, he was ostracised.[65][77] In itself, this did not mean that Themistocles had done anything wrong; ostracism, in the words of Plutarch,

That and the self serving account of Thucydides, that I found from Donald Kagan

[narciso]

The parallel is less to the Iraq War, which
Hanson has suggested they have tried to plant
the meme of the Syracuse expedition, but Vietnam,

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704597704574485770661846940.html

[Army of Davids]

Clarice,

Think I'm going Ron Paul myself (though I have concerns w/ his foreign policy views)...but in the Anybody But Obama world I'd sure take Gingrich in a heartbeat.

Makes sense for Cain to endorse Gingrich.

Keep up the good work.

[Captain Hate]

except for very few posters here, it doesn't seem as if the old smear trick has worked

I dunno; I was disappointed in how much credence it got here. I'm not saying that Cain was a perfect candidate (are there any of them?) but he deserved far better than this incredibly awkwardly executed smear job.

Do you think blacks will ever notice what happens to conservative members of their race who try to attain significant national offices? Or care?

[narciso]

Well, Captain, there was Clarence Thomas, who prevailed,Ken Blackwell who was saddled with the Bantha like carcass of the Taft machine, whose still active, and the foolishness of Vorstedt(sic) and Dewine, shows they still don't have a clue, and there is Allen West,

[jimmyk]

Clarence Thomas was put through hell and it took him 20 years to prevail. Besides the Anita Hill circus, he was ridiculed as stupid and unqualified by the MSM, and only in the last couple of years has gained grudging respect (coupled with hatred). We'll see what happens to Allen West if he should dare to aspire to anything higher than the House of Representatives.

[Topsecretk9]

So when did this start? Sometime after 2006, when Calderon took power in Mexico. The Times says "the past few years"; I am highly confident that if any of their sources had claimed this started under Bush the Times would have been delighted to say so.

I completely disagree with TM and I guess many of you. I believe this is long standing tradition from way, way back - beginning of time stuff. I believe the existence is being leaked to COVER for FAST AND FURIOUS Holder malfeasance.

[narciso]

Well like I LUNed back at 3;58, nothing really new about this particular operation,
which doesn't even have a cool code name;
like 'wide REceiver or Castaway.

[Topsecretk9]

Exactly, Narciso!

from Narc's link...

By confiscating the profits from drugs, the theory goes, the government can put suppliers out of business.

After much bureaucratic ping-pong, the Miami DEA gets the OK from Washington to experiment with this new approach. It sets up a phony investment company, Dean International, which offers banking services to the cocaine trade. As it turns out, the government is no more adept at running a phony investment company than it is at running the Post Office. Nobody seems to be in charge. There are squabbles among the DEA agents, squabbles between the agents and their bosses, squabbles with Washington, and more squabbles with the FBI, which is worried that the DEA's Operation Swordfish will undermine its own similar Operation Greenback, or that the DEA will hog the limelight if both operations succeed.

Moreover, the DEA in Miami is top-heavy with gringos, and this is a Latin American town. Nobody in the agency can play the role of Latin banker, which is what Dean Investments needs before it can gain any credibility with the smuggling crowd. To ensnare anyone at all, the DEA relies on informants, mostly local dealers who are happy to throw the agency an occasional small-timer in return for being allowed to stay in business themselves.

Not new. probably done is new legal refined manner for years...leaked to to cause new sensation scandal to cover for Holder handling, lying about FFurious ect.

This story and that NYT did it and tangentlly mentioned FF in it? Uh Huh. NYT is Obama stenographers, they play along. This isn't like leaking wiretaps or banking. This is to HELP Obama.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1316/is_n9_v25/ai_13276719/

[Topsecretk9]

Not new. probably done is new legal refined manner for years.

Not new. probably done IN new legal refined manner for years.

[narciso]

Speaking of the Times, one wonders if they are
that ignorant of the past;

http://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/22/books/books-of-the-times-winning-drug-fights-but-not-the-war.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

[narciso]

And here is the case that arose from it:

http://ftp.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/874/874.F2d.1402.86-5517.html

[Topsecretk9]

Well, narciso

It's a little similar to the cia's operation Merlin if you think of it. Laundering plans.

Wonder if CIA created and/or contributed to many a Mid east countries nuc/WMD programs in similar swordfish fashion and outcome.

Heck, those DEA seized monies prolly funded fubar ops like Merlin.

[Janet]

Republicans need to be more humane when discussing illegal immigration.

McCain. Ugh. Ya know, it's not like these illegals don't have a home country. Send them home. What is inhumane about that? Is McCain saying that Mexico is a crap country?

