June 8, 2005

Society

A trial of 11 persons involved in drug traffic in Holguin
led to a crime chain dealing in those operations.
By: Norges Martínez Montero

A CubaNews translation by Ana Portela. Edited by Walter Lippmann.
http://www.jrebelde.cubaweb.cu/2005/abril-junio/jun-8/print/sociedad.htm

The hidden move of four kilograms of drugs from east to west of the country is a story of fraud and tricks in which accusations fly from one to another of those charged.

That is shown in the story we relate below is based on real events and that occurred less than two years ago in Banes in the Holguin municipality. The episode ended with an exemplary trial in the presence of many inhabitants of the region.

The trial was one of the first in the country after Operación Coraza began in January of 2003. Although some months have passed since the trial was held, it is still in the memory of many inhabitants of Banes. The majority remembers the event like a strong blow of good over evil because it reveals the manner in which these delinquents act.

It was a clear sign that there would be no leniency for those who intend to enrich themselves at the cost of the health of millions of Cubans. This was seen with the severe penalties imposed that went from nine to 20 years against those charged in the Opportune Case, how some of the MININT agents described the process and, also, it was a count of protection against the criminals and illegalities.


THIS IS HOW THE STORY GOES

In April of 2003 a massive amount of cocaine was captured off the coasts of Banes in the Holguin municipality. Wasting no time the authorities tried to prevent the bales from falling into unscrupulous hands. In spite of their efforts they were unable to capture the whole lot.

Following in the footsteps of the MININT agents, other “searchers” moved in when they heard about the find. It was the possibility for a great business. One found four kilos of cocaine. Since then a long story of buying and selling began for trafficking and consumption of the drug, said first Lieutenant Ariel Delgado Osorio in charge of the case.

After hiding the four bales the “searcher” went about to find clients. He contacted two citizens also residents of Banes. At the time the buyers did not have the full amount of money. However, the three reached an agreement.

The seller gave the whole lot to the two buyers on condition that after their sales they would give him his part. The new owners of the drugs sought other receivers. They found them rapidly. These were two individuals who frequently visited the coasts of Banes and Gibara where they contacted the “searchers” in case they found drugs that they would buy.

The first two buyers transferred three of the four kilos of coke to these traffickers at a much higher price that they were willing to pay. The rest they supplied a third speculator also at a very high price. Two more delinquents referred this third trafficker to them.

There were another two intermediaries who, in minutes, lengthened the chain of persons involved and were now in more dangerous hands. They were the individuals prepared to place them in the black market in the shortest time possible.


MOVE

After purchasing the three kilos of coke this pair immediately found someone to take the next step: transfer it to Havana.

For some time they had a “mule” – as those involved in the move are known in the drug world – that had already done this before.

This time the transporter did the same. He made his first trip on train, another on a bus for worker’s transfer. In the meantime, the “big fish” went to the same destination, completely clean.

Once in Havana they began the distribution of the merchandize. The buyer of the last kilo did the same although his mule was not found. It was proven that part of that cocaine was sold in Havana.

At the time of his arrest, the trafficker of that last kilo had already bought a car that he happily showed off in the city’s streets while he waited for his chance to leave for the United States.

Since he had plenty of money he offered to pay the expenses to the girl who won the raffle to emigrate under the condition that she take him out also. They had married and departure was just a matter of time.


MORE CHARGED

Purchase of cocaine in Banes was becoming a “juicy” for all those involved in the Caso Oportuno. But there is nothing hidden between heaven and earth. Several delinquents in Banes noticed that there were drugs around. This is very difficult to hide. Dirty money is found out right away.

Two more traffickers wanted to get into the business and achieved it. One sold a motorcycle in Santiago de Cuba for 48 000 to buy his share of the “treasure”.

Later they contacted one of the individuals who had bought the three kilos of cocaine in Banes. This one sold them a part of the merchandize. The new ones moved to sell it in the capital. They returned and bought more to repeat the operation. However, everything went wrong for him this time.


CAPTURE

Both the Havana National Anti-drug department and the agents of MININT in charge of these activities in the eastern province of Holguin had been watching the eleven involved in the process for some time.

The one who found the packs, the two delinquents who bought three kilos and the one who moved it to the capital were persons that the police had their sights on, precisely about their activities in drug trafficking.

The agents began closing off the circle of the defendants without arousing their suspicion. Every day they discovered something new and gathered more evidence. With tenacity and discretion the operation was a success, typifying the collaboration of the capital police and their counterparts in Holguin, at all times.

They had under control almost all the steps of the majority of the accused, in both Banes and Havana. Because of this the DNA officials were able to find out about a meeting of the three main individuals in the capital Central Park.

After this meeting the police arrested one finding him with 106 grams of cocaine. That was the first step. Then began related investigations.

While this occurred in the west, arrests began in the east. Two were easily captured when they were visiting a trafficker who was caught with 166 grams of coke. This person owed them money and they wanted to collect before it was too late. The home was under control by DNA.


TRIAL

With the arrest of the main individuals charged, authorities began an exhaustive process of clarification. Investigations demonstrated from the very beginning how the accused tried to trick the officials. They told on each other several times. This made the work of the specialists much easier.

After several months of investigations, and after gathering enough evidence to charge them, the case was ready to go to the courts.  The majority acknowledged their participation in events although the two who sold the motorcycle to buy drugs did not. These claimed they went to the home of the person arrested with 166 grams of coke to pick up money they had given him to buy clothes in the capital.

The strange item was the amount handed over to the two individuals that was a high amount of convertible currency. Would it be that instead of wanting some clothes they were getting ready to open a whole store?

The other who did not want to acknowledge his guilt was the one who bought the last kilo of coke in Banes. But he could think of nothing better than denying the accusation against him. Perhaps he forgot how the drug, before reaching him, had passed by many others and a secret between two is no secret at all.

Cuban justice left its mark in Banes and saved many persons from falling into the trap of drugs. Four kilos of cocaine are enough to make thousands of persons addicts. However, it was not only in the eastern region that national authorities dealt a blow to this type of illegal traffic.

Throughout the country Operación Coraza is in force to prevent our streets from becoming a dirty and dangerous market.