16

which case, when we get the proper denunciation and accusation,
we immediately prosecute and judge that person and we dismiss
that person from the unit where he is working.

There are other violations of human rights that take place due
to the fact that in some—especially in some parts of Colombia,
some people, some especially foreigners, have decided to provide for
their own security and provide for their own safety and for their
own protection and for their own justice, and so they have hired

juite a number of people to confront the guerrillas and to confront
the narcotics traffickers.

And that has created a very complicated problem. Of course,
those groups are not backed, are not supported, are not tolerated,
and do not have even the sympathy on the part of the state. But
there have been cases where they have gotten the sympathy on the
part of a particular commander in a particular area, and we are
trying to keep that from happening.

But we are as committed as one can be. And another thing that
is clear is that if one compares figures and numbers, it is evident
that the violations of human rights that have involved individual
members of our Armed Forces have decreased significantly during
the last years so that, let’s say, in the last 2 or 3 years, there has
not been any that is a big issue.

There have probably been a few very, very isolated and very in-
significant cases. And we are committed to that as well. so—

Mr. Mica. Thank you. Ambassador, one final question: When I
was there a year ago, and we have had reports since, that rather
than just Colombia being a production center for cocaine and dis-
tribution, it is now turning into a supply source for actual growing
and production of poppies and heroin.

What is the current situation, and what do you see that situation
affecting, say, communities like Aurora or in central Florida where
I live and other parts of this country? Is this still a problem?

Ambassador ESGUERRA. Yes, sir. It is still a problem. It is still
a very delicate problem. I have to say, though, that according to
the information and the evidence that we have been provided by
you that comes from satellites, the extension of the poppy planta-
tions in Colombia is, by far, a lot lower than you and I thought it
would be, and that it is—I am talking about last year, which is the
figures that I remember. It was just 6,000 hectares that were de-
voted to that.

We have been air spraying that with herbicide as well, and we
have been very successful. So I don’t think that nowadays they
would be more than half of it.

The other problem with poppy is that it is usually planted and
cultivated in the most difficult to reach of the regions of the coun-
try, and that is because the poppy plantations require lots of water,
and they require lots of fresh and pure water.

And so they are planted high up in the mountains. Usually they
start around 6,000 to 7,000 feet, and they go higher in the com-
plicated curves of our geography and our mountain chains, so that
to air spray them is very difficult.

For instance, the helicopters that traditionally we have been—
our police have been provided and the ones that we have been able
to buy and acquire from the United States were normally Huey


37

Prevention specialists next attempted to implement programs, which emphasized th
creation of jobs, recreational programs, and other supervised activities for youth as a
means of reducing free time and, thus, curb use. While these programs did reduce use
while young people were involved in the activities, studies Indicated that a real reduction
had not occurred. Young people simply changed their usage patterns to times before or
after these supervised activities.

Research revealed that young people chos¢ to use ATODs for a variety of reasons.
Most began using to satisfy simple curiosity or as a response to peer pressure.
Hciwever, those that maved on to dependence and abuse often displayed low seff-
esteem and poor coping skills. In response to this information, programs were
established which provided accurate information on the effects of drug usage, combined
with activities which allowed young people to develop problem-solving skills and coping
strategies in an atmosphere which fostered the improvement of self-esteem and the
creation positive peer pressure. These programs were first offered through Teenage
Institutes, like the illinois Teenage Institute, in which high school students from all over
the state gather for one week each summer at a college campus.

4

Follow-up studies of those who participated in these programs indicated that their drug
use habits were significantly different from) those with similar backgrounds that did not
atténd such programs. Consequently, a means of providing this type of program to
mére young people was sought. This search lead to the creation, in 1977 of Operation
Snowball, Inc., a nonprofit corporation wfth chapters in four states and three foreign
countries.
: i
08 is operated by a volunteer board of directors, of which | currently serve as president,
and funded by several grants which allow us to maintain a small full-time staff at our
offge Springfield. This staff is charged with the monitoring and support of current
chapters, while offering training and technical assistance to encourage new chapters t
forin. Currently we support 120 Chapters, whicH serve more than 6000 youth membet

‘ 1
Each Snowball Chapter is a,coalition of volunteer teens and adults who work together to
prdvide young people with the types of experiences shown to prevent the use of ATOD.
Cchtinued follow-up studies of participants using the NATI (National AssociationJof
Teenage Institutes) Survey indicate that pare ants are less likely to use and abuse
ATODs than their fellow students. The OS staff has developed curriculum matenals
and provides constant training to help chapters improve. In addition, we have expanded
to provide Operation Snowflake programs to Middle School students, Operation
Snowflury for elementary students, and Avalanche prograris for college students.

Offeration Snowbail works for several reasons, first and foremost, it is a program that
ils with the issue of ATOD usage on both the cognitive and affective levels. In other
words, we understand that a young person's choice to use or not to use is primarily
based on that person's attitude. The formation of attitude is dependent upon accurate
information about the effects of AToD usage, an individual's feeling of self-worth, and

i


33

Now, please allow me to assure you that I am not advocating re-
duction in penalties, and I am certainly not advocating the legaliza-
tion of possession of controlled substances. I have seen far too
many lives altered and far too much potential wasted by these sub-
stances to ever consider making these easier to obtain.

However, I do believe that the war on drugs should learn from
the experience of the United States military as it fought a more
conventional war in Vietnam; that is, that even with superior
weaponry, manpower, and troop strength, a war cannot be won on
the battlefield unless it is first won in the hearts and minds of the
citizens.

In my experience, the most potent weapon we possess in the war
on drugs is prevention. Like all weapons, prevention strategies
have been improved over the years as our knowledge and experi-
ences have expanded.

Education programs which once sought to scare young people
into avoiding contact with these substances were found to be mini-
mally effective. Unfortunately, the reduction in use as a result of
these scare tactics was similar to that which is experienced when
most of us have a near-collision as we drive. In the short term, our
awareness is heightened and we improve our skills; but in the long
term, as the scare becomes more and more remote, we return to
our old habits.

Prevention specialists next attempted to implement programs
which emphasized the creation of jobs, recreational programs, and
other supervised activity for the youth as a means of reducing free
time and thus curbing use.

While these programs did reduce use while young people were in-
volved in the activities, studies indicated that a real reduction did
not occur. Young people simply changed their usage patterns to
times before and after these supervised activities.

The most extensive research revealed that young people choose
to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs for a variety of reasons.
Most begin use to satisfy simple curiosity or as a response to peer
pressure. However, those that moved on to dependence and abuse
often displayed low self-esteem and poor problem-coping skills.

In response to this information, programs were established which
provide accurate information on the effects of drug usage, combined
with activities which allow young people to develop problem-solving
skills and coping strategies in an atmosphere which fostered the
improvement of self-esteem and the creation of positive peer pres-
sure.

These programs were first offered through the teenage institutes
like the Illinois Teenage Institute, which is a high school students
program where students from all over the State gathered for 1 or
2 weeks each summer on a college campus.

Followup studies of those who participated in these programs in-
dicated that their drug use habits were significantly different from
those with similar backgrounds that did not attend such programs.

Consequently, a means of providing this experience to more stu-
dents was sought. This search led to the creation in 1977 of Oper-
ation Snowball, Inc., a nonprofit corporation with chapters in four
States and three foreign countries.


88

Mr. Hastert. Thank you, Chief Langston. Let me open with you
and ask you just a couple questions.

One of the panelists, as you know, is a young man who was a
gang member in Illinois—in Aurora, and talked about his conver-
sion, and obviously some special treatment—special in a deroga-
tory—special treatment by your police force and how they treat or
how they accept these people who want to change.

Is that any training, or what is happening there? It is interest-

ing.

Chiet LANGSTON. We have worked very long and hard within this
community with the Prayer Coalition, which you heard from. We
have also established the Aurora Community Mobilization Advisory
Group, which is an outgrowth of people concerned in this commu-
nity.

We have tried to provide a multifaceted approach that cannot be
keyed strictly on enforcement. And I agree with Mr. Osby’s com-
ments that much of this activity that draws gang members has to
do with respect and money. That is really true.

What they learn in the homes are also things that are affected
by. pastoral care. And the comments that we heard from our panel
this morning is that there needs to be more emphasis on the pre-
vention efforts, and what is being done.

We have worked diligently within our community with the pas-
toral sector as well as the schools and every other aspect that we
possibly can within our community and, individually, neighbor-
hoods to bring people involved because it is that holistic approach
within the community that really solves the problem.

And you are correct, one of the panel members mentioned that
you must begin at the local level, and that is true. But the critical
support that needs to be there does require the county, the State,
and the Federal level as well.

Mr. HASTERT. One of the things that you mentioned is that some
of these gangs become so sophisticated that they have their own
su] ply and distribution. Is that what you said?

ief LANGSTON. That is correct.

Mr. HasTERT. So they are getting the supply from Mexico itself?

Chief LANGSTON. Well, Mexico generally has been known to be
large suppliers of marijuana. They are also known to be a large
network through which drugs enter this country.

Mr. HaAsTERT. It is a conduit. Right.

Chief LANGSTON. That is just simply another manner of adapting
to what law enforcement does or the United States policy does in
regards to the other countries involved in illicit drug trafficking
into this country.

Mr. Hastert. Sergeant Garcia, one of the things you said is that
you can actually see a difference on the streets when we are work-
ing with other countries—Colombia, Peru, others, Mexico—to get
tough on drugs and actually stop the flow.

So you think that there needs to be a balanced approach, both
supply and demand?

Mr. Garcia. Oh, definitely. Without a doubt there definitely
needs to have some sort of balance there. In the past, what the Co-
lombians had done to drive up the prices, they would hold back
some of the supply so they can bring the prices up a little higher


42

investigation of these people and then figure out a way that we can
have safeguards to prevent this from happening.

And just in closing, I would like to thank you and tell you that
somehow over the last few years our message, our drug policy, has
become really blurred, and somehow it needs to turn around.

And very simplistically but, you know, every State in the country
needs an organization that is similar to ours that is not corrupted.
And we take very little money from Government. We have a budget
of $268,000, and Federal money is about $53,000. We get our
money so that we are not obligated to anybody.

It can be done, but we just have to come together and engage ev-
eryone. Thanks.

[The prepared statement of Ms. Kreamer follows:]


10

stop this violence, to stop this terrorism, because it is something
we cannot live with.

I think that we made at that time a very big mistake. Anyway,
we have been fighting them with everything we have, and in the
last years, I would say that the last 3, 4, 5 years, we have been
the most successful country in the world in doing what we have
been doing against these people.

We have managed to change our legislation, because we were not
prepared for crimes like this. We were not prepared for wars like
this. So, we changed our legislation. We have increased the pen-
alties for the crimes related with drugs, multiplying them by four
in some cases, by five in some other cases.

We have passed an asset forfeiture law. We are now in the proc-
ess of passing an amendment to the constitution that would re-
implant the extradition in Colombia. It is not easy. It is not going
to be easy.

We still have bad guys that are inserted in different places. Even
in Congress, there are a couple bad guys, and in other places, be-
cause they have managed through corruption to get some—let’s say
many of the things that they wanted to get.

We passed a new law on corruption, against corruption, a new
law on money laundering. We are probably the only country in the
world who is dedicated to air spraying herbicides in order to de-
stroy the plantations of coca, and we have been very successful in
that, even though it is very hard.

Unfortunately, another problem that we have had is that in the
last years there has been developing an alliance, a terrible alliance,
between narcotics traffickers and guerrillas which has allowed the
guerrillas to get the financial support that they needed, especially
at the end of the cold war and when they stopped receiving aid and
help from outside of the country, from Cuba, from Russia, from
China, and so forth.

When they stopped receiving that, they needed to get other
sources for financing their activities. And so they thought that nar-
cotics trafficking was a good activity in that area. And they have
exchanged financial support for military support.

So they have provided the narcotics traffickers with the NTI area
fire that they need, so when we now are spraying the cultivation,
we are being shot from the ground. And we have lost quite a few
planes, quite a few helicopters, and more and more policemen.

We had to put our Armed Forces to be part of it. There are coun-
tries who philosophically deny any kind of involvement of the
Armed Forces in contradrug activities because they say that they
are created, they were created, for something different, and that
just the police forces should engage in this war.

In Colombia, that philosophical discussion is simply not possible
any more. If we do not put together the police forces and the
Armed Forces, we will never make it. We will never make it.

So now, we have a Significant part of our 150,000 men, men and
women, in the Armed Forces together with the 105,000 policemen
that we have in Colombia. It is sad, for instance, to see in Colombia
that it is so normal that our policemen do not dress like policemen
any more—they dress like soldiers; that they are not armed in the
way that policemen are armed; that they don’t smile in the way po-


70

Mr. HasTerT. Thank you, Mr. Birkett. One of the things I do
want to ask you, you stress—and I am going to ask you because
I know you have to leave, so I will give you a couple questions—
you stress communication a lot, that it is very important.

And I think there is a trend that we find through this thing that
police agencies need to be talking to each other, and sometimes
that doesn’t always happen because they all have their own little
turf or they are busy-—obviously, they are all busy with what they
are doing.

But have you found that if agencies start to share their commu-
nication and you find that somebody is not just active in Aurora,
but is also active in Naperville, is also active in West Chicago, you
have a better handle on this whole thing?

Mr. BirKETT. There is no question that better communication,
not just with each other but with prosecutors, is essential to effec-
tive law enforcement. You are seeing it with gang activity. We are
realizing that we cannot just enforce the laws within our own little
towns or our own little counties. We have got to communicate
across the board.

And part of the problem, quite frankly, as far as drug enforce-
ment—I am sure these officers would share that—is territorial
jealousies, where police officers from one jurisdiction don’t want to
participate in an investigation in another jurisdiction. The legisla-
tion now allows for that, and that type of communication and en-
forcement is—that is essential.

Some of the ideas for legislation also come directly from the po-
lice. I will give you a couple of examples. Somebody talked about
liquid Ecstasy; when we started seeing a problem with liquid Ec-
stasy, a GHB drug, in DuPage County, that came through law en-
forcement contacts, police officers who had to report to emergency
rooms, saw children who were either severely—in a crisis situation
on the verge of death.

They shared that information with us. We got legislation passed
making liquid Ecstasy a schedule I controlled substance. So hope-
fully it won’t be the drug of the future. But that communication
came from police officers.

The Noknock bill that allows police officers to enter a drug house
in certain situations without first knocking and announcing they
are officers, to protect police officers, that came from communica-
tion with police officers. That was a bill that our office drafted.

So it works on several levels, not only in better investigations,
better prosecutions, but improving the laws.

Mr. PASTERT, Last question: If the Federal Government could do
two things that would help you in this process of stopping kids
from getting on drugs and apprehending those who break the law,
what would you have us do?

Mr. BIRKETT. Well, for one thing, I would ask that the funding
for prosecutors remain constant, that that not be touched, because
without it we would not have the success that we have in DuPage.

I would also concur with some of the remarks that were made
as far as treatment. You know, from my own background and expe-
rience, you know that treatment works on a very, very small per-
cent: of the cases, even where treatment has been attempted
two, three, or four times.


