- SAN DIEGO (AP) _ U.S. servicemen have smuggled marijuana and cocaine into
California for drug rings, sometimes using their military training or positions
to aid traffickers, the LA Times reported Sunday. At least 50 Marines and
sailors have been investigated or are under investigation for narcotics
trafficking, military officials told the Times.
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- That represents a fraction of the more
than 100,000 personnel in the San Diego area, said Wayne Clookie, a special
agent for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. ``To the best of our
knowledge, these are isolated incidents,'' Clookie said in a written response
to the newspaper. ``We have no information which would indicate drug smuggling
is a widespread problem.'' Although officials declined to provide specific
case details, five involved Marines who allegedly drove narcotics through
Camp Pendleton to bypass the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on nearby Interstate
5. The site is 60 miles north of Tijuana. U.S. Customs Service agents have
investigated 10 to 15 cases of active-duty military men and reservists
involved in narcotics trafficking, the Times said, citing an unidentified
federal official. Federal drug agents also arrested some servicemen who
allegedly were working for Mexican drug rings, records showed. Authorities
said most of the rings had ties to the Arellano-Felix cartel of Tijuana,
which brings tons of cocaine and marijuana into the United States.
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- Among the key cases involving military
personnel: _ Seaman Jeffrey T. Baca was arrested March 20 at the border
while trying to import more than 120 pounds of marijuana, according to
Navy spokesman Capt. Gregg Hartung in San Diego said. Baca was reduced
in rank and will be discharged after serving 12 months in the brig. _ Marine
Lance Cpl. Jason Allen Miller and a Mexican national were arrested on Feb.
9, 1997 for transporting 1,000 pounds of marijuana into the United States
by using a rubber speedboat to sneak past Coast Guard and Navy radar. He
pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in prison. _ In 1995, Marine
Cpl. Yiluarde ``Jerry'' Pacheco was arrested after DEA officials alleged
he belonged to a drug ring based in Yorba Linda.
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- Authorities alleged that drug ring had
links to the powerful Cali cartel in Colombia and had shipped up to 14
tons of cocaine from Southern California to other U.S. cities. Pacheco
is serving a seven-year prison sentence for smuggling.
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