MEDIA REACTION ON DRUG TRAFFICKING, JUNE 24, 2003

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 001509 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/PDA (MBUCKLEY); WHA/CEN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP PREL KPAO PGOV IZ HO SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON DRUG TRAFFICKING, JUNE 24, 2003 ¶1. Article in San Pedro Sula-based liberal daily "La Prensa" on 6/24 entitled "After transporting drugs, small plane is burned and destroyed". "The police found a small plane burned and destroyed in the Tinto river, close to the city of Tocoa in the northern coast. The police believe the plane carried about 500 kilos of cocaine." According to the police, "Apparently, the drugs were coming from Colombia, we have found many empty wrappings and small amounts of cocaine. this year we have demolished three landing fields in this region, but we have not been able to arrest the contacts of the drug trafficking network from this zone." Palmer