52

I believe it is worth taking a good look at in resolving some of
our problems in the city. I also believe it is a real good answer to
many of the problems in Central America. They trust their pastors.

Mr. Mica. So, are you saying, now, that we should look at those
organizations that have a good success rate, making funds avail-
able to assist them but keeping the strings free, you know, all the
Federal strings that are usually attached to these programs?

For faith-based, making funds available without—I don’t want to
put words in your mouth. Tell me what you want us to do to assist
and what would be most successful.

Reverend Murpuy. Sure. I will be glad to tell you what I would
like you to do. I would like for funds to come in the direction of
organizations such as ourselves, providing that we are able to do
qualitative assessments and not quantitative assessments; that we
are able to feed our sheep and not count them.

Quantitative assessments do not work. They are simply pumped
up in order to show the efficiency of a program. Qualitative assess-
ments sit to the right of me. They breathe and have heartbeats.
They are human beings.

So if I am going to accept Federal money, I am going to accept
it based on the fact that what I am doing works, and you are going
to stand aside and let it happen.

Mr. Mica. Do you accept it now?

Reverend MuRPHY. No, I don’t.

Mr. Mica. You don’t. Why?

Reverend MurPuHY. I accept municipal funds on a minimal level.

Mr. Mica. But no Federal money?

Reverend MuRPHY. No Federal money.

Mr. Mica. State money?

Reverend MURPHY. No.

Mr. Mica. All right. Ms. Kreamer wanted to comment.

Ms. KREAMER. I wanted to—the State of Texas has done a lot
within the last year or so heading this direction, toward faith-based
programs, and making it user friendly or, you know, so that they
can operate in their State. So you might want to look at what they
are doing down there.

Mr. Mica. What about your organization? Now, you said you take
$53,000?

Ms. KREAMER. Yes, $53,000.

Mr. Mica. And that is Federal money?

Ms. KREAMER. Yes.

Mr. Mica. Which is about, what, 20 percent, somewhere in that
range?

Ms. KREAMER. I need my calculator to do the math for me. Well,
our budget is $268,000, so whatever that is.

Mr. Mica. OK.

Ms. KREAMER. And no, we don’t want any more Federal money.
Thank you.

Mr. MIca. You don’t want more Federal money?

Ms. KREAMER. No.

Mr. Mica. Now, the other thing, too, is we are sitting up there
trying to decide how these funds are disbursed and what we should
support as a Congress. The system does work, believe it or not, but
only when we hear from the local folks what they want us to do.


50

The United States has a serious drug problem. We have drug use escalating among
youths; the perception of harm associated with drug use, decreasing; a drug culture
promoting drug use through music, fashions, and the media; a propaganda campaign to
legitimatize drug use; and a misled and uninformed public.

Drug use is being foisted on society, particularly young people, through marketing
campaigns that would have us believe drugs are safe and beneficial to our health.
Marijuana is purported to be a “medicine.” Legalization is pushed as a means of reducing
the harm associated with drug use, “harm reduction.” Clean needle programs for injecting
drug users are sold as ways to stop the spread of the HIV virus. Heroin use is considered
fashionable. Hemp is promoted as an agricultural crop to help save the environment.

We are forfeiting our morals, trust, hope, vision, faith and dreams. We have to do
something to stop this!

Illinois Drug Education Alliance (IDEA)
P.O. Box 5758
Naperville, IL 60567

630 420-1766


56

first because that is at the heart of it, demand. We have got to do
all the other things, too, though.

And I think that if we look back at the past 20 years—in fact,
it probably happened in the first 15 out of the past 20 years—we
went from a high in 1975, a record high in drug use in the United
States, down to—in the early nineties to a low of about 5 percent,
5.9 percent. In fact, I think this was the lowest that we got it to,
in past month drug usage rates, which is the sort of one line that
xe watch as an indicator of the drug use problem in the United

tates.

And since then, it has held relatively steady at 5.9, 6, 6.1 per-
cent, 6 percent. And what we are trying to sort out is, what should
we define as the low that drug policy should drive us toward?

And Mr. Chairman, we think, and we have still got to get total
interagency consensus on this, but we think it is not unrealistic to
talk in terms of bringing it down another 50 percent in the coming

lecade.

And that is what we are trying to solve right, whether we should
go back and look at the drug history trends, drug usage trends in
the United States and figure out, should we go peg at the historical
lows or should we go even lower?

And we really think that the answer is going to be that we
should, through effective drug policy, come up with the sort of full
employment analog in drug policy for zero drug use. Everybody
knows that there is really no such thing as zero unemployment.

We have some pretty good macroeconomic research and
programmatics that tell us that low unemployment is probably
about 4 percent, maybe even lower. A decade ago, we would have
said maybe it was 7 percent or 8 percent.

And what we need to do is just find what that zero drug usage
rate is. What is that low resting point? We think it is probably
going to be a 3-percent range. And that is what we are working to-
ward, to finding it, to give you an answer in the next month or so
of what might do that.

But on the other hand, as we have worked toward that, I think
we have got to consider the notion that strings are attached to Fed-
eral funding. And I have got your point: We can’t go out and fund
programs that don’t work.

But conversely, I think we have got to have one string that we
tell everybody that we have got to have it and that is the string
of accountability. The Congress writes the checks; you do it on be-
half of the American public, the American people.

And we, the Federal Government, and then the State and local
organizations that get those funds from you owe you a simple an-
swer: “Is my program effective or not effective?” And we need to
make sure that that string of accountability is maintained.

And Mr. Chairman and Mr. Mica, sir, I am a little concerned
that sometimes—as we go toward the direction of more and more
bloc grants, that we may not maintain the string of accountability
that we need to maintain for all of our programs.

Mr. Hastert. Thank you. Mr. Cano.

Mr. Cano. Yes?

Mr. HasTERT. One of the things that I appreciate your testimony,
and sometimes the frustration of finding out what really does work


60

have before you, hopefully, a copy of our program outline, program
narrative, from DuPage County.

Let me just tell you a little bit about my own personal back-
ground and my approach to these issues. I did not learn my back-
ground as far as law enforcement and the criminal justice system
just from going to law school and being a prosecutor. I grew u|
the southwest side of Chicago at South Austin. We had the highest
crime rate in the city of Chicago.

In the late sixties and early seventies when we lived there, it
was a gang-infested neighborhood. The only difference between
that neighborhood now and when I grew up there is the fact that
guns are much more prevalent in our neighborhood. When I was
growing up, knives and other weapons were what you came to ex-
pect on the streets.

You have before you some of the things that we are doing in
DuPage County in terms of our drug prosecution unit. Let me just
tell you—highlight a few things that we are also doing to combat
the problem of drug use and trafficking in DuPage County.

I heard one of the speakers on the last panel talk about drug
paraphernalia and the fact that it is being marketed in Illinois,
throughout Illinois, even though there is drug paraphernalia and
drug statutes on the books to prevent that.

Last week we shut down another head shop in DuPage County,
a store in Downers Grove that was openly marketing items for dis-
tribution to young people that are uniquely designed for ingesting
controlled substances and cannabis.

Some of the other things that we are doing as far as policy, I rec-

ize that as State’s attorney I cannot just approach the problem
of drug use and abuse and gang violence by being simply a prosecu-
tor in a courtroom. I have to be a policy leader for the county as
far as prosecution policy, enforcement policies, and prevention poli-
cies.

Along those lines, we have a DuPage County State’s attorney’s
gang task force, which is sponsoring a seminar on October 7 with
school officials, law enforcement officials, social workers, and reli-
gious leaders.

We also are very active in nuisance abatement, in shutting down
and having people who are using their apartments for the purposes
of illicit drug trafficking evicted. That has been a very successful
policy that the attorney general in our State, Jim Ryan, is very ac-
tive in in training throughout Illinois, and it is a policy that works.
I would encourage every prosecutor, every local prosecutor, to take
a look at it and make use of it.

The forfeiture moneys that we obtain from drug dealers is being
used in making grants to the 400 schools in DuPage County. Last
year we gave out grants of $11,000 to schools for use in drug
awareness and prevention. I heard one of the last speakers talk
about the Snowball program; last year, our drug forfeiture moneys
were very vital in making sure that the Snowball program in
DuPage County was successful.

We are also working very closely with the attorney general’s of-
fice through the use of the statewide grand jury. In DuPage Coun-
ty, we also recognize that if we are going to have any impact, we
have to reach people at a young age.


48

[Funding _]

Prevention does not cost much, and it is extremely cost effective. However, often times
money does not get to where it can be most effective and there is no accountability.
Sometimes, prevention is not funded because the process is not understood, it is not easily
measured, and it is given little credence.

‘The concept of prevention - keeping the healthy people healthy and building toward their
potential - is ost when confronted with individuals who have immediate crisis needs. The
expediency of the prevention approach is ignored.

We would be well served if the federal government would formally recognize drug
Prevention as a primary strategy for addressing the drug problem and fund it accordingly.
Too often, large grants are awarded to groups whose first priority is to sustain themselves.
The available funds should be divided into smaller sums and disseminated in a manner
that meets the needs of all communities. There needs to be measurable outcomes and

Another possibility for funding is to provide tax incentives to those in a community who
contribute and participate in community drug prevention programs. This disseminates
available funds, makes the funds equally accessible to everyone, thus engaging more
people in the prevention process.

[Ctear, Consistent, and Highly Visible “No Use” Drug Policies ]

In order to mount any kind of an effective prevention offensive, we need clear, consistent,
and highly visible “no use” drug policies. When policies are not clear, consistent and
highly visible, drug prevention efforts are easily undermined by those whose agenda is to
legalize drugs.

A high-profile issue today is “clean needle programs.” The law reads that no federal
money is to be spent on “clean needle programs” (NEPs). However, in Ilinois this
summer, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided funding and
technical assistance for two conferences promoting “clean needle programs.”

In Chicago on June 30, 1997 the Chicago Department of Public Health and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention co-sponsored a conference, “Getting the Point,” at which
NEPs were promoted. Not only did the CDC co-sponsor the conference, but there were
no speakers invited to present the opposing view.


20

ty comprehensive strategy at the national level to help the efforts
of more than 4,000 community coalitions, parents, and teachers, of
leaders everywhere.

I have given you a summary of this strategy that is placed out-
side, just a short summary that goes ahead and outlines the prob-
lem as we see it and a little bit of detail on what we are trying
to do about it.

Our strategy has five goals, but essentially it says that you have
got to do it all. You have got to play offense and defense full time.
‘You can’t have the offense on the field part of the time and then
punt the ball and go on defense. You have got to do it full time.

Our absolute priority is prevention. We believe that the best way
of solving a drug problem is to prevent new generations of drug
users from moving on and joining the ranks of the chronically ad-
dicted and, unfortunately, joining the ranks of those fallen prey
and perhaps even died or seen their lives completely ruined by

rugs.

We are also focusing on addressing the health and social con-
sequences of drug use, focusing on reducing the crime-related con-
sequences, the criminal cost of drug use, that sees more than a mil-
lion Americans arrested each year and untold damage to our dif-
ferent communities and our quality of life.

We are also organizing better the effort to protect our borders,
whether it is in south Florida, the Southwest Border, or our inter-
national airports like O'Hare or in Orlando or in San Juan, PR,
against the ig threat.

We are also going after the drugs at the source, both in South
America and also here in the United States. We are a major drug-
producing nation ourselves. Marijuana, methamphetamines, de-
signer drugs, you name it: American ingenuity, unfortunately, is at
its worst when it comes to exploring new substances to abuse.

We are also focusing on reinforcing community efforts. We under-
stand that the heavy lifting has got to be done at the local level.
Community policing, drug programs, community coalitions, preven-
tion programs—I am delighted to see a D.A.R.E. officer here. Sir,
thank you very much. The local effort has got to be at the center
of this problem to find the solutions.

We have also got to do a better job of executing our Federal re-
sponsibilities. We just can’t be flat-footed and wait for the drug
dealers and the drug traffickers to show up at our borders or at our
airports.

If I could give you an example of the nature of the challenge that
we face, if we focus on the Southwest Border, for example, there
are more than 3.5 million trucks a year coming across our South-
west Border. Our Federal agencies last year inspected 900,000 of
them. You would say, well, that is not bad, 1 in 3 or 1 in 4. Well,
what is bad is, they only found drugs on 56 of them. That is not
so good.

We just can’t wait for these trucks to show up. We have got to
develop a comprehensive intelligence architecture that allows us to
follow drugs from the source to the streets, allows us to penetrate
drug trafficking organizations, both foreign and domestic, lets us
understand what the nature of the problem is so that we can give
timely information, actionable intelligence, to our local police


38

arfunderstanding of the altematives available for dealing with the pressures that can
precipitate this use. The program works becduse there is frequent follow-up and
teinforcement of the program's objectives throughout a student's educational career, !
and it works because it deals with attitudes which, once established, need not be
externally monitored and enforced.

Operation ‘Snowbail and theTeenage Institutes are certainly not the only programs. that
aré effective in the preventidn of ATOD use. Other prevention programs show similar’
successes. Yet prevention activities continue to receive far less attention, and less
funding then enforcement programs. My recommendations to you are simple:

1. Bring national attention to those prevention programs that are effective so that they
can be shared and expanded. Every young person in this nation should have the
opportunity to develop a healthy attitude with respect to the use of ATOD’s

2. Provide funding for prevention programs on the same level as enforcement and
interdiction programs. The “War on Drugs” will be won in the hearts of our children,
not in the marijuana fields of Latin America.

3.)\create expanded opportunities for prevention specialists to network and share
programs and practices that are effective. This is not an area where we can afford
ito be selfish.

Fifally, | hope that each oy you will develop a close familiarity and understanding of how

@ prevention programs work. | invite each of yau to attend an Operation ‘
Sribwball event to see, first hand, how effective programs operate. | have submitted,
aldng with my written testimony, several dacuments form,Operation Snowball
Pafticipants who will relate to you the effect this program has had on their lives. | hope
you will find the time to read and digest what they are saying

Cee again, | am honored to have the opportunity to speak with you this morning. | will
befpleasea to respond to any questions you may have or to provide you with any
ad litional information. |


69

delivering or possessing large amounts of cannabis with the intent to deliver it. It
is also important to try to add new substances to the established controlled

~ ostance schedules. Liquid Ecstasy (GHB) as well as the new date rape drug are
among the possible fad drugs of tomorrow. It is important that we lead in the
recognition of these drugs, as well as the banning of them.

VL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

The total number of forfeiture orders/declarations and value of forfeitures
per month will measure the effectiveness of the asset forfeiture prosecutions. The
number of convictions, as opposed to not guilty findings or dismissals, will
reflect the percentage of convictions. Additionally, the number of court ordered
eavesdrops will be reported to the Authority each month to monitor the success of
that objective. Financial investigations must be monitored. While it is generally
accepted that "pro-active" financial investigations are time-consuming and many
41 not produce results in the short-term, some will inevitably result in the
auitiation of asset forfeiture cases and the forfeiture of assets.

