US embassy cable - 05BOGOTA10178

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