U.S. UNVEILS PLAN TO SEEK CUSTODY OF COLOMBIA REBELS

Drugs: Guerrilla Groups That Finance Their Armies With Cocaine Trade
And Money Laundering Are Targets For Extradition, Ambassador Says.

BOGOTA, Colombia -- The U.S. government will try to extradite and put
on trial Colombian guerrillas and right-wing militia members who are
involved in drug trafficking or money laundering, the U.S. ambassador
said Wednesday.

The announcement at an international money-laundering conference
marks a new strategy in confronting Colombia's illegal armed groups,
which finance themselves through drug trafficking.

Previously, drug kingpins have been extradited to the United States,
but none of the rebels or paramilitary members have faced the U.S.
justice system. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson said the extradition
attempts form part of increased efforts to combat money laundering
after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. "We have
focused our attention on all types of international organized crime,
including money laundering," the envoy told the conference in the
seaport city of Cartagena.

The U.S. requests would apply to two rebel armies--the leftist
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, and the National
Liberation Army, or ELN--as well as the right-wing paramilitary
United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, or AUC.

All three groups are already on a U.S. list of foreign terrorist
organizations, and they have long been accused of financing and
fueling Colombia's 37-year civil war through drug operations.

"The United States wants to try the members of the three groups that
are involved in drug trafficking and money laundering and will seek
their extradition," Patterson said during the speech, excerpts of
which were broadcast on Colombian radio.

Patterson said all three groups are "deeply involved in drug
trafficking" and funnel their money through legal financial
institutions.

She did not name any rebel or paramilitary members who could be extradited.

The United States is currently providing $1.3 billion in mostly
military aid to fight drug trafficking in Colombia. Most of the money
has been dedicated to the training of Colombian counter-narcotics
troops by U.S. special forces and the delivery of dozens of combat
helicopters.

The U.S.-trained troops have been protecting fumigation planes, which
are being used to wipe out drug-producing crops protected by the
rebel and paramilitary groups.