While the benefit of continued training for DUMEG agents and other police
officers is difficult to evaluate, it should be pursued regardless of whether it is
subject to any form of normal evaluation. The benefit of such training should be
bome out in the improved quality of cases, and the constant realization of our
target conviction rate.


REPORT FROM THE FRONTLINE: FROM
SOUTH AMERICA TO SOUTH AURORA

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 1997

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY,
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE,
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM AND OVERSIGHT,
Aurora, IL.

The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 9 a.m., in the Au-
ditorium, Illinois Math & Science Academy, 1500 Sullivan Road,
Aurora, IL, Hon. J. Dennis Hastert (chairman of the subcommittee)
presiding.

Present: Representatives Hastert, Mica, and Blagojevich.

Staff present: Dale Anderson, senior investigative counsel; Pete
Jeffries, communications director; and Amy Davenport, clerk.

Mr. HasTERT. Good morning. The Subcommittee on National Se-
curity, International Affairs, and Criminal Justice will come to
order. If everybody will please find a seat, we will get started.

First, let me thank everybody for coming today. Drug abuse and
international drug trafficking is an issue, as many of you know,
that I care deeply about. These drugs undermine our society and
our communities, they contribute to gang violence, and they de-
stroy young lives.

‘his morning we will discuss the close link between drug vio-
lence here in Aurora and King County and the Fox Valley and our
Federal efforts, together with other countries, to stop these drugs
where they are growing. I am especially concerned about the co-
caine, crack, heroin, and marijuana that are really getting into
our—across our borders and into our communities.

And today much of our attention will focus on the relationship
between the coca cultivation in Colombia and sale of cocaine which
occurs on the street corners of cities and towns right here in the
Fox Valley.

And let me just mention several facts that we can’t ignore. Last

ear nearly 20,000 Americans died of drug abuse or drug crime.
Heroin use among teens nearly doubled, and we still do not know
yet properly or do we properly educate our kids about the dangers
inherent in drug use. Only one-quarter of our teens say their par-
ents talk to them about drugs.

Hopefully all of you have this map of the Western Hemisphere.
Let me explain our basic Federal model for defeating drugs.

First, we championed demand reduction. We passed, for example,
the Drug-Free Communities Act this year, adding up to $100,000
for every community that antidrug coalition in America.

(D


72

Specifically, police agencies need to improve information sharing
at all levels of law enforcement. We also need to go to Colombia
to cut off the flow. I have seen the drug problem from the inter-
national airport to the alleys of Aurora. Fighting drugs on the
street will not be successful without the efforts to cut the source
of drugs, specifically from Colombia.

When you cut off the source, we see a rippling effect on the
street. The bigger dealers surface when the supply is cut off. This
makes it easier for us to detect and make an arrest. I work with
DEA agents who share my same observation of cutting off the
source of cocaine from Colombia. But DEA also tells me they could
use some additional support.

I appreciate the attention that Congress has given to the citizens
of Aurora, and the attention you have provided in the past. I will
be happy to answer any questions that you have. Thank you.

(The prepared statement of Mr. Garcia follows:]


71

And the figures—you can work with statistics all you want, but
the very best treatment programs work less than 30 percent of the
time, and that is usually after several attempts at treatment.

I would seriously take a look and spend some money on finding
out what the best programs are and get rid of the ones that don’t
work. Stop funding programs that have been proven not to work,
and take that money and put it in law enforcement. Spend that
money where we know we have—we are effective.

Mr. HasSTERT. Thank you. Thank you very much for being with
us today.

Mr. BiRKETT. Thank you.

Mr. Hastert. You are excused.

Mr. BIRKETT. Thank you.

Mr. HASTERT. Sergeant Garcia, you have been with the Illinois
State Police for a lot of years, and we feel very fortunate having
you on our panel today. And you are somewhat of a legend in your
own time. So please proceed.

Mr. Garcia. Thank you, Congressman, and thank you for having
me.

I have been with the Illinois State Police for some time, and the
majority of my career has been working in the area of drug enforce-
ment. I have often been asked by people in the community if we
have won or lost the war on drugs, and it is unfortunate that I
have to tell them that we have lost the war on drugs, just as Japan
lost the war in World War II.

But like Japan, I think we can rise from those ashes if we all
work together and if we all work in conjunction to win it back
again. And I think we can.

In 23 years as a police officer, I have dealt with the issue of
drugs from Colombia. In Aurora and surrounding areas, I have per-
sonally dealt with approximately 12 Colombian nationals who were
involved in the drug trade. I also participated in approximately 25
seizures of cocaine from Colombia to the Chicago area.

As a drug agent, I work at O’Hare International Airport. That is
where I participated in the drug seizures of cocaine from Colombia.
The seizures ranged from 1 to 5 kilograms. The people carrying the
cocaine would provide information regarding the source and des-
tination of the cocaine. More than a few times, cocaine was des-
tined for the Aurora area.

At the airport, I am regularly involved in seizures of large
amounts of cocaine. I have also had the opportunity to investigate
street-level drug dealing, cocaine from Colombia. I am presently in
charge of five undercover agents. Over the past 10 years, I have su-
pervised hundreds of police officers in the investigation of street-
level dealers.

In my police work fighting drugs on the street, I dealt with 12
Colombian nationals, as I mentioned before. These 12 individuals
provided inside information regarding the sale of Colombian co-
caine in and around the Aurora area.

The Colombian drug cartels have a sophisticated system involv-
ing businessmen, scientists, and other professionals. They have an
extensive intelligence system which surpasses police intelligence in
some respects.


14

Mr. Hastert. Thank you, Sergeant.

Chief Langston, chief of police, the city of Aurora. Thank you for
being here today. I appreciate it.

Chief LANGSTON. Thank you, Congressman Mica and Chairman
Hastert. I certainly welcome the opportunity and appreciate the op-
portunity to be here.

I certainly have also learned from some of the comments from
the previous panel members as well, and there are a lot of thought-
provoking issues, and this is a very difficult subject that affects
each and everyone of us.

Aurora, IL, like many cities of similar size and demographics
across the Nation, experiences a drug problem. The drug use has
continued to rise, and the age of the users has continued to fall.

Drugs continue to represent a popular single commodity that has
attracted the association with street gangs. Most violence within
our community can be attributed to the three primary groups: drug
distribution networks, inter- and intra-gang disputes, and domestic
violence.

Each of these groups engages in violent activity as a separate en-
tity and with interaction among them. Drugs can often be identi-
fied as the interactive link among the three groups, but each has
its own associated causative factors as well.

Violence associated with drugs can involve supplier, distribution,
and dealer networks with or without a gang component. Violence
associated with gangs can also involve inter- and intra-gang dis-
putes with or without drugs.

As the two groups interact, violence can ignite ancillary violence
within each group as well. Drug networks and gangs each have es-
tablished hierarchies and stakeholders within their respective
groups. As we have seen within our community, as these two
groups interact, violence can multiply at several levels.

The biggest impact on the drug culture in the city over the last
5 years has been the availability of crack cocaine. The sale of crack
cocaine is predominately controlled by street gangs. Powder cocaine
is very prevalent and can be purchased from a number of sources.
Street gangs are involved in the sales of powder cocaine, but it is
readily available outside the gang environment as well. Both drug
and gang subcultures attempt to hide illegal narcotic sales activity
with legitimate business practices.

Marijuana has been very popular for many years. Currently, the
vast majority of marijuana originates from Mexico. These illicit
drug networks attempt to hide their activities in suburban commu-
nities with established population groups to thwart detection and
provide a connection for obtaining marijuana for local use or sales
and further distribution.

With a high drug demand and an excellent distribution network,
some otherwise legitimate Mexican-American families have used
this to supplement their income by dealing in marijuana and/or co-
caine that they obtain from relatives in Mexico. The Drug Enforce-
ment Administration in a collaborative operation named ZORRO II
uncovered several examples of this last year.

An increase in brown, black, and white heroin have also been
seen in the last few years. This heroin has a high purity rate and


31

Mr. Hastert. Thank you, Reverend Murphy.

At this time I would like to introduce Mr. Cano, and please pro-
ceed.

Mr. Cano. Thank you. Thank you for having us here.

I am just going to give a brief overview what I have seen in the
past as the president of the Aurora Hispanic Chamber of Com-
merce, and also as a community leader and resident of Aurora, IL.

I am part of the Prayer Coalition. We have interviewed some
kids to eliminate some of the kind of problems that we have here,
and we find out that the majority, they are not really bad kids. It
is only really a very minimal that actually they are the problems.

We interviewed some kids and inside. We had counselors, teach-
ers, the principal, in trying to find actually some of the problems,
what actually the: need. Like Mr. Murphy said, you need to work
with those kids who actually they are involved, people who actually
they are living that kind of life, in order for you to understand it.

‘ou know, we see it from the outside and we don’t see actually
what they see it. So we did a little research, and we find out that
it is a very—5 percent, 10 percent, that is the majority of the prob-
lem right now.

If we can eliminate some of the problem, I think we will have
a better Aurora, a better United States to live. That is not the
Latinos’ problem. It is everyone’s problem.

I know that I have seen the majority of the people. They are
Latino, and I feel bad when I see my own people doing things that
they are not supposed to do, maybe because economically they are
not in a level that they should maintain, or they might see dif-
ferent ways to getting some money.

I don’t know the solution, but I have seen the majority, they are
Latinos, that is true. But it is everybody's problem. Whatever one
person does or do, it is everybody’s problem. And we are here try-
ing to prevent and help those kids.

Those kids, they need some help. They need some help, especially
when they are expelled from school for 3 or 4 days. Where are they
going to go? They are going to go on the streets. They are going
to meet some kids that are not going to school, they are going to
get involved, and they are going to do what the other kids are

loing.

We need to find programs where we can help those kids, some-
thing that we can demand that after someone is expelled for some
reason, for any reason, they can go to this institution and stay
there instead of being in the street.

Here again, I am very honored to have Larry Langston here. He
had a commission year, and we are almost ready to implement the
work. A lot of the community leaders, churches, all the schools that
are involved in this mobilization, which I know that we are going
to have a big impact in our community. And this definitely is going
to happen, but it doesn’t happen overnight.

You know, we see drugs coming from all over, and a lot of peo-
ple—and personally, I believe personally, that it was the majority
came from Mexico. The drug, it doesn’t come from Mexico. It comes
through Mexico, the majority.

And look: We have corrupt people in Mexico. One of the top in
the Government, they actually are involved. And I admire the


17

helicopters, Vietnam veteran helicopters, that are very good for the
coca plantations, which are located in the lower lands, in the jun-
gle.

But they are no good in order to be able to go up in the moun-
tains to where the poppy plantations are. So in most of the cases,
when we are air spraying the poppy plantations, we have to send
the planes without any kind of escort. And that is a major problem
because the helicopters simply are not able to make it up there.

So we are using for escort purposes some of the Blackhawk heli-
copters that we have in the air force, but they are very few, and
so we have to multiply their action so that they work there and
they at the same time work in the purposes of carrying on the war
against guerrillas.

So we do not have the equipment that we really do need in order
to be able to finish the process that we are into in terms of destroy-
ing the poppy plantations.

Mr. Mica. Thank you.

Mr. HaASTERT. Mr. Ambassador, I want to thank you very much
for being with us today. And your time is very important and you
are a busy man. Thank you for coming from Washington to spend
some time to really kind of enlighten us on the problems that—we
think the drug problems just impact us. We don’t realize how it im-
pacts your nation as well.

We appreciate, certainly, the work and cooperation that we have
been able to do and share together. Appreciate your being here
today, and have a good trip back to Washington. Thank you very
much.

Ambassador ESGuERRA. All right. Thank you very much. Mr.
Chairman, thank you very much. Congressman, thank you for the
invitation, and you don’t have to thank me for anything. If you ac-
cepted our invitation to go to Colombia and you were—you risked
your life by going to frontier land, I don’t see why I should not
come and enjoy myself up here in Aurora, IL. So I thank you very
much.

And I apologize for my English because sometimes I suffer a lot.
I manage to say what I want to say, but not the way I want to say
it. I would like to have been more able to express what we are real-
ly doing and what we suffer about this. But thank you very much
for the attention and for the invitation.

Mr. Hastert. I think your English is much better than our
Spanish. Thank you.

I would like to welcome our second panel. And first we have Lt.
Col. Francis “Pancho” Kinney, who is the director of strategic plan-
ning for the Office of the National Drug Control Policy. In more
simple language, he works with the drug czar to plan our national
policy on drugs.

Second, I welcome Mr. Harold Osby, a former gang member, and
next Mr. Mike Murphy, who is executive director of the Prayer Co-
alition for Reconciliation, and Mr. Juventino Cano, president of the
Aurora Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and Dr. Bob Barwa, prin-
cipal of East Aurora High School and the national president of Op-
eration Snowball.


23

I am a former gang member of Aurora, IL. As short as I can, I
would like to talk about a little bit of my past and what I am doing
now.

I was chief of security, third in command, Imperial Insane Vice
Lords. I have probably hurt, probably, more people than are sitting
here today in my lifetime.

I have been shot. I have been stabbed. A quick example of how
I have hurt people: A good friend of mine, I stabbed him three dif-
ferent times, once because he wouldn’t get off the phone. I wasn’t
a killer, though. I will say that.

I tried to get out of the gang, and they tried to kill me three dif-
ferent times. When their attempts failed, they set me up on two
counts of first degree murder, which I fought in King County for
9 months. I lost my wife and my daughter in there. They couldn’t
see me incarcerated any longer.

On March 22, I was acquitted. God had answered some prayers
for my family. I tried to somewhat live my life for God when I was
locked up. I got out, thought I was going to be able to do it. It was
harder than I thought.

When a family member of mine had got in some trouble with
some drug dealers and he owed them close to $30,000—he had
taken off—he says it was $30,000; they say it was more—he had
taken off. They couldn’t get up with him, so they decided to come
after my family, making threats toward me and other family mem-
bers. So I found myself taking on my relative’s debt.

February 3 of this year, 1997, Michael O’Gara, a friend of mine,
was killed. I was struggling with the fact of dealing drugs and los-
ing my friend. I didn’t know what to do. I attended a public prayer
vigil with Michael Murphy, Chaplain Murphy here, and looked for
some kind of help.

We started a ministry a couple weeks later called Disciples of
Christ, which is a street ministry. Since then, under his
mentorship and being in Disciples of Christ, I have turned my life
around. Chaplain Murphy and I have taken to the streets, and con-
tinue to do so. The goal of the ministry is to help gang members
come out of gangs and to offer them a lifestyle that honors God.
Basically, that is what we will be doing.

I recently, through George Adamson, Chaplain George Adamson
for the Illinois Department of Corrections—he is administrative
aide to the chief chaplain—I was made a volunteer chaplain, parole
chaplain, for the Illinois Department of Corrections.

And Chaplain Murphy and Chaplain George and myself, we will
just continue to take to the streets and help kids come out of the
gangs of Aurora. I was an example of a world that doesn’t care. I
am an example of a God and the godly men that do.

