INCREASING ASSET SEIZURES: A STEP FORWARD IN

UNCLAS BOGOTA 007421 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR PREF PREL PTER PHUM CO SUBJECT: INCREASING ASSET SEIZURES: A STEP FORWARD IN COLOMBIA'S FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTRAFFICKING -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (U) In the past three months, the GOC seized close to a billion dollars in assets tied to major narcotraffickers, including infamous ex-paramilitaries "Macaco" and Vicente Castano, and drug trafficker "Chupeta." The seizures reflect excellent US-GOC law enforcement cooperation, as well as the GOC's streamlining of asset seizure procedures. END SUMMARY. -------------- RECENT SEIZURES -------------- ¶2. (SBU) On August 27, the GOC seized 322 properties tied to Juan Carlos Ramirez-Abadia, aka "Chupeta," arrested on August 7 in Brazil. The properties included a Caribbean island and numerous buildings throughout Colombia, with a total estimated value of USD400 million. According to Judatt, GOC authorities expect to seize additional properties with a total estimated value between USD450-600 million. ¶3. (U) On September 25, the GOC seized 17 assets tied to Carlos Mario Jimenez, aka "Macaco" including four vehicles, five companies, seven commercial establishments, and a boat. On August 27, Macaco was removed from the Justice and Peace process for continuing to engage in criminal activity from jail, and is being detained on board a Colombian Navy ship for security reasons. ¶4. (U) On September 26 and 27, the GOC seized over one hundred properties near Medellin tied to Vicente Castano, a former AUC leader who is still at-large. The total value was estimated between $50 and $75 million. Castano, who refused to demobilize under the Justice and Peace Law, has continued to engage in drug trafficking and other crimes, and is likely associated with emerging criminal groups in Antioquia, Casanare, and Meta. -------------- THE LEGAL PROCESS -------------- ¶5. (U) The Colombian Attorney General's National Unit to Combat Money Laundering (UNCLA) leads the legal process for the seizure of narcotraffickers' assets. Once assets have been identified and confiscated, they are transferred to the National Narcotics Directorate (DNE),an executive-level body charged with managing seized assets. ¶6. (U) Over the past year, officials from DOJ's Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Section (NDDS) and Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section (AFMLS) traveled to Colombia to help counterparts at UNCLA and DNE make processes more efficient and cost-effective. These recent seizures show the success of this collaboration. Brownfield