CIA to Assess Cuba

0 Comments | Insight on the News, Sept 13, 1999 | by John Elvin

Cuba will have another chance to make the "majors" -- and we aren't talking baseball. Despite some apparent reluctance by the Clinton administration to pursue the matter, the CIA will be probing possible official involvement in drag shipments by the Cuban government. If it is found that drags passing through Cuba are intended for delivery to the United States, Cuba could be certified as a major drug-trafficking country, possibly resulting in economic sanctions.

The CIA will look into a shipment of cocaine seized by police in Colombia that was scheduled for shipment through Cuban waters. Cuba claimed the shipment was destined for Spain, and the State Department agreed. But, through the persistence of Republican Reps. Ben Gilman of New York, Dan Burton of Indiana and others, leads have developed indicating a U.S. destination.

According to the Associated Press, White House drug czar Gen. Barry McCaffrey holds with the administration line that there is "no conclusive evidence to indicate that Cuban leadership is currently involved in this criminal activity." But critics who keep close tabs on the situation say that to suggest officials there are not involved in drug smuggling is, simply, "preposterous."