I only ask that you ask yourself as individuals, where do you
stand? Do you believe that God can make a difference through
godly, caring people, and these people who are willing to look
through—look beyond the sin and just love the sinner. And that is
all.

[The prepared statement of Mr. Osby follows:]


19

combat tours in Vietnam and the Gulf war. At the time that the
President asked him early last year to take on this new job, he was
the youngest four-star General in the Army, a man with still a
bright future ahead of him.

He was down in Panama commanding United States Southern
Command forces. And we were busy down there supporting United
States interdiction efforts, not only in Central America and the
Caribbean, but also our source country interdiction efforts in Peru,
Bolivia, and elsewhere, in Colombia and in South America.

This was a man who just a couple of short years ago led the
famed left hook attack that went across into the Euphrates Valley
in Iraq and isolated the Republican Guards in record time with
minimum casualties.

But he gave up a promising military career because he saw that
there was a new threat, a national security threat of just incredible
proportions and dimensions, that was threatening our 68 million
young Americans under the age of 18. And he has been hard at
work on this new challenge, so hard, in fact, that he has received
two death threats in the last couple of months.

And Mr. Chairman, I think that in our business, taking personal
risk is something that you have got to accept. And one measure of
success is when other people start getting a little bit upset about
what you are doing ‘and start thinking about other ways of dealing
with your success. The more you hurt them, the more desperate
and dangerous they get.

And, Mr. Chairman, he is just delighted to consider you both a
friend and a mentor and also a partner.

Let me say just a little bit now about the drug problem, if I
could. And if you would allow me, I don’t know all the dynamics
of your district and this community and this city, but if Aurora and
Mr. Hastert’s district are representative of America, here is what
the drug problem might look like.

There might be some 5,000 addicts. That just represents a
straight-line division of the million plus hardcore chronic drug
users in the Nation. There might also be some 35,000 people whe
are casual drug users. Together, they would consume more than 1
metric ton of cocaine and even greater quantities of marijuana.

Fifty percent of your graduating seniors would have used or ex-
perimented with an illegal drug by the time that they finish high
school. Half of them would have done so in the eighth and the
ninth grade.

Collectively, these drug users would spend $100-plus million a
year on illegal drugs. That is a lot of money to be spending. And
it would cost your communities probably about $150 million.

You would probably have about 2,500 or more drug-related ar-
rests, and I am sure that the law enforcement officers that are
present could attest to that personally. There might be some 50
dead a year. And as Mr. Mica can tell you, his community in cen-
tral Florida in Orlando has had just too many heroin-related
deaths in recent years. And too many of those 50 casualties and too
many of those drug-related arrests and too many of those drug
users would be our young.

So what are we doing about it? I guess that is what I should
focus on, Mr. Chairman. No. 1, we believe that we have got a pret-


32

United States for getting involved with some of the countries in
trying to work with those countries to prevent some of the prob-
lems.

And I know that Mexico is committed to eliminate some of the
problems. It is just a small percentage, a small people percentage
that are actually involved in this kind of activities because they see
that it is a way to get rich overnight.

And here I admire, here again, for what the United States is
doing with other countries, working together to eliminate some of
the problems, get to the root. Once they get to the root, the plant
is not going to grow.

And wherever is a consumer, there always going to be a supplier.
So how you going to target, a consumer or the supplier? I mean,
United States is one of the biggest consumers in rugs, and it is
a lot of easy for people to actually to bring drugs here—I want to
put it in a nice way, and apologize for my English; it seems to me
like I just learn it—it is easy for them to bring it over here and
sell it to the consumers.

And who is the consumer? We need to target the consumers and
the supplier. And you already doing—targeting the main suppliers,
and there is people that, here again, like I see in the TV, I see all
over, some of the major leaders, they are actually running the gov-
ernment. They are running countries. They are running here and
there.

I mean, those are the people that we need to target. Once we tar-
get those, it is going to be a lot easier for us to work in our commu-
nities to eliminate the problems. I know it is going to take some
time, and we are not going to change the world.

But if we all come together and work together instead of blaming
one another, who is doing it, it is going to be a better place for us
to live and our kids. Thank you.

Mr. Hastert. Thank you, Mr. Cano.

Dr. Barwa.

Mr. Barwa. Thank you. Do I need to move this?

Mr. Hastert. I think you are fine.

Mr. Barwa. OK. Once again, gentlemen, thank you for the oppor-
tunity to speak with you. For the past 23 years, I have been fortu-
nate enough to work with young people across the State of Illinois
in my capacity as an educator, and for the past 18 years I have
worked with students in the area of substance abuse prevention. It
is from that perspective that I wish to share my experiences and
to provide you with some recommendations.

Dealing with the problem of underage use of alcohol and other
drugs has always required a multipronged approach. Interdiction
efforts are required to prevent young people from gaining access to
these substances, laws which impose consequences to punish those
who use and/or distribute these substances, and prevention and
education to reduce and, hopefully, eliminate the demand for these
substances among young people.

Unfortunately, as a high school administrator, I have seen few
enforcement efforts that are truly effective in changing a young
person’s behavior, and fewer still that change the behavior in the
area of the use of alcohol and other drugs.


14

ourselves to, we know that a significant portion of the resources of
the guerrillas do come from activities related with narcotics traf-
ficking. And, of course, that is the case with all the organizations
who are narcotics trafficking.

And as you were mentioning before, the Cali Cartel, as such,
does not exist any more. The Medellin Cartel, as such, does not
exist any more. But most, if not all, of their leaders, their kingpins,
were either killed or put in prison, where they are.

And so what we have now are some other minicartels, but espe-
cially organizations that are very closely tied with the guerrillas
when they are not the very guerrillas group that are—they them-
selves are cultivating or transporting or processing, not exporting.

So now the exports outside of Colombia is still carried on by pro-
fessional organizations and Mafias.

Mr. Hastert. Thank you.

Mr. Blagojevich.

Mr. BLAGOJEVICH. Can you, Mr. Ambassador, briefly just tell us
how it was that the cartels—how the Colombian Government was
able to start winning the war with the cartels, the Pablo Escobar
Cartel and so forth, the Medellin Cartel, and explain what the
strategy was with regard to that and what some of the methods
you used were that were so successful?

Ambassador ESGUERRA. I think it was a combination of factors:
political will, decision, and the devotion of resources and the prepa-
ration of resources and the sacrifice on the part of many people and
particularly the police forces.

toast, it was the Medellin Cartel, which was a cartel that used

mploy violence and terrorism as the most important of its tools
8 ore ler to develop the activities that they developed. And so we
had to move all our forces in order to be able to capture these peo-
ple, and we managed to do it.

I would say that the crucial point in the war against the
Medellin Cartel was when Pablo Escobar was killed in a police op-
eration in December, December 2, 1993. That was the turning point
of the war against—of the battle against the Medellin Cartel.

Then starting in 1994, but especially at the very end of 1994, we
initiated the war against the Cali Cartel. It took us time because
the Cali Cartel, since it had not employed terrorism the way the
Medellin Cartel had, they had used more sophisticated and more
euphemistic ways of acting.

0 they had lots of support from different organizations. They
had investments in soccer teams, so people loved the way their soc-
cer teams were doing because they were able to buy and get the
services of the best players and all that.

And they were financing some campaigns, in some cases openly
and in some cases not so openly, of dit ferent people in the local
communities and then in the regional communities and then even
in the national organization.

And they had—they, for instance, hired taxi drivers in Cali. And
so they had organized an intelligence group composed by many taxi
drivers who had to say who had arrived to the airport in Cali, who
had arrived to that hotel or this hotel in Cali.

And they would—they didn’t know that they were part of such
a big organization. They just knew that when they gave—provided


86

Congressional Field Hearing - Congressman J. Dennis Hastert
Testimony by Larry L. Langston, Chief of Police Aurora, Illinois

Date: September 22, 1997 _ Location: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

be released just the other day. The message sent to the street is that incarceration is
simply a setback and an opportunity to network. Incarceration should be punishment and
emphasize personal responsibility, while also affording rehabilitative treatment for
associated problems. Unwilling participation or acceptance of treatment must also incur
individual responsibility ie; no parole.

2. Increased emphasis must be directed toward the supply networks from foreign countries
and closer inter-agency collaboration to expose these networks. There must also be
sanctions toward countries that do not support our efforts in a cooperative fashion to
expose these drug operations. Responsibility must be taken by supply countries for their
part in the operational drug networks that cause havoc within our communities
nationwide.

3. Drug demand reduction efforts must also be emphasized within our domestic
communities as well. Education and treatment programs must be the mainstays of future
demand reduction of illicit drugs.

4. Inter-agency cooperation and collaboration have improved but must continue to develop
further. Local communities do not have sufficient personnel, dollars, technology,
expertise, and access to information to effectively eradicate high-level drug network
operations within their boundaries. Often, what a local agency considers mid-high level

8


73

Testimony submitted to : Government Reform and Oversight Committee
Subcommittee on National Security, International Affairs and
Criminal Justice

Submitted by: Sergeant Roy Garcia

In twenty-three years as a police officer, I have dealt with the issue of drugs from Colombia.
In Aurora and surrounding areas, I have personally dealt with approximately 12 Colombian nationals
who were involved in the drug trade. 1 also participated in approximately 25 seizures of cocaine
from Colombia to the Chicago area.

‘As a drug agent I worked at O'Hare International Airport. That is where I participated in
drug seizures of cocaine from Colombia. The seizures ranged from 1 kilogram to 5 kilograms. The
people carrying the cocaine would provide information regarding the source and destination of the
cocaine. More than a few times the individuals arrested at O’Hare International Airport said that the
cocaine was destined for the Aurora area.

At the airport, { was regularly involved in seizures of large quantities of cocaine. I have also
had the opportunity to investigate street level drug dealing of cocaine from Colombia.

I am presently in charge of 5 undercover drug agents. Over the past 10 years I have
supervised hundreds of police officers in the investigation of street level dealers.

In my police work fighting drugs on the street, I dealt with 12 Colombian nationals as I
mentioned before. These 12 individuals provided inside information regarding the sale of
Colombian cocaine in and around the Aurora area.

‘The Colombian drug cartels have a sophisticated system involving businessmen, scientists,
and other professionals. They have an extensive intelligence system which surpasses police
intelligence in some respects.

Specifically, police agencies need to improve information sharing at all levels of law
enforcement.

We also need to go to Colombia to cut off the flow. I have seen the drug problem from the
international airport to the alleys of Aurora. Fighting drugs on the streets will not be successful
without efforts to cut off the source of drugs, specifically from Colombia.

When you cut off the source, we see a rippling effect on the streets. The bigger dealers
surface when the supply is cut off. This makes it easier for us to detect and make arrests.

I work with DEA agents who share my same observations of cutting off the source of cocaine
from Colombia, but the DEA also tells me they could use some additional support.

| appreciate the attention that Congress is giving to the citizens of Aurora, and the attention
you have provided in the past. I am happy to answers any questions you may have.

Thank you.


58

have to do is have a variety, a menu, if you will, of programs that
are going to be in the community that we can then implement for
the people that have a specific need.

I can work very effectively with my young people who find edu-
cation to be of value to them. I can offer them very strong pro-
grams. I am working very hard to keep those kids that he is talk-
ing about in school rather than kick them out.

But it is much more difficult for me to work with those students
for whom school is of very little importance but, rather, the faith-
based organization might be far more effective. So I think the an-
swer is, we have to support them all.

Mr. HASTERT. One of the things you have implemented in your
school is an ROTC program.

Mr. Barwa. That is correct.

Mr. Hastert. How has that helped, or has it?

Mr. Barwa. I don’t have any direct data that can show you that
it has helped in the drug abuse prevention program. I can show
you that it has, in fact, improved attendance among those students
that are involved in that program.

I can show you that it has decreased discipline problems among
the students that are involved in that program. I can show you
that—without empirical data, I can show you that it has increased
pride and a sense of self-worth among those young people.

That is a program that has been very beneficial to us because it
has given the kids something to belong to. But again, I can’t say
to you that I could walk out and implement that program at the
next school down the street and it would be effective.

It is effective here because of the people that I have running that
program. We have the right mix of people doing the right things
for the right kids. And down the street, with another person run-
ning the program, it may not be effective.

ir. HASTERT. Last question: Mr. Osby, you have been—you have
lived this nightmare and hope for a dream at the end. y—we
have heard a lot of reasons, the social reasons, philosophical rea-
sons, why people get in trouble and try to find solutions.

You have lived through this. Why do kids at the age of 12, 10
or 12 or 14 years of age, all of a sudden join a gang? Is it to belong?
Is it to get money? Is it—what are they looking for that they can’t
find in other parts of society?

Mr. Ospsy. A big reason is trying to fit in, trying to fit in with
other people. Plus you see, you know, a lot of the older gang mem-
bers are big time dealers, too. So they have the money. They have
got the respect. And they look up to that.

They don’t know anything else, really. I don’t—can’t speak of
any, you know—this isn’t anything I’m used to in the streets.

ir. HASTERT. All right. Your own experience.

Mr. Ossy. They don’t know anything. I mean, the only thing—
I know for myself the only way I was going to change was this—
you know, was working with Christ and belonging to something
that was real, you know.

And you still get the same kind of respect I have seen now. I
mean, I wasn’t looking for it, but I see that I get the same kind
of—I get a better respect living my life as a godly man, you know,
living for love and not fear.


6

Mr. BLAGOJEVICH. Thank you, Chairman Hastert. Let me, first
of all, again reiterate my gratitude for inviting me to appear here
with you and with Congressman Mica. All of us are members of the
House Subcommittee on National Security, International Affairs,
and Criminal Justice.

And as we seek to know more about our Nation’s drug problem,
I am particularly pleased to be here with you, Chairman Hastert.
You have been such a leader on this issue, not only here, back
home in your district, but certainly in Washington, DC, and in par-
ticular with some of your efforts to help us go down to the actual
sources of where the drugs come from to learn more about that,
which is clearly a very important part of a comprehensive program.
to win the war on drugs.

The name of this hearing, “From South America to South Au-
rora,” really tells the story of what Chairman Hastert and our sub-
committee have been up to this year. We have made every effort
to look at the drug problem, not just from some hearing room in
Washington, DC, but from the front lines and from every angle,
whether it be in the jungles of South America where we just visited
back in May for 7 interesting days in May, or whether it be all the
way back here in our communities and our neighborhoods like
those here in Aurora.

The bottom line is, there is no easy answer to stopping the flow
of drugs. Our Nation is fighting a war that in many ways is as seri-
ous as the cold war we fought with the Soviet Union.

This war is going to require an effort on many fronts, as Chair-
man Hastert mentioned, a comprehensive effort, to make sure that
our Nation is doing everything we can to make sure that the ship-
ments of cocaine and marijuana and heroin are stopped before they
cross our borders, in conjunction with fighting demand by educat-
ing our kids about the dangers of drugs and making treatment
available to those who have started to use drugs.

There is no magic solution to this problem. There is no one silver
bullet. It is going to take a major effort, a major commitment, not
only from Members of Congress and local law enforcement officials
and parents and schools, but also our whole community and our
country at large.

