World Watch
January 5, 2010 1:28 PM

Unholy Alliance: Colombia Rebels, al Qaeda

By
David Morgan
Topics
Terror Monitor
(AP Photo/Jerome Delay)
An "unholy alliance" has emerged between Islamic extremists and guerrilla fighters in Colombia, who are smuggling cocaine via Africa to Europe, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Reuters reports that, due to growing difficulty is shipping cocaine from South America directly to the U.S. and Europe, drug traffickers are now transiting their goods through Africa, with the help of al Qaeda and other groups with links to terrorism.

(Left: Bags of cocaine confiscated in the West African Republic of Guinea.)

Last month, three West Africans with alleged ties to al Qaeda were extradited to New York to face charges on drug trafficking and terrorism.

Jay Bergman, DEA director for the Andean region of South America, told Reuters' Hugh Bronstein that the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (or FARC) is using ties to al Qaeda to expand its trafficking of cocaine through West Africa. By providing security for the operation, the Islamic militants are able to acquire funds.

While FARC are using African connection to export drugs, Bergman told Reuters that Mexico drug producers are using the same route to import chemicals needed for their methamphetamine operations.

Increasing interdiction on normal routes is forcing narco-traffickers to find new ways to move their product.

"West Africa is that current alternative," Bergman said.

It is also creating more problems for African nations such as Guinea Bissau. Traffickers have been blamed for .

  • David Morgan

    David Morgan is a senior editor at CBSNews.com and cbssundaymorning.com.

by ToolMangler1 January 5, 2010 6:21 PM EST
If it wasn't so horrifyingly sad and scary this would be funny and ironic. The drug lords are turning to an outfit that will kill everyone of them the moment they are positioned right.
They "THINK" they can continue to sell drug after Al Qaeda get control of the country.
You are watching the biggest fools on the planet set themselves up for slaughter. Islam does not have "partners". and Al Qaeda will not allow drugs unless 'They' control it.
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