News (Media Awareness Project) - US: Wire: DEA Reviewing Allegations Of Inflated Numbers On |
| Title: | US: Wire: DEA Reviewing Allegations Of Inflated Numbers On |
| Published On: | 2001-05-16 |
| Source: | Associated Press (Wire) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-25 19:44:59 |
DEA REVIEWING ALLEGATIONS OF INFLATED NUMBERS ON SEIZURES, ARRESTS
Washington - The head of the Drug Enforcement Administration,
responding to reports that its Caribbean office inflated the numbers
of drug seizures and arrests, said Tuesday he has ordered a review
of the situation.
"I do have some concerns. I do have some questions," said DEA
Administrator Donnie Marshall, testifying before the Senate Caucus on
International Narcotics Control.
The Miami Herald reported Tuesday that agents in the DEA's office in
San Juan, Puerto Rico, claimed credit for hundreds of arrests that
were in fact made by local police.
A former supervisor was reported to have said that 70 percent of the
arrests the DEA claimed from 1998 through 2000 were phony.
In his testimony, Marshall offered no details about the review. He
said he was "very concerned about the integrity of our statistics, the
integrity of our agency." He promised "forceful, direct action" if
wrongdoing is uncovered.
He said he was hopeful the review will be completed in the next few
weeks.
Special Agent Waldo Santiago, spokesman for the DEA Caribbean office,
said he had no knowledge of supervisors pushing for inflated arrest
numbers. "In my 10 years as a DEA agent here I have never been asked
by supervisor to falsify a report," he said.
He added that for every statistic claimed by the office, there has to
be an arrest report.
"There's a system - we can't just claim 100 arrests. You have to
arrest 100 people."
The hearing also included testimony from top officials of the White
House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the U.S. Customs Service
and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Adm. James Loy, the Coast Guard Commandant, said drug seizures are
being carried out at record levels but are being outpaced by drug flows.
"Despite a strong effort and extensive interagency and international
cooperation, we were unable to meet our 13 percent seizure rate target
in 2000," Loy said.
He expressed doubt that the Coast Guard will be able to meet the 18
percent seizure rate set for 2002.
Washington - The head of the Drug Enforcement Administration,
responding to reports that its Caribbean office inflated the numbers
of drug seizures and arrests, said Tuesday he has ordered a review
of the situation.
"I do have some concerns. I do have some questions," said DEA
Administrator Donnie Marshall, testifying before the Senate Caucus on
International Narcotics Control.
The Miami Herald reported Tuesday that agents in the DEA's office in
San Juan, Puerto Rico, claimed credit for hundreds of arrests that
were in fact made by local police.
A former supervisor was reported to have said that 70 percent of the
arrests the DEA claimed from 1998 through 2000 were phony.
In his testimony, Marshall offered no details about the review. He
said he was "very concerned about the integrity of our statistics, the
integrity of our agency." He promised "forceful, direct action" if
wrongdoing is uncovered.
He said he was hopeful the review will be completed in the next few
weeks.
Special Agent Waldo Santiago, spokesman for the DEA Caribbean office,
said he had no knowledge of supervisors pushing for inflated arrest
numbers. "In my 10 years as a DEA agent here I have never been asked
by supervisor to falsify a report," he said.
He added that for every statistic claimed by the office, there has to
be an arrest report.
"There's a system - we can't just claim 100 arrests. You have to
arrest 100 people."
The hearing also included testimony from top officials of the White
House Office of National Drug Control Policy, the U.S. Customs Service
and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Adm. James Loy, the Coast Guard Commandant, said drug seizures are
being carried out at record levels but are being outpaced by drug flows.
"Despite a strong effort and extensive interagency and international
cooperation, we were unable to meet our 13 percent seizure rate target
in 2000," Loy said.
He expressed doubt that the Coast Guard will be able to meet the 18
percent seizure rate set for 2002.
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