We have to make the commitment as a country and the realiza-
tion that this is a serious problem, as serious as any external
threat to our security. I think we are on the right track, and it is
important for these hearings to continue so that we can continue
to learn what the problems are in our communities and fashion so-
lutions that can address those problems.

Thank you.

Mr. Hastert. Thank you, Congressman Blagojevich.

Now I would like to turn to John Mica, Congressman from Flor-
ida, who has certainly been a colleague and has been working with
me for several years in this battle. John.

Mr. Mica. Thank you, Chairman Hastert.

I want to also pay a special tribute to you for your leadership in
the Congress for championing this cause. Most folks don’t realize
it, but in 1993, the new administration decided on a different policy
to put more of the eggs in the war on drugs in the treatment field
and some in education, and began a change in policy toward inter-


29

Congemsewnl Heres Tmsen
CHGS WOR / Harel Soy

GOOD MORNING,

MY NAME IS MICHAEL T. MURPHY, 1 SERVED AS A SR. CHAPLAIN FOR THE AURORA ~
POLICE DEPARTMENT FROM APRIL 17. 1998 TO AUGUST 13, 1997. 1AM PRESENTLY THE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PRAYER COALITION FOR RECONCILIATION WHICH SERVES <\

‘THE DIRECT NEEDS OF THOSE MOST TRAUMATIZED BY VIOLENCE IN AURORA IL: Sh
ESPECIALLY FAMILIES (SURVIVORS) OF HOMICIDES. AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE

COALITION I FACILITATE

1, AN AFTER CARE - ADVOCACY GROUP CALLED “FAMILIES & FRIENDS OF MURDER
‘VICTIMS, OVER 40 FAMILIES PERIODICALLY ATTEND. AGES RANGING FROM 2 MONTHS
‘OLD TO 60 YEARS OF AGE.

2. COMMUNITY RESPONSE TEAMS THAT DELIVER BILINGUAL & BICULTURAL. NON-
BROKERED. PASTORAL. PUBLIC. AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE LIVING ROOMS OF THE
SURVIVORS.

3. AHOLISTIC RELATIONAL INTERVENTION PROGRAM FOR ACTIVE AND FORMER GANG
MEMBERS ON THE STREETS OF AURORA. EACH SCREENED INDIVIDUAL ENTERS INTO A
COVENANT AGREEMENT WITH THEIR MENTORS WHO WORK WITH THEM FOR
EMPLOYMENT. VALUE CLARIFICATIONS. SPIRITUAL & EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
CHILD CARE. TUTORING TOWARDS GED. RESTITUTION TO SOCIETY (ACTIVE 99'S).
FAMILY. MARITAL. & CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELING. PEER GANG MINISTRIES.
AND RELOCATIONS FOR S.0.5. (SHOOT ON SIGHT) INDIVIDUALS.

4, UNANTICIPATED DEATH NOTIFICATIONS AND PUBLIC VIGILS AT ALL HOMICIDE SITES.

SYNOPSIS:

AS OF JAN. 1. 1990 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16. 1997 THEIR HAVE BEEN #141 HOMICIDES IN
AURORA, 114 HAVE BEEN PEOPLE OF COLOR. THOSE WHO SAY BULLETS ARE COLOR
BLIND ARE ISSUE BLIND.

DEMOGRAPHICALLY . A RESOUNDING MAJORITY OF OUR HOMICIDES OCCUR IN
NARROW CELLS & POCKETS OF OUR CITY WHERE POVERTY AND HOPELESS ABOUNDS
AND OPPORTUNITY IS FOR SOMEONE DOWN THE BLOCK OR AROUND THE CORNER.

AURORA REMAINS A MONOLINGUISTIC SOCIETY MAKING ENTRY LEVEL. MINIMUM SKILL
POSITIONS DIFFICULT TO IMPOSSIBLE. A LACK OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE
MARGINALIZED IS THE FUNDAMENTAL SOCIAL SIN OF THIS COMMUNITY. SOME NO
LONGER BELIEVE, BECAUSE ITS TRUE. THAT HARD WORK CAN GET YOUR FAMILY
AHEAD. THERE IS NO CORPORATE LADDER FOR. D\w€TO CLIMB. INFACT. IF OUR
‘MINORITY COMMUNITY NEEDED A LADDER IT WOULD BE FOR THE HOLE WE HAVE DUG
FOR THEM. THROUGH YEARS OF BLAMING THE VICTIM AND BEING INSENSITIVE TO THE
ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE,

‘SOME MAY SPEAK TO THE ECONOMIC BOOM OF AURORA. WHICH HAS NOT & WILL NOT
BE IN THESE POCKETS OF POVERTY,DUE TO DEVELOPERS INSISTENCE ON DEVELOPING
AWAY FROM THESE “TROUBLED AREAS.” ZONING AND DENSITY ARE THE SCAPEGOATS
OF GOVERNMENT WHEN IT COMES TO SHARING THE POWER OF WEALTH AND
OPPORTUNITY. THE ONLY BOOM THE “HOOD HEARS IS THE CRACKLE OF GUNFIRE.


65

which results in better cases.

During the period of the last grant our total number of new cases have held
iv.dtively steady. Our percentage of sentences in which defendants were
imprisoned has increased from 34% to 47%. While we are proud that we have
made great improvements in this area we believe it is possible to achieve our goal
of 50%,

These numbers demonstrate e slight shift from the previous year. Even
though cannabis has been on the rise, the majority of cases are of cocaine. The
cannabis laws were recently amended to allow for much stiffer penalties. Several
judges have found the legislation providing these changes to be unconstitutional.
It is our hope that this statute is re-legislated to once again provide for tougher
penalties. This will in tum provide more incentive for agents to make bigger
cannabis cases. Cannabis use is indeed on the rise and the numbers over the last
year have reflected this.

A conviction rate of over 90 % reflects good work by the agents and the
attomeys of the NPU. These numbers reflect a conviction rate of 95%. The
number of defendants and percentage of defendants sentenced to prison has
increased. This number and percentage can increase further if the state legislature
passes law to put the teeth back in the sentencing provisions of the Cannabis
ontrol Act. We are striving to sentence 50% of all defendants to prison. This
auay seem like an unrealistic goal. However, it can be obtained if we have the
necessary tools. One of them is mandatory sentences in the Cannabis Control
Act, just as they are in the Controlled Substances Act.

In the past year the NPU has processed 81 Declarations of Forfeiture. The
NPU has also obtained 22 judgements of forfeiture on Judicial Forfeitures
previously filed for a total of. The total amount forfeited by the NPU was
$325,887.37.. This amount reflects a decrease from previous years due to the
problem of courts ruling in favor of defendants on double jeopardy claims.
Because the United States Supreme Court has just put this issue to rest in the
government’s favor, we expect this coming year to reflect an increase in
forfeitures.

Our investigator assigned to DUMEG has initiated several new
investigations and has been utilizing our system to collect outstanding fines from
past defendants. Our attomeys have been routinely entering memorandums of
judgement on each defendant at the time of sentencing. This allows us to collect
‘on these judgements even when the defendant’s case is disposed of.

NPU conducts quarterly training sessions with DUMEG. We discuss recent

gal issues, procedures, goals and review cases. Additionally the NPU is
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The NPU screens all cases before any


67

constant. Training is a must. The turnover in any prosecutor’s office in addition
to the ever-changing status of the law in this area requires constant education.

.is means symposiums, seminars and workshops for prosecutors and agents.
‘We must keep up with the latest trends in the law and investigative techniques.
Unfortunately that means dollars.

The prosecutors assigned to the NPU are highly involved in DUMEG cases
early on, drafting over 50 search warrants and approximately 40 applications for
the use of eavesdropping devices in the past year. These efforts greatly enhance
the quality of those cases, Any cutback in finding would render it nearly
impossible to provide that service to DUMEG and other law enforcement
agencies. To deny these agencies the service and professionalism, in which they
have become accustom would have a negative impact on narcotics enforcement in
and throughout our community.

In addition to the above, we have noticed the need to initiate more training
for DUMEG agents. As agents are assigned to DUMEG for two to three year
periods of time, many of the agents are relatively inexperienced and would
benefit greatly from instruction in testifying in court, entrapment issues, and
issues involving search and seizure. We have also invited several local law
enforcement officers from other local police agencies. Several dey
including Addison, Downers Grove Naperville and Hanover Park have sent
~.ficers to these training seminars.

IV. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goals of the Narcotic Prosecution Unit are as follows:

© Enhance the quality of narcotics prosecutions in DuPage County.

Investigate the financial background of major narcotics violators in an effort to
cripple their operations and provide funds for law enforcement.

© Increase the number and amount of asset forfeitures prosecuted in DuPage
County.

© Continue the outstanding cooperation that is now being realized between
DUMEG, the local departments and federal agencies.

Focus greater attention on gang abatement.

The objectives of the Narcotics Prosecution Unit are as follows:


68

© Utilize court-ordered eavesdrops in over 40 narcotics cases during the next 12
month period.

+ Prosecute over 100 asset forfeiture cases during the next 12-month period.

¢ Maintain a conviction rate at or above 90 %.

* Initiate at least two major financial investigations during the next 12-month
period.

© Conduct training sessions for DUMEG agents, as well as other local police
agencies, covering such areas as Miranda, search warrants, search and seizure,
and entrapment.

V. PROGRAM STRATEGY

‘The NPU's strategy for the upcoming year will largely focus on
organizations responsible for bringing narcotics into this community and selling
narcotics in this community. The NPU will lead this focus by confronting these
organizations at two fronts. First, we shall attempt to seize as much illegal
narcotics and arrest and charge as many dealers as we have in the previous year.
This will slow the trafficking of narcotics into this area. Second, we shall make

ery effort to uncover more large scale hidden assets as we have in the past year.
Every drug dealer sells drugs to make money. Nearly all distributors are but a
cog in a greater network of narcotic traffickers. If we can unveil the hidden
assets of these large scale distributors we not only take away their incentive to
sell drugs, but we can further arm ourselves with more funds to advance our
objectives.

We must continue to hold narcotic users accountable in order to deter future
demand. Demand must be decreased to lessen the incentives for present dealers
and to reduce the number of future dealers. It is common knowledge that the
dealers of tomorrow are probably the users of today.

The program director will continue to prosecute the nonjudicial
(adfninistrative) forfeitures, as has been the practice to date. The assistant
assigned to a criminal case will continue to prosecute any judicial asset forfeiture
case that arises from the same criminal investigations, as it is more efficient for
the assistant who is familiar with the facts of the case to prosecute both the
forfeiture and the criminal cases. We will encourage DUMEG to utilize court-
ordered eavesdrops on all major cases and all cases where and informant
nurchases the controlled substances.

The NPU program director will continue to work with the legislature to try
and amend the Cannabis Control Act, in a way that would increase penalties for


26

kidnapped at gunpoint by five men on the streets of Aurora and

asked to pay his debt, his historical debt, for his drug dealings,

after nearly 2 months of not selling drugs and being in our pro-

gram. His choices were to live or to die. One must wonder, when
e pays his debt off, what worth he is to this cartel.

Some may speak to the economic boom of Aurora, which has not
and will not be in these pockets of poverty due to developers’ insist-
ence on developing away from these troubled areas. Zoning and
density are the scapegoats of government when it comes to sharing
the power and wealth of opportunity that exists here. The only
boom the “hood” hears is the crackle of gunfire.

Aurora and many of its surrounding white-collar communities
have a thirst for drugs. Drugs are the profit, and gangs are the
profiteers. Where there are drugs, there is money. ere there is
money, there are guns. Where there are guns, there is power.
Where there is drugs, money, guns, and power, there is death.

It is no small wonder that a gang called Serrano 13 has come up
through Mexico, through south central Los Angeles, and now re-
sides for the past 36 months in the city of Aurora. I am working
intimately with at least two widows of those gang members.

Why are they here? They are here because the largest amount
of Hispanic men or boys between the ages of 9 and 15 live in the
Midwest. They are calculated, and exist in numbers up to 55, ac-
cording to our private pastoral intelligence that we receive.

But the first death of this city is spiritual and social. We don’t
have a gang problem; we have a soci: problem, and gangs are the
symptomology. We spend millions of dollars in this city toward the
symptom and we call that ensuring the public safety.

Office-based social service programs continue to get patronized
and controlled by the dominant culture and municipal government,
which by standards of qualitative assessment—and I am saying
qualitative assessment based on immersion and a ministry of pres-
ence—have the least amount of rapport with the gang community
that they are trying to reach.

It reminds me many years ago of the Honorable Jane Byrne, who
as the mayor of Chicago lived a day in a project in order to get the
feeling of what it might be like. We don’t need 1-day visits to the
projects. We need immersion.

In the short time that I spent in Guatemala, I learned that the
leaders were put to the forefront of leadership based on immersion.
Then came advocacy. One did not win positions of leadership based
on elections, but they won by being in the heart of the struggle.

We throw Caucasian programs at the minority community, and
we scratch our heads in disillusionment in the city of Aurora as our
homicide record peaked in 1996. Programs don’t change people.
People change people.

What I am saying to you specifically, without sounding philo-
sophical, is we need an indigenous voice of those who are most af-
fected by violence to speak for our community as to what they feel
the results are—what they feel, I should say, the recommendations
are—as to what would change the violence in their areas.

Many gangs rule by fear. But I have experienced living examples,
that sit to the right of me, that love and respect are the dominant
forces of all cultures. If this is offered to our gang community from


78

Often, what a local agency considers mid to high-level operations
may be inconsistent or conflict with the parameters set by a State
or Federal agency. This leaves a gap in the efforts that can be mus-
tered to confront these operations.

In addition, drug trafficking networks are well aware that oper-
ations in small to mid-size communities in close proximit to large
population centers can operate much more covertly than directly in
major metropolitan cities.

Fifth, prosecutions for drug offenders must be swift and they
must be sure. Probation and parole must also carry swift and sure
repercussions for violation of the conditions set forth in the offend-
er’s probation or parole.

This will require additional resources within the judicial and
prosecutorial areas to adequately deal with repeat violators of con-
ditions they were given in their second chance probation or parole
opportunities. It is well-known among the criminal elements that
the system is overloaded in many areas and cannot adequately
monitor and process violations of probation or parole conditions.

And finally, our efforts must continue to adapt. As we have
heard this morning from the panels, that the expertise, the tech-
nology, the funding that is available—we heard from the Ambas-
sador—and billions and billions of dollars.

They adapt their networks when we adapt what we do to respond
to those, and they seem to be much quicker and better at that. And
those are the actions that we have to change. That must begin at
a national level.

Thank you for allowing me to come.

[The prepared statement of Chief Langston follows:]


3

overcome their additions and once again become productive mem-
bers of our society.

We will also hear from a former gang member, Mr. Harold Osby,
who will explain his association with drugs and the factors which
changed his life.

And as I close, please remember that our war on drugs must be
a comprehensive battle waged on many fronts. And with that said,
let me take a couple of specific points that I would like you to think
about as you listen to the testimony today.

