VISA REVOCATIONS: A HARD HIT ON COLOMBIAN CRIMINALS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 010178

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR CA/FPP, CA/PPT, WHA/AND, CA/VO/F/P, DS/CR/VF
DHS PASS TO MIAMI/INSPECTIONS, ASYLUM
PANAMA PASS TO DHS OIC

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KFRD CVIS ASEC KCRM KWMN SMIG CO KHUM
SUBJECT: VISA REVOCATIONS: A HARD HIT ON COLOMBIAN CRIMINALS

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. In recent months, the Consular Section's
Fraud Prevention Unit (FPU) revoked a large number of non-
immigrant visas (NIV) granted to Colombian nationals who are
members of violent gangs and terrorist organizations, wanted
and captured narcotics traffickers, family members
benefiting from the illicit proceeds of narcotics
trafficking, and other ineligible persons. FPU has been
successful in identifying these individuals as a result of
the unit's innovative investigative procedures, a close
working relationship with Post law-enforcement agencies, a
surge in extraditions from Colombia to the United States,
and amplified GOC arrests of narcotic smugglers at Colombian
airports and seaports. As a result of continued USG-GOC
cooperation, FPU anticipates the increase in revocations to
continue over the next one to two years. END SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) From May through September 2005, FPU revoked 110
NIVs (B1/B2 business/tourism category) granted to Colombian
nationals, as compared to 43 in the previous five months, an
increase of over two hundred fifty percent. In the month of
September 2005 alone, revocations surpassed January through
April 2005 totals by twenty percent. Three out of four
revocations were for drug-related ineligibilities. For
every alien found ineligible under section 212(a)(2)(C)(i)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA),between one
and three family members (spouses, sons or daughters) were
found to be ineligible under section (2)(C)(ii) of the INA
for benefiting from the illicit proceeds of narcotics
trafficking. Many of those with drug-related
ineligibilities were also members of one of the three
foreign terrorist organizations in Colombia and therefore
ineligible under section 212(a)(3)(B) of the INA.


3. (SBU) FPU notes three of the more prominent criminals
who, along with ineligible family members, no longer carry
U.S. visas:
- Jhon Eilderber Cano Correa, a member of the Norte Del
Valle drug cartel, allegedly responsible for 300 murders and
listed on a GOC "most wanted" list with a five-million
dollar reward for information leading to his capture.
- Jorge Arenas Pena, whose shipping companies have
transported large quantities of illicit drugs.
- Dagoberto Florez Rios, a member of the Norte Del Valle
cartel and known money launderer and narcotics trafficker.


4. (SBU) FPU attributes the increase in revocations to five
primary factors. First, the unit has begun to cross-
reference names found on various law enforcement websites,
e.g., the Most Wanted Reward Postings and the U.S. Treasury
Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control Specially
Designated Narcotics Traffickers lists, with NIV holders,
leading to the identification of additional ineligible
family members with valid NIVs. Second, FPU maintains a
cooperative working relationship with Post law enforcement
and military agencies. These agencies routinely provide the
consular section with information on the arrests of
narcotics smugglers and others under investigation for
aiding, abetting, assisting or colluding with those involved
in illicit drug trafficking. Third, improved security
cooperation between the GOC and the USG has led to a
substantial increase in the number of extraditions to the
United States. FPU compares Department cables identifying
criminals subject to extradition procedures against the
Consolidated Consular Database to determine prior visa
issuance for them and their families. (Note: The prior GOC
administration extradited 64 criminals, versus 284 to date
under the current administration. In the past year alone,
there were 104 extraditions. End note.) Fourth, Colombian
law enforcement agencies and airline security personnel
provide FPU with reports of captured narcotics smugglers as
they are found and arrested. Fifth, FPU has implemented
procedural changes for alerting airlines to new NIV
revocations, allowing the unit to eliminate a backlog and
devote more time to investigating new leads.


5. (SBU) COMMENT: FPU believes the apprehension of Colombian
nationals involved in criminal activities and identification
of their family members will continue to increase in the
foreseeable future. USG law enforcement agencies assigned
to Post work closely with vetted GOC law enforcement
agencies and are making significant progress on counter-
narcotics initiatives. As a result, FPU anticipates the
increase in revocations to continue over the next one to two
years, followed by a leveling off during the coming three to
four-year period. END COMMENT.

WOOD