Drug War News Roundup

Posted on December 4, 2004 by Pete Guither
  • Mystery spraying in Afghanistan. Tomorrow’s New York Times article still has no answers as to who has been spraying opium poppy fields with toxic chemicals and destroying crops. Spraying has not been authorized by the Afghan government, and alternate crop programs are not yet in place. The American government has denied any knowledge, but Afghanis aren’t buying it, given that the U.S. has long argued for chemical eradication. Governor Hajji Din Muhammad noted “The Americans control the airspace of Afghanistan, and not even a bird can fly without them knowing.”
  • TalkLeft tells us that Senator McCain is threatening new legislation to impose mandatory drug testing of professional baseball players. TalkLeft also notes that a Cali Cartel dealer has been extradited to the U.S., which segues into…
  • Last week, Mark Kleiman, in Weirder than Satire in Columbia, noted that cocaine traffickers are being accused of pretending to be genocidal terrorists in order to get preferential treatment.
  • Scotus Blog says that Hoasca Tea may be heading to the Supreme Court (Justice Breyer granted an application for a temporary stay). This case will put the government in the position of explaining why they are denying an exception to the Controlled Substances Act for the use of Hoscoa Tea in O Centro Espirita Beneficients Uniao Do Vegetal religious ceremonies, while allowing a religious exemption for Native American use of peyote.
  • The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a 4-part series: Tougher sentencing law carries hefty price: Estimated $1.8 billion through 2025
  • Drug War Corruption. In Mexico, seventeen federal, state and local investigators, prosecutors and police officers have been arrested. Those arrested face charges of protecting drug dealers as well as homicide or accessory to murder in the slayings of nine people.
[cross posted at The Agitator
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