One, a huge factor in whether we win or lose our war against
drugs is whether we can stop the war at their source, South Amer-
ica. International eradication kills those poisons before they can de-
stroy our kids and our society.

It is easy to get discouraged in our war against drugs. But I be-
lieve, working together, we can win this fight. Between 1985 and
1992, the number of addicts went from 5.8 to 1.3 million.

So why should we be optimistic? We know that when we con-
demn drug use, as we did during the 1980’s, rather than condone
it, we can reduce the number of addicts, and all it really takes is
the courage and persistence to do it.

I would now like to recognize Congressman Rod Blagojevich for
his opening statement.

(The prepared statement of Hon. J. Dennis Hastert follows:]


2

Second, we look beyond our borders, and we want to stop the cul-
tivation of drug plants in South America.

Third, we must stop the trafficking of those drugs through our
borders. And this is called interdiction.

Fourth, drugs which slip through our borders must be discovered
by law enforcement.

And finally, drugs which are available on our street corners and
in schools must be rejected by our children and adults. And when
our citizens become addicted to drugs, there must be a viable alter-
native available which gives them a chance to beat addiction.

Before we begin, let me add that the vast majority of the cocaine
which enters this country, about 80 percent, originates in Colom-
bia, or, at least, it is manufactured in Colombia. Much of it origi-
nates in Peru and Bolivia and is shipped in to Colombia.

But our citizens and our youth buy it, and that leads to pain
both here and there. I don’t want to steal anyone’s thunder here,
but I think you will find it interesting to listen to Mr. Pancho
Kinney, Director of Strategic Planning for the Drug Czar, the
ONDCP, as he explains the process of cultivation and trafficking.
How is the crop cultivated, and what are the police in countries
like Colombia doing about cultivation?

Another important question is, What can the United States do
about cultivation of a crop in a foreign country? I recently went, ac-
companied by the two gentlemen with me, Congressman Mica of
Florida and Congressman Blagojevich of Illinois, more specifically
Chicago—we went to Colombia. We went to find out for ourselves
what was going on down there. And perhaps importantly, I learned
that the Colombians desperately want and need our help to win the
escalating war against well-funded drug cartels.

We have the honor today of the presence of the Ambassador from
Colombia, a man who I have had the privilege of working with for
several years, and a man of integrity and great honor. We will ex-
plain—he will explain what Colombia is doing to win the war
against drugs in Colombia.

Then we will hear from some highly informed local witnesses
about the impact these drugs are having on our communities. We
will also hear from several members of law enforcement dedicated
to rooting out drug traffickers in the streets of the cities of Illinois.
These will include Sgt. Roy Garcia, who is a 23-year police veteran
fighting the drug traffickers in the streets and the cities of Illinois,
and Chief Larry Langston of the Aurora Police Department.

Again, I do not want to steal their thunder, but I know they
would agree that police alone cannot win this fight. They simply
don’t have the resources to do it alone. We have to educate our kids
and keep the pressure on with our allies in places like Colombia.

We are also going to hear from a local friend, Ms. Judy Kraemer,
president of the Illinois Drug Education Alliance, IDEA, and Dr.
Bob Barwa, principal of East Aurora High School and national
president of Operation Snowball.

These witnesses will explain the best prevention programs so
that we can protect our children from drugs both in the schools and
on our street corners. And we will hear testimony about the treat-
ment programs which will help those who have become addicted


15

somebody with some information that for them was everyday infor-
mation, they got paid for it. And that happened in different stages.

They used to finance schools, universities, and some opportuni-
ties. And so they were organizing forums in order to oppose extra-
dition and this and that. So they even went into academics, and
they were financing academics.

But—and they had an organization which was a very clever orga-
nization, very difficult to find. But fortunately, in a short period of
time that was between the end of 1994 and the end of 1995, we
managed to capture all of the members of the Cali Cartel except
one, whom we captured a year later, and another one who was cap-
tured some months ago.

But it took time. It took effort. And it took lots of resources, and
the help and the cooperation on the part of U.S. organizations. The
DEA and the CIA were instrumental in trying to get into the intel-
ligence of these organizations so that we could establish where they
were hiding, how they were hiding, how they were carrying their
operations, and so forth.

Mr. HASTERT. Thank you.

Congressman Mica.

Mr. Mica. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Ambassador, as you know, there are certain restrictions on use
of U.S. funds, particularly when they are given to another nation
in combating a certain type of activities.

One of the problems we have had is that Department of State
and the administration have been reluctant to give military equip-
ment or law enforcement equipment to your nation in the war on
drugs because of possible human rights abuses or use of this equip-
ment against some who may not be involved in narcotics traffick-
ing.

What assurances do we have that the Government of Colombia
would comply with the proper use of this assistance if given by the
United States?

Ambassador ESGUERRA. Yes, sir. We signed an agreement with
the United States very short ago that is an end use monitor agree-
ment which, in my opinion, shows that we are as committed as one
can be to the protection of human rights, and which shows some-
thing that is absolutely clear.

And I would like to state it in a most clear way: The Colombia
Government, the Colombian authorities, are committed to human
rights. It is our concern. There is absolutely—there has never been
any kind of policy on the part of the state, on the part of the au-
thorities as such, that would involve or imply any violation of
human rights.

Of course, unfortunately and in a most sad way, in Colombia
there are violations of human rights that take place every day. And
that is just because of the fact that we are at war, and that we are
at war against guerrillas, against narcotics trafficking, against
common delinquency.

The vast majority of said violations are the responsibility either
of the guerrillas or of the narcotics traffickers’ organizations. That
is perfectly clear, though there have been certain occasions, certain
moments, in which individually and in an isolated way some mem-
ber of our armed forces has been involved in such violation, in


Before we begin, let me add that the vast majority of the cocaine which enters this
country -about 80%- originates in Colombia. But our citizens, and our youth , buy it—and that
leads to pain both here and there. | don't want to steal anyone's thunder here, but | think you
will find it interesting to listen to Mr. Pancho Kinney, Director of Strategic Planning for the
ONDCP as he explains the process of cultivation and trafficking. How is the crop cultivated and
what are the police in countries like Colombia doing about cultivation?

Another important question is - What can the United States do about cultivation of a
crop in a foreign country? | recently went to Colombia to find out for myself what was going on
down there. Perhaps importantly, | learned that the Colombians desperately want and need our
help to win the escalating war against well-funded drug cartels. We have the honor today of the
presence of the ambassador from Colombia, a man whom I call my friend and a man of
integrity. He will explain what Colombia is doing to win the war against drugs in Colombia
Then we will hear from some highly informed local witnesses about the impact these drugs are
having on our communities,

We will also hear from several members of law enforcement dedicated to rooting out
drug traffickers in the streets of the cities in Ilinois. These will include: Sergeant Roy Garcia,
who is a 23-year police veteran fighting the drug traffickers in the streets of the cities of Illinois
and Chief Larry Langston of the Aurora Police Department. Again, ! do not want to steal their
thunder, but | know they would agree that police alone can not win this fight - they simply don't
have the resources to do it alone. We have to educate our kids, and keep the pressure on with
our allies, in places like Colombia.

We're also going to hear from a local friend, Ms. Judy Kraemer, President of the illinois
Drug Education Alliance (IDEA) and Or. Bob Barwa, Principal of East Aurora High School and
National President of Operation Snowball. These witnesses will explain the best prevention
programs, so that we can protect our children from drugs both in the schools and on our street
comers. And we will hear testimony about treatment programs which will help those who have
become addicted overcome their addictions and once again become productive members of
society.

We will also hear from former gang member, Mr. Harold Osby, who will explain his
‘association with drugs and the factors which changed his life.

In conclusion, let me make a couple of important points that I'd like you to think about
as you listen to the testimony today.

1. A huge factor in whether we win or lose our war against drugs is whether we can stop
the drugs at their source South America. -

2. It's easy to get discouraged in our war against drugs. But | think it's time to take
heart. Between 1985 and 1992 the number of addicts went from 5.8 million to 1.3 million.

‘So why should we be optimistic? We know that when we condemn drug use (as did
during the 80's) rather than condone it (as we have during the 90's), we can reduce the number
of addicts. All it takes is courage and persistence.


87

Congressional Field Hearing - Congressman J. Dennis Hastert
Testimony by Larry L. Langston, Chief of Police Aurora, linois

Date: September 22, 1997 Location: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

operations may be inconsistent or conflict with the parameters set by a state or federal
agency. This leaves a gap in the efforts that can be mustered to confront these operations.

” “Yn addition, drug trafficking networks are well aware that operations in small to mid-size
communities in close proximity to large population centers can operate much more
covertly than directly in major metropolitan cities.

5. Prosecutions for drug offenders must be swift and sure. Probation and parole must also
carry swift and sure repercussions for violation of the conditions set forth in the offenders
probation or parole. This will require additional resources within the judicial and
prosecutorial areas to adequately deal with repeat violators of conditions they were given
in their “second chance” probation or parole opportunities. It is well known among the
criminal elements that the system is overloaded in many areas and cannot adequately

monitor and process violations of probation and parole.


80

Congressional Field Hearing - Congressman J. Dennis Hastert
Testimony by Larry L. Langston, Chief of Police Aurora, Illinois

Date: September 22, 1997 Location: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

environment. Both drug and gang subcultures attempt to “hide” illegal narcotic sales activity
with legitimate business practices.

Marijuana bas been very popular for many years. Currently, the vast majority of
marijuana originates from Mexico. Ilicit distribution networks have become established through
Aurora. These illicit drug networks attempt to hide their activities in suburban communities with
established population groups to thwart detection and provide a connection for obtaining
marijuana for local use or sales and further distribution. With a high drug demand and an
excellent distribution network, some otherwise legitimate Mexican American families have used
this to supplement their income by dealing in marijuana and/or cocaine that they obtain from
relatives in Mexico. The Drug Enforcement Administration in a collaborative operation named
“ZORRO II” uncovered several examples of this last year.

An increase in brown, black and white heroin have also been seen in the last few years.
This heroin has a high purity rate and is snorted or injected. Substance abuse centers have
reported a major increase in the treatment of white heroin cases. Reports indicate that most of
those treated are of high school age up to the early twenties. Another substance seen on the rise
is LSD. This also is popular among the younger age group. Most of the cases with LSD have
‘been high school students.


83

Congressional Field Hearing - Congressman J. Dennis Hastert
Testimony by Larry L. Langston, Chief of Police Aurora, Illinois

Date: September 22, 1997 —_ Location: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

operations and in some cases their own supply and conversion operations. This type of activity
lends itself to other types of crimes like robbery, fencing stolen property and prostitution. These
street level operations are the most damaging to neighborhoods.

There is a relationship between drugs and gang violence. Although drugs generate
financial support for the gangs, the pure hatred driven by the street gang philosophy of “us versus
them" and “death before dishonor” remains the basis for the vast majority of violence, Well over
80% of the street gang violence in Aurora is the product of the long term intense hatred between
the “People and Folk” nations. This would continue even without the drug profits. Gang
violence generally does not ermanate from the drug trade. The drug trade supports it.

A direct link between the drug trade and street gang violence rests with the open air drug
operations. Each gang generally stays in the boundaries of their own turf when they sell drugs,
thus preventing any city wide gang wars over'turf. What these street level dealers do provide are
abundant targets for rival gangs, Drug dealers are often the targets of drive by shootings and
other acts of violence simply because they are accessible. Ifa rival gang is looking for revenge
or to make a statement, a target is easy to find in street level drug dealers. These operations and
the related violence have an adverse effect on neighborhoods and are a substantial source of

citizen complaints about a substandard quality of life. Even with the successes that were


21

forces, to our State organizations, to our national effort, all across
the board, so that we can go after these people and not just happen
to find them because a dog found them.

If you look at the example of our different Federal agencies on
the Southwest Border, I could name two Federal agencies and give
you a test and say: “which of these two Federal agencies caught the
most drugs, canine dogs or these two Federal agencies?” And you
would be surprised to hear that it was the dogs that found them.

I am glad the dogs are finding them, but it should be the Federal
agencies, through an intelligence-oriented effort. And Mr. Chair-
man, Mr. Mica, and sir, your assistance is much appreciated in al-
lowing us to better put together the Federal effort to protect our
borders.

Another thing that we have got to do is that we have got to fol-
low the money. Drug dealers are in the business because there’s
great quantities of money to be made. Americans spend $50 billion
a year on illegal drugs, about $30 billion a year in cocaine.

We have got to do a better job of preventing money laundering.
I would cite the example of the effort in Washington Heights, NY,
where the average family income was just $30,000 a year, yet the
average remission, the amounts of money that these families were
sending back to the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico and other
places was about an average of $25,000 per family.

Now, it is pretty expensive to live in Manhattan. You don’t do
it on $5,000 a family. There was a lot of drug dealing going on up
there. And we put into effect some geographic tasking orders and
some other measures to cut down on the transmission of money
from New York City to these source countries.

We have also got to continue supporting committed partners
abroad, whether it is Ambassador Esguerra and other committed
Colombians such as Police Commander General Serrano, or wheth-
er it is in Peru or even in Mexico. We have got to support the ef-
forts of our allies who have shown the political will, the commit-
ment, and the personal bravery to stand up and root out drug traf-
ficking.

An example of a successful program is the air bridge—the inter-
diction campaign that General McCaffrey helped put together. It
had actually been started by his predecessor, General Joulwan.

But_we believe that multinational effort to interdict small air-
craft flying about 500 pounds or 500 kilos of cocaine from Peru over
the Andes Mountains into Colombia for further processing, that the
successful international effort to interdict that air bridge, directly
contributed to an 18-percent reduction in coca cultivation in Peru
in 1995 and 1996.

If you go after drug producing and you cut the profits out of any
link in the chain, then you will be successful. That is what that air
bridge demonstrated.

We have also got to continue opposing efforts to legalize drugs.
You will see people talking about industrial hemp. Hemp is not
really a commercially viable crop. In fact, the plant looks just like
a marijuana plant. It is a marijuana plant.

You will see people advocating for medical marijuana. I am a
compassionate person; I am sure the chairman and everybody else
in here is all for allowing seriously ill Americans to have best ac-


REPORT FROM THE FRONTLINE: FROM SOUTH
AMERICA TO SOUTH AURORA

HEARING

BEFORE THE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY,
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT
REFORM AND OVERSIGHT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ONE HUNDRED FIFTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION

SEPTEMBER 22, 1997

Serial No. 105-94

Printed for the use of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight

Ee

U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
47-639 WASHINGTON : 1998


84

Congressional Field Hearing - Congressman J. Dennis Hastert
Testimony by Larry L. Langston, Chief of Police Aurora, Illinois

Date: September 22, 1997 Location: IHinois Mathematics and Science Academy

previously cited, additional programs and tactics are needed to effect the drug problem. Federal
and state agencies tend to deal exclusively with mid and upper level dealers. A large amount of
resources is expended to make cases at these levels. This is a good approach attd needs to
continue, but when a dealer at this level is taken down, it has only a small or short term effect on
the street.