Do you think blacks will ever notice what happens to conservative members of their race who try to attain significant national offices? Or care?

I wonder that too. There HAS to be some people waking up. It is like the MFM/Dems won't allow blacks to chose for themselves.

[Captain Hate]

Anybody concerned about Putin's electoral spanking provoking some good old fashioned crisis/confrontation with the spineless El JEFe and the CIA dunces like fat Joe and floppy Val to rally support? When the Medvedev cheerleaders don't work, obviously extraordinary measures are called forl

[Cecil Turner]

McCain. Ugh.

It's hard to overstate how much damage these GOP squishes do to the country. It's important to recognize that's the going in position for the conservatives. After it's negotiated to a middle point in compromise, a grinning Chuck Schumer will announce a new entitlement program giving cost-of-living aid to illegals and free health care . . . and try to find new ways to include their names on the voter rolls.

[Jane]

This should be Eric Holder's big week. I'm trying so hard not to celebrate in advance.

[Captain Hate]

So McAmnesty wants Aunt Zeituni to stay here forever in taxpayer subsidized housing? Good to know.

[Captain Hate]

Is this wonderful software again in the post eating mode?

[Captain Hate]

Apparently just in the long lag mode.

Jane, should I be expecting an early Christmas re Stedman?

[narciso]

This is why they want after Russell Pearce, and threaten to do to Sheriff Arpaio,

[narciso]

Honestly, what could go wrong here;

http://pjmedia.com/tatler/headline/eason-jordan-to-produce-trumpnewsmax-debate/

[Jane]

It's looking that way Capn'. There is a big hearing Thursday but it just occurred to me he may want to resign first to avoid it.

When does Bambi leave for 17 days with AB?

[centralcal]

Jane: I think around Dec. 17th he leaves for vacay.

[Captain Hate]

Sooooo narc, Eason Jordan is complicit in the deaths of at least two people because of his cowardice and gets all sorts of journalism awards? Always speaking troof to powder right?

[rse]

LUN is a Dalrymple followup on the London riots with what happens to the human personality when it is led to believe that it gets paid for existing.

On the British ed problems, they are the template for what we are doing here and Tony Blair's architect, Michael Barber, is now an advisor to lots of school districts. As of last May he is also Pearson's lead ed advisor. And narciso likes Michael Gove in the UK. He is well-intentioned but fails to appreciate what the poisons actually are and how they have been administered so he cannot fix what he doesn't understand. Same is true of both Romney and Gingrich here. They push ideas that are good on paper if you do not know actual definitions being used that differ from common sense. The planned implementation that the Reps then greenlight because it sounds good just makes the problem worse.

[henry]

Blago gets sentenced this week as well.

Think Bambi wants to leave before Wednesday?

[narciso]

He's a crunchier form of blanc mange, then say George Osborne, who they will likely run against Cameron for leadership, in a bizarre
death spiral, Hannan, when choosing to run,saw 'there was little intelligent life' out there, and decided to enlighten that delegation, Farage is much the same way.

[centralcal]

Oh, dear gawd! Michelle Malkin has a whole column about this travesty:

“With Donald Trump and the top-notch media and production team led by Eason Jordan we have organized, we expect the The Newsmax ION 2012 Presidential Debate will have the largest audience of any Republican primary debate to date,” Newsmax CEO Christopher Ruddy said.

[centralcal]

oh, sorry narciso, didn't read the whole thread before posting :(

[Captain Hate]

Maybe Newt can get a zinger in on Jordan's cowardice.

[Ranger]

Well, maybe this will work if I just post the link:

China 'ill-prepared' for unrest, says security chief

[Jack is Back!]

How do you say, You're in Good Hands with All-State, in Japanese?

[Extraneus]

Mysterious anonymous book-paper sculptures from Scotland

Here's one.

[Janet]

Very cool, Extraneus!

[centralcal]

The link was "very cool" as Janet said. Amazing art from books.

[Clarice]

Wish the anonymous artist would reveal his/her identity. This is the best contemporaneous artwork I've seen in ages. Usually it's sculptures of Jesus or babies floating in toilets or pretty women bound, gagged and covered in make believe blood.
This is by a great artist with significant intelligence.

[Clarice]

From CBS Boston:

BOSTON (CBS) – A 74-year-old professor who has lectured at Boston schools for two decades has been charged with running a methamphetamine lab.

Irina Kristy, who teaches math at Boston University and Suffolk University, will be arraigned next month for allegedly running a meth lab out of her Somerville home.

Kristy’s son Grigory pleaded not guilty to the same charges last month.

[boris]

heh ... we were led to believe there would be no meth involved ...