Sunday 30 January 2011

Drug Bust Shows Argentina-Europe Trafficking Ties

Drug Bust Shows Argentina-Europe Trafficking Ties - NYTimes.com: "A major cocaine bust in Spain is highlighting the growing drug-trafficking ties between Argentina and Europe and causing headaches for the government of Argentina’s president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

The Spanish authorities in Barcelona seized an executive jet from Argentina this month that was carrying about 2,000 pounds of cocaine. An Argentine company specializing in private medical transfers, Medical Jet, was operating the plane, which was being flown by pilots whose fathers were generals during Argentina’s bloody dictatorship.

Investigators in Spain and Argentina have remained tight-lipped about the inquiry, but questions have swirled around the possible involvement of Argentine military officials and politicians who flew on Medical Jet, and deeper connections to Colombian and Mexican drug cartels.

Last week, the Argentine Air Force dismissed Commodore Jorge Ayerdi, the head of the Morón air base, where the Challenger 604 plane took off on Jan. 1, Argentina’s state news agency reported.

Arturo Puricelli, Argentina’s defense minister, has expressed concern about the possible involvement of the air force, saying Wednesday in a radio interview that he would push for an investigation. “There is great indignation about the case within the air force,” Mr. Puricelli said."

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