Prevention is certainly the key to any hope for a long term solution. These programs are
needed more than ever and at an earlier age to teach many of the life skills that are missing in
young people that turn to drugs and gangs. Decision making, self respect, conflict resolution,
personal responsibility, values, ethics, morals and many other social skills are needed to be
taught, in the home. If they are not provided in the home or parental ability is lacking, we must
either provide the assistance to obtain these skills or face the consequences that will manifest
itself in violence among those in our society. Intervention programs can also provide an avenue
for young people to experience purpose, pleasure, interactions and create opportunities that lead
to a full and productive life. When these needs are not met, the lure of gangs and drugs are
almost irresistible. Population projections indicate that the vulnerable age group of 15-24 yrs
will reach its highest levels by 2005-2010 and we must intervene before that time is upon us. As
victim/offender violent age categories become younger the indicators are clear that parents,
‘education, prevention, and intervention hold the key to long term solutions.

6


44

IDEA has created a Blueprint for Comprehensive Community-Based Drug Prevention of
identified methods that work. (Attachment A).

Drug prevention needs respect, support and commitment if it is going to be effective.
Drug prevention is not given credence because the process is misunderstood and not easily
measured. Although prevention is a relatively new discipline, there is a body of
knowledge that describes effective methodology. Drug prevention does not cost much, it
is simple and it can be done by of each us. While prevention does not cost much in
dollars, it does cost in man hours, we all have to work at it. The nature of prevention, and
the fact that it is a relatively new discipline, makes prevention difficult to measure; in the
last several years, however, significant effort has gone into quantifying the process, It is
measurable.

The federal government needs to recognize drug prevention as a primary strategy
for addressing the drug problem and fund it accordingly. Federal money intended for
prevention must go to effective and measurable prevention. The government’s
commitment to prevention must provide leadership for states, communities, schools and

IDEA VERY_IL IN_DI
NI
Ws

ADVOCACY NETWORK AND RECOGNIZED LEADERSHIP

[RED RIBBON WEEK CAMPAIGN

The Red Ribbon Week Campaign is a drug awareness campaign that serves to
involve every Illinois community in the process of drug prevention. IDEA
sponsors the state campaign during the last week of October. We develop a 20-
page booklet outlining the theme, prevention activities, educational materials,
contests, press releases, and public service announcements, and we send it to over
23,000 people each year in early May. (Attachment B)

[ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH CAMPAIGN,

April Alcohol Awareness Month Campaign is a statewide campaign designed to
focus attention on the number one drug of choice for youth, alcobol. For this,
IDEA creates a 16-page booklet outlining the theme, prevention activities, press
releases, op ed pieces, and educational materials. It is sent to over 18,000 people
cach year in January. Some of the information published in the booklet is reprinted
by State Farm Insurance and put in their “new driver” packets. (Attachment C)


8

the country, are very important for the very tough war that is
being fought in the world by the good people against drugs, against
drug organizations, and against druglords.

I come from Colombia, which is, unfortunately, a country that ev-
erybody talks about when they are talking about drugs and when
they are talking about the problem with drugs. It is a country
which is a little bit larger than the States of California and Texas
put together, with a very diverse and a very beautiful, very, very
complex geography, crossed by three mountain chains which create
all kinds of beauties but all kinds of geographic difficulties.

So people say, and it is true, that Colombia was a country where
people just jumped from the mule to the airplane. Our communica-
tion systems, our road systems, are very, very underdeveloped. Our
infrastructure is very underdeveloped due particularly to the com-
plex and diverse geographical situation.

Colombia has 38 million inhabitants, most of them good people,
not crooks, as many people think they are. The vast majority of Co-
lombians are definitely, definitely very good people.

We live mostly from the production of oil, coal, coffee, flowers, ba-
nanas, textile, and I am just talking about the main products of Co-
lombia. We were born in 1810, and we are the second oldest democ-
racy in the Western Hemisphere after yours, that is, a democracy,
a state governed by the rule of law, of which we are most proud.

For over 20 years, we have been engaged in a very tough and in
a most violent war against drugs. First, at the beginning, it was
marijuana. Then it was cocaine. And there still is cocaine. And now
there is heroin.

It is for a very complex and numerous amount of reasons that,
unfortunately, our country was chosen to be a major center for the
distribution of drugs, in part due to its strategically located posi-
tion right in the upper corner of South America, in the northwest-
ern corner of South America; due, in part, to the fact that we are
the only South American country having a coast on both the Carib-
bean, that is, the Atlantic, and the Pacific Ocean; due to the com-
plexity and diversity of our geography, our inland geography; due,
in part, to our situation of underdevelopment, the infrastructure,
the jungles that there are in part of our country; due, in part, to
our poverty and other social circumstances. We were, unfortu-
nately, chosen to be a country for major distribution of drugs.

And they didn’t come alone. Something similar to what the Bible
says that took place in Egypt, that great trouble with the plagues
has taken place in Colombia, only that the plagues were sent to Co-
lombia all at the same time, not just one after the other. And we
have been living through that for a long period of time.

It is true, and I have to admit it, that we probably woke up to
it a little bit late sometime, that we didn’t fully realize what was
going on. And when we did realize what was going on, the problem
was a major problem. Many of the people who decided to stand up
and oppose drugs, drug organizations, Gruglords, are now dead.

Being true that we woke up a little bit late, because at the begin-
ning everything seemed to be nice, good, we started to see very
strange, very rich people around us, people who we had never seen
before, people who seemed to have been very poor before and they
became rich just like that.


7
diction and enforcement. And many people were concerned about

Ss.

In the last Congress, the Speaker of the House appointed Denny
the liaison between the leadership and the National Security Sub-
committee which we serve, which is really responsible for establish-
ing our national drug policy, at least, from the House of Represent-
atives perspective.

And I will say that he did a masterful job in beginning to shape
a multifaceted, multiapproach war on drugs, restarting the war on
drugs. And if you come from Aurora or if you come from central
Florida, you cannot be blind to the fact that there is indeed a link
between source countries and drugs on the street.

So, whether it is source countries we are talking about here
today or the streets of our communities, there is a direct linkage.
And through Chairman Hastert’s leadership, he has brought that
to the attention of the Congress; in addition, brought the resources
back to that fight on every front. So I salute him.

I come from a very well-to-do suburban central Florida commu-
nity. Last October, we held a similar hearing in my community
after we had experienced record heroin deaths in our teenage popu-
lation and skyrocketing cocaine deaths. So, we in central Florida
and you in the central core of our Nation and these communities
such as Aurora are facing the same problems.

We have 70 percent of the crime in our country directly linked
to people involved with narcotics use or abuse, and nearly 2 million
people crowding our prisons. So, we have a problem across the Na-
tion, and this panel chaired by your Member of Congress is—your
chairman is doing an incredible job in helping to reconcentrate our
national efforts.

The most important thing we can do here today is hear from
your community, Mr. Chairman, and learn how they are approach-
ing the problems that they are facing, and hopefully take this infor-
mation back to Washington and incorporate it in our national pol-
icy.

So I thank you, and I am pleased to participate today.

Mr. Hastert. Thank you, Congressman Mica, and I really appre-
ciate you and Congressman Blagojevich for joining me here today.

Today we have three distinguished panels appearing before us.
First, I am pleased to introduce the Colombian ambassador to the
United States, the Honorable Juan Carlos Esguerra. Ambassador,
you are certainly welcome, and thank you for coming to be with us
today.

And I just would ask you that, again, our hospitality and our
welcome is here with you. You have certainly a story, a different
story that we don’t hear very often to tell. And we certainly wel-
come your statement, and ask you to proceed.

STATEMENT OF JUAN CARLOS ESGUERRA, COLOMBIAN
AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED STATES

Ambassador ESGUERRA. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman,
Congressmen Blagojevich and Mica, ladies and gentlemen. Thank
you very much for having invited me today because I think that
panels and meetings like the ones—and forums like the ones you
have organized here, and have been organized in different parts of


57

and what doesn’t work. I wish we knew in Congress what always
works and what doesn’t work, and unfortunately, we don’t always
know that.

Your community, though, your neighborhoods, people who belong
to your organization, their families, seem to be more impacted than.
anybody else in this community. It is their kids, certainly on the
east side of Aurora, and all over this town. But focused on—and
I have a brother who teaches on the east side of Aurora and know
that the impact is there.

What things do you think that those communities—is it better—
in your opinion, is it fraternal organizations, is it faith-based orga-
nizations, is it the schools? How best can those communities come
together to fight this?

Mr. Cano. Boy, you asked me a very difficult question. But there
are organizations that are helping in getting people together and
come together and fight this battle, everyone. Pinean, I see in my
community that there are the low—probably all the communities,
I mean, the level economic, where husband and wife, they both
work, one first shift or second shift. Some of the kids, they are all
by themselves there.

And that is probably one of the reasons the kids get a little bit
out of line, and: not enough attention. As you know, you know, peo-
ple who come here to the United States, they come to work. They
are not wealthy people. They are not middle-class people. They are
the poorest people in the United States.

I came to this country trying to find myself a dream, which I did.
And it is difficult for someone to live in a house where only hus-
band is working and raise kids in a family and pay bills. I mean,
it is not easy. I mean, and that is one of the main problems, is that
both parents have to work. They are not well-educated parents.

And sometimes they see the economic benefit in both working
and to raise the kids for a better life, and sometimes that is when
the kids kind of get out of line. And really, I don’t know what will
be the answer. It just is working with the schools, helping to pre-
vent some of the kids that they get involved.

Here again, like I said earlier, some kids that are expelled from
school for 3 or 4 days, they go back to the streets, no place to go.
And that is once they get to that, they are going to continue getting
in trouble to be expelled again.

We need to find Programs so we can help those kids and go after
school and help those kids. Let’s face it. We, the Latino community,
is the poorest community overall.

Mr. Hastert. Mr. Barwa, you wanted to comment on that?

Mr. Barwa. Yes. If I could draw an analogy for you, when I be-
came principal of East High last year, my boss said to me, your job
is—one of your jobs is to reduce the dropout rate. What program
will you implement?

And my answer to him, as I set my goals for this year, is, I can’t
implement a program. I have to implement several, because the
reasons that kids drop out of schools are so varied that I have to
attack the problem on several fronts.

I think that the question you posed bears the same answer. We
cannot say that it can all be done by educational institutions, nor
fraternal institutions, nor faith-based institutions. I think what we


40

We have believed very strongly, as people you have spoken to, in
prevention. We believe that—and as the Ambassador said, you
know, if we didn’t need these drugs, we wouldn’t have a drug prob-
Jem. So, if every one of us were to work on this problem in our own
homes, we would really not have nearly the problem that we have
today.

It has to be prevention. The primary focus has got to be preven-
tion, so that we do not have these problems. And that has to occur
within our own families. We have to do it for ourselves.

And in IDEA and in Illinois, we have what we call comprehen-
sive community-based prevention, and you will find a model of
that, the blueprint, in this report that we have prepared for you
today. And I would hope that you would look at that.

It is something we believe that should be going on in every com-
munity in the United States. And we in IDEA do engage every sin-
gle community in the State of Illinois in community—comprehen-
sive community-based prevention.

And we do that through different educational materials: cam-
paigns, conferences. We have a conference coming up where we ex-
pect over 1,800 people. In newsletters: Our newsletter, one of our
newsletters, is reprinted by the DEA and sent to every DEA agent
in the country.

We are quoted by different justice departments. We are quoted
by different church publications. And we have become recognized
leadership. So we have become—we have been able to engage every
community in prevention.

And that is really what needs to happen. We need leadership at
the national level. And we do not see that happening at this point
because, you know, we have—presently we have increasing drug
use among young people. We have the perception of harm associ-
ated with drug use decreasing.

We have people out there marketing marijuana as medicine, peo-
ple marketing heroin as fashionable, people marketing hemp as an
agricultural product. We have people marketing legalization as
harm reduction. We have people promoting clean needles. We have
people promoting all drug use through music and fashions and the
media.

And somehow it seems to me that the bad guys are leading us.
And we have to reverse this. And I am not quite sure how we re-
verse it other than to engage everybody in this country in this
problem.

During World War II, my understanding is that everyone under-
stood the dangers that we faced as a country and as individuals,
and so, they all became involved in this problem. And whether—
if you weren’t abroad fighting, you were at home doing your part.

So, somehow we have got to engage all these people in this coun-
try in this problem. They have to first understand what the prob-
lem is, the danger associated with it. They have to understand
what they can do. And then they need to be told how they can do
it. And we are not doing that. The bad guys are doing that.

I got this last week, and this is Parent-Teen Connection. It is
just a local publication that goes out of Deerfield, IL, and it goes
to I don’t know how many people. And on page 7 here it talks
about drugs and kids.


81

Congressional Field Hearing - Congressman J. Dennis Hastert
Testimony by Larry L. Langston, Chief of Police Aurora, Illinois

Date: September 22, 1997 Location: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

Locally, the majority of the effort of the Aurora Police Department is focused on the
street level dealer. In January of 1995, the Police Department reorganized to emphasize
‘geographic accountability and improve problem-solving efforts. At that time the Vice and
‘Narcotic Unit was combined with the Gang Intervention Unit to form the twenty-eight member
Special Operations Group (SOG). Since then, investigators from both units have been cross
trained in the fields of drugs and gangs. Since 1995, the SOG has seized more than $12,000,000
worth of narcotics, more than $750,000 in cash, made more than 1,000 felony arrests, executed
almost 200 search warrants and taken more than 240 guns off the streets of Aurora.

It is often difficult to investigate and prosecute criminal cases against most gang members
and can require an intense multitude of resources. Initiating a drug investigation has proven
much easier than making a case for possession of a gun or for an act of violence. The tactics
used in a drug investigation can also require fewer occasions when a citizen would be required to
testify against a gang member. The reluctance of people and witnesses to come forward and
testify or provide investigative assistance is the single biggest deterrent to the arrest and
prosecution of gang members.

The Aurora Police Department does not have the resources necessary to climb the ladder
of a drug ring and identify the main supplier of illicit drugs. Although SOG has successfully
completed several long term narcotics investigations, cases of this type are generally deferred to

3


28

They taught them the simple things: to read, to write, how to
plant, how to sow, and how to reap. I sat in a room of a martyred
priest by the name of Father Stanley Rother who was killed simply
for teaching the Mayan Indians how to read and write.

I know now as a pastor in this community that the true enemies
of the people will be those who make a difference. We have already
heard that some are willing to immerse themselves by taking
flights to Colombia, willing to immerse themselves by attacking
these issues.

We need more of that in this city. I believe when that day comes,
violence will be diminished, perhaps even eradicated. Thank you.

(The prepared statement of Reverend Murphy follows:]


45

{ILLINOIS STATEWIDE YOUTH FORUM

The Illinois Statewide Youth Forum is an opportunity for the youth of the State to
present the findings from their Local Forums to the leaders of Illinois. The Ilinois
State Treasurer, Judy Baar Topinka, served as the honorary chairperson. Local
‘Youth Forums allow young people to testify before a panel of community leaders
and parents on how alcohol affects the quality of their lives. Each Forum serves a
as a catalyst for the community to address any problems identified in the hearing.

