DEA ROLE MAY PUT END TO CASE

Friday, April 05, 2002 - A federal judge threatened Thursday to dismiss the
case against a leader of a smuggling and money-laundering operation because
of the "interference" of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

Three months ago, U.S. District Judge Daniel Sparr gave Hassan Zaghmot, a
44-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen, permission to travel to his native
Syria to be with his dying mother. Under the agreement, Zaghmot was to
return to Denver this week to be sentenced. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy
to distribute a key ingredient in the manufacture of methamphetamines.

But Zaghmot can't return, Sparr was told Thursday, because he is
purportedly under investigation by Syrian authorities for his illegal
activities in the United States. Syrian officials have also seized
Zaghmot's passport.

During the hearing, Sparr was told the DEA tipped Syrian authorities that
Zaghmot might be returning to that country with money gained through
illegal activities in the United States. The DEA also incorrectly told
Syrian authorities that Zaghmot had received a 10- year prison term.

Sparr, who wanted to impose a sentence, was irate that the DEA injected
itself into the situation. He threatened to dismiss the case.

"I'd like to know why (the DEA) is exercising authority, or trying to
exercise authority, over a defendant in my case," Sparr said. "This man
pleaded guilty. I'd just like to get this done without any more
interference by the DEA.

"Unless the government gets this case moving along, I'm going to dismiss
it," said Sparr.

He told Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Rhodes to file a report in 15 days
updating efforts by the U.S. government to obtain Zaghmot's return and his
status in Syria.