One Eufaula Businessman Is Working To Help Fight The Drug Problem In South
America.

Eufaula businessman Ron Carpenter coordinated the purchase of $500,000 in
local goods as an agent of Affiliated Computer Systems (ACS) Defense, a $10
billion American company that has built three radar installations in South
America since 1997, at a cost of $10 million each.

The items range from Ford trucks to metal buildings and were exported to
Colombia. The goods are being used in the construction of the Tres Esquinas
radar installation, completed in 2001 to help fight the war on drugs.

The radar installations were built as part of Plan Colombia. The United
States allocated $1.3 billion to Colombia to help end illegal drug crops
grown for U.S. consumption.

The $8 million ground-based radars have a 250-mile radius, and track the
small, low-flying planes that carry drugs. Every plane is required to have
a flight schedule, and if a plane without a schedule is detected on the
radar, radio operators require it to land.

If the plane does not land, it is shot down. Carpenter said the radars have
definitely had an effect on drug trafficking.

"It has cost the drug folks millions and millions of dollars," Carpenter said.

Carpenter said American Buildings supplied the metal buildings for the
compound, that includes 24-man barracks. Hornsby Custom Cabinets built the
cabinets, Eufaula Glass supplied the windows, and miscellaneous items were
supplied by Hendricks' Ace Home Center, Area Supply Co., Fastenal, and
Poly-Fabricators, Inc.

The products were shipped to the port in Baranquilla, Colombia, transported
600 miles to be stored in Bogota and then flown into the jungle to the
radar installation site.

The radar compound is self-contained with kitchens, chefs and power
generators, and since there are no roads to the compound, food and fuel is
flown in. Surrounded by 10 to 20-foot earthen berms, and 10-foot fences,
the compound is guarded by 18 soldiers, occupying four guard towers, and
four bunkers equipped with 50-caliber machine guns. There are also security
cameras focused on a 360 degree radius.

During construction, Carpenter, who has top U.S. security clearance, said
they were always on alert because there was guerrilla fighting within 50
miles of the site. Carpenter said he used local labor and Colombian
subcontractors, and he was the only American there. The workers lived in
large tents during the construction process, and one time Carpenter said he
contracted malaria.

Carpenter retired from ACS Defense last October, and formed his own company
here in Eufaula, REC International.

REC International is located on Randolph Street in a building Carpenter
recently remodeled. He continues to do consulting work for ACS, and exports
construction materials.

His company just finished a $25,000 project called Earth Station in Bogota,
which gathers information from the radar facilities. And he has also
submitted a bid for a $1 million project in Colombia that will support the
radar facilities.

Carpenter and his wife Donna, who also works in the business, have lived in
Eufaula off and on since 1970. They have a son, Clint, who is a student at
Shelton State in Tuscaloosa.

Prior to his work with ACS Defense, Carpenter, who was a volunteer during
the Gulf War, said he has traveled all over the world through his work with
the Corps of Engineers.

He retired from the Corps in 1996.

"I've seen a lot of things," Carpenter said.