IDEA sponsors the State Youth Forum in cooperation with: Office of Lieutenant
Governor, Office of the Treasurer, State Board of Education, Department of
Human Services, Department of Transportation - Division of Traffic Safety, and
Illinois National Guard. (Attachment D)

[IDEA PREVENTION CONFERENCE

The IDEA Conference is designed to give adults and youth the knowledge,
resources and skills to initiate or continue drug prevention programs in their
communities. This year’s 15“ annual conference is expected to attract over 1,700
adults and youth. The two-day conference is held on the Sunday and Monday
before Thanksgiving and the location alternates between Chicago and central
Ilinois. This year, members of the faith community are invited to the conference
on Monday for workshops on involving the faith community in prevention.

There are 15 state offices and agencies that work with IDEA to present the
conference: Office of the Governor
Office of the Lieutenant Governor
Office of the Attorney Genera!
Office of the Secretary of State
Department of Human Services,
Division of Community Health and Prevention
Department of Transportation, Division of Traffic Safety
State Police
State Board of Education
Illinois National Guard
US. Drug Enforcement Administration
USS. Customs Service
University of Ilinois, Cooperative Extension Service
Students Against Driving Drunk
LADDA/Operation Snowball/ITI
Tlinois Elks Association
(Attachment E)


27

asphalts and curbs and not leather swivel chairs, our city has a
fighting chance.

We need an itinerant, non-office-based approach to reaching
those most affected by violence. Gang members do respond to a ho-
listic approach toward internal change, and the champions and the
heroes of this approach and movement are those who are in this
struggle that I defined earlier.

The social services we offer in this city are fantastic. Some sim-
ply lack the linkage and minority representation to get the job
done. Latinos and African-Americans in this struggle don’t want
the government to work for them; they want it to work with them.
The minority community wants some sense of self-determination
and not government infringement in managing their social and
their pastoral concerns.

As the director of the Prayer Coalition for Reconciliation, that is
what we are about. The coalition will continue to utilize the serv-
ices of those, as one former gang member recently put it, are “the
people who others reach over and lock their car doors when they
see us.”

We will utilize survivors to reach survivors. We will utilize
former gang members to reach former gang members and active
gang members. We will utilize impoverished neighborhoods to
reach their brothers and sisters with the message of perseverance,
advocacy, and hope.

The biggest error in this city is that there is a good guy and that
there is a bad guy. The good guy keeps the civil law and the bad
guy breaks it. In the secular world, we hire people to catch the bad
guy and we imprison them, as one gang member put it, to become
society’s garbage.

In the spiritual world, God said all fall short of the glory of God,
and we are saved by grace. And therefore, from a pastoral perspec-
tive, all of us are redeemable. And therefore there is no lost cause.

This young man would be thought of as a lost cause. He stands
today before you truly rehabilitated, truly able to reach back into
the communities most affected by violence with the greatest
amount of possibility of making a difference.

The Prayer Coalition for Reconciliation and other pastoral orga-
nizations are not just a spiritual option. We are a social solution
that is excluded in almost every failing government plan that is in
existence against violence in this country.

Aurora will change when those least affected by violent crime de-
cide, perhaps by providential insight, that their brothers and sis-
ters are dying. Everyone in this city has lost a child, figuratively.
They just don’t know it yet.

We don’t need more changes of address. We need more changes
of heart and less white flight. Some can shoot and run; we must
stand and fight. There is no land of Oz to go to to avoid these prob-
lems, and abandoning our brothers and sisters in plight leads to
further racial and economic polarization.

I truly believe in my heart of hearts that one of the answers, and
not the answer, is the pastoral community. While in Guatemala,
the enemy of the people was the pastoral community. Those most
assassinated and killed were pastors.


64

drug prosecutions, and directly supervises the judicial and nonjudicial
administrative) asset forfeiture cases. The asset forfeiture investigator is
~signed to DUMEG and participates in pro-active asset forfeiture investigations.
Additionally, his assistance is offered to local police departments who are not
familiar with the asset forfeiture procedures that are required by statute.

The supervisor of the NPU assigns cases. The NPU is a vertical
prosecution unit. This means that once a defendant is charged, his or her case is
assigned to one attorney until that case is disposed of. There are many occasions
in which an attomey from the NPU gets involved in a case before it is charged.
The NPU assists the agents in drafting search warrant complaints and
applications for use of eavesdropping devices for their presentation before judges.
Our attomeys are available 24 hours a day for this purpose, or to give any other
type of aid and advice to agents.

IL REVIEW OF PROGRESS MADE

In the past year NPU has been on the cutting edge in narcotics law
enforcement. This often requires change. But through these changes the number
of approved initiated cases has remained constant. This is a credit to DUMEG,

¢ fine police departments throughout DuPage County, and the attorneys
assigned to the NPU. The following is a break down of initiated cases over the
past year.

During the grant period of June 17, 1996 through June 17, 1997, our office
filed 178 new drug cases. Approximately 52% of those cases were charges of
unlawful delivery of controlled substance or unlawful possession of controlied
substance with intent to deliver. Approximately 42% of the cases were delivery
of cannabis cases, or possession of cannabis with intent to deliver cases. These
numbers reflect what has been going on in the drug community of DuPage
County over the last year. The number of cocaine and cannabis cases has
remained steady. We expect this trend to continue into next year.

During that same time period, our office disposed of 188 cases, including 88
cases (47%) where the defendants were sentenced to the INinois Department of
Corrections, and another 62 cases (33%) where the defendants were sentenced to
the DuPage County Jail as a condition of probation. Approximately 12% of the
cases resulted in a sentence of probation without jail. There were 3% of total
convictions which were sentenced to some form of community service as a
condition of probation. There were 9 total cases, which were findings of not guilty,
or dismissals. This leaves our unit with a conviction rate in excess of 95%. This
high conviction rate is a reflection of our strong partnership with law enforcement


(cg esomeD PTH CONORESS

Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM AND OVERSIOMT
2587 Rareura House Ornce Butowa
Wasraron, DC 20818-6148

OPENING REMARKS OF.
CHAIRMAN J. DENNIS HASTERT

Field Hearing of
The Subcommittee on National Security,
International Affairs, and Criminal Justice

“Report From the Frontline: From South America to South Aurora”

September 22, 1997

First, Let me thank everyone for coming. Drug abuse and international drug trafficking
{is an issue, as many of you know, that | care deeply about. These drugs undermine society in
‘our communities, contribute to gang violence and destroy young lives. This moming, | hope to
discuss the close link between drug violence here, in Aurora and our federal efforts, together
‘with other countries, to stop these drugs where they are grown. | sm especially concemed
about the cocaine, crack, heroin and marijuana that are getting into our communities. Today,
‘much of our attention will focus on the relationship between cocoa cuttivation in Colombia and
the sales of cocaine which occur on the street corners of cities and towne in Iino.

‘And let me just mention several facts that we cannot ignore. Last year, nearty 20,000
‘Americans died of drug abuse or drug crime. Heroin use among teens nearly doubled. And we
‘til do not yet properly educate our kids about the dangers inherent in drug use; only one-
quarter of our teens say their parents talk to them about drugs.

Hopefully all of you have a map of North America. Let me explain our basic federal
model for defeating drugs. First, we championed demand reduction. We passed, for example,
the drug free communities act this year, adding up to $100,000 for every community anti-drug
coalition in America. Second, we look beyond our borders. We want to stop the cuttivation of
drug plants in South America. Then, we want to stop the trafficking of those drugs through our
borders;

become addicted
there must be viable altematives available which give them a chance to beat addiction.


18

And finally on this panel is Ms. Judy Kreamer, who is the presi-
dent of the Illinois Drug Education Alliance. And I would thank
you all for coming today.

In accordance with committee policy, I will ask to swear you in.
So as you all come up, would you please stand and raise your right

ands.

[Witnesses sworn.]

Mr. Hastert. Let the record show that the witnesses answered
in the affirmative.

Please be seated. I think there are enough chairs there. If not,
we will pull up a couple more.

I would like to start with Lieutenant Colonel Kinney. And colo-
nel, would you please proceed with your opening statement.

STATEMENTS OF LT. COL. FRANCIS “PANCHO” KINNEY, DIREC-
TOR OF STRATEGIC PLANNING, OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG
CONTROL POLICY; HAROLD OSBY, FORMER GANG MEMBER;
JUVENTINO CANO, PRESIDENT, AURORA HISPANIC CHAM-
BER OF COMMERCE; MIKE MURPHY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
PRAYER COALITION FOR RECONCILIATION; BOB BARWA,
PRINCIPAL, EAST AURORA HIGH SCHOOL AND NATIONAL
PRESIDENT, OPERATION SNOWBALL; AND JUDY KREAMER,
PRESIDENT, ILLINOIS DRUG EDUCATION ALLIANCE

Lieutenant Colonel KINNEY. Yes. Good morning, Mr. Chairman,
Representative Mica, and Representative Blagojevich.

I am just delighted to be here and represent Gen. Barry McCaf-
frey, the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, who
is known as the drug czar, as you pointed out.

The three gentlemen here from the subcommittee all share a con-
cern for our communities and our children and an absolute commit-
ment to helping to find solutions to the Nation’s drug problem.

I would be remiss if I just didn’t say a couple of words about
what Chairman Hastert brings to the effort here. He is a national
leader who led the fight for the Hastert-Portman bill, known as the
Drug-Free Communities Act, which will help provide essential seed
moneys to community coalitions.

He is one of the few in Congress who has taken great risk to see
the on-the-ground truth in Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, and other
source countries. He brings a laser-like focus to programs to see
what works and what doesn’t work.

And he understands the linkage between foreign and domestic
components of the Nation’s drug problem, particularly the links
that bring these drugs from source countries and the problems that
you see in your own communities and cities and streets. He is one
of those rare leaders who is committed to finding bipartisan solu-
tions to the drug problem. And we appreciate that.

He is the cochair, as you know, of the bipartisan drug policy
working group, which underscores that commitment. He also chairs
the National Security, International Affairs, and Criminal Justice
Subcommittee, so he knows something about the relationship
among crimes, drugs, and gangs. He knows that at the center of
all these problems we will find legal drugs.

I, too, work for an extraordinary man, an American hero, Gen.
Barry McCaffrey, a man who has four Purple Hearts and multiple


82

Congressional Field Hearing - Congressman J. Dennis Hastert
Testimony by Larry L. Langston, Chief of Police Aurora, Dlinois

Date: September 22, 1997 Location: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

state or federal agencies that have the needed resources working in cooperation with our
department. The SOG unit concentrates on identifying local “hot spots” for drug/gang activity
through community complaints, intelligence gathering and prosctive investigations. Operation
Spring Clean has been an annual function since 1995. In the spring of each year, undercover
investigators make open air purchases of crack cocaine from street gang members. Almost
eighty street level drug dealers and gang members have been incarcerated over the last three
years.

Drugs are a source of financial support for the street gangs in Aurora. The street gangs
traffic in narcotics at both the distributor and dealer levels. The gangs are able to maintain
significant income for the higher ranking leaders, many of which do not maintain any other
means of support. The gang itself i also able to utilize proceeds from their drug sales forthe
purpose of purchasing weapons, vehicles, and in some cases bribing witnesses not to testify
against them in court.

In recent years there has been a noticeable decrease in the street level dealing by some of
the major gangs. These gangs have worked to establish themselves as distributors of larger
quantities of drugs, in some cases to their rival gangs. In the gang world, business will take

priority over gang rivalry. Other gangs have for the most part maintained strong street level


55

I think that that is something that we ought to look at. We ought
to have a little caveat on Federal contracts and folks that are get-
ting Federal money.

And I think we will also look into CDC, Mr. Chairman. I think
that if we have got them out there, the House just voted—wasn’t
it last week—on the needle exchange program pretty overwhelm-
ingly. And we have got a Federal agency working in an opposite
direction. .

Mr. Hastert. We had a hearing, just had a hearing Thursday on
it, too.

Mr. MICA. So, I think that those issues we will follow up on. I
appreciate it.

Mr. Hastert. Thank you. And certainly my colleague, Mr. Mica
from Florida, has been working on this issue a long, long time, as
matter of fact, even long before he ever got in Congress. And I ap-
preciate his understanding and work in this area.

You know, we did pass last year the Drug-Free Communities—
this year the Drug-Free Communities Act. Throwing money at com-
munities isn’t the answer. The answer is trying to get people to
work together.

Every community is a little bit different. Every community is a
little bit unique. But I think the key is to find the school folks, the
faith-based folks, the fraternal organizations, those people who
want to band together.

I mean, the communities are people saying, we are not going to
tolerate this in our streets any more, and to give them some funds
to organize and have the infrastructure that they can at least keep
records or keep a secretary or this type of thing.

But the real work, we know, comes from folks who do volunteer
work, who are immersed in the community and are willing to do
that day after day after day. And as Reverend Murphy said, you
just can’t immerse yourself for a day and do your part. It takes a
long, long time. ‘And I appreciate those remarks and certainly that
effort.

One of the things that we are trying to put together, and Colonel
Kinney, you might want to talk about this a little bit, but we need
to work and focus in, even in the drug czar’s office, on tasks that
we need to put together in the next few years, and then make
somebody responsible to make sure those tasks get done, and to
give the drug czar the availability—you know, one of the problems
we have in Congress, we have seven or eight different communities
of jurisdiction. We have seven or eight different committees that
appropriate funds.

How do you bring all this stuff together and make sure that
somebody is coordinating these efforts so they get used the way we
want to? Do you have any thoughts on that?

Lieutenant Colonel KINNEY. Well, I appreciate that. That is in-
deed one of the things that we are doing, and the Speaker has been
certainly extremely helpful—Representative Gingrich, Speaker of
the House, that is—has been extremely helpful in helping all of us
to focus on defining just what success might look like for drug pol-

icy.
And clearly I think the central purpose of drug policy has got to
be to reduce drug use and its consequences. And I emphasize use


79

Congressional Field Hearing - Congressman J. Dennis Hastert
Testimony by Larry L. Langston, Chief of Police Aurora, Ilinois

Date: September 22, 1997 Location: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

‘Aurora, Illinois, like many cities of similar size and demographics across the
nation experiences a drug problem. Drug use has continued to rise and the age of users has
continued to fall. Drugs continue to represent a “popular” saleable commodity that has attracted
the association with “street gangs.” Most violence within our community can be attributed to
three primary groups: drug distribution networks; inter and intra gang disputes; and domestic
violence. Each of these groups engages in violent activity as a separate entity and with
interaction among them. Drugs can often be identified as the interactive link among the three
groups, but each has its own associated causative factors as well. Violence associated with
drugs can involve supplier, distribution, and dealer networks with or without a gang component.
Violence associated with gangs can also involve inter and intra gang disputes with or without
drugs. As the two groups interact violence can ignite ancillary violence within each group as
well. Drug networks and gangs each have esiablished hierarchies and stakeholders within their
respective groups. As we have seen within our community, as these two groups interact violence
can multiply at several levels.

The biggest impact on the drug culture in the city over the last five years has been
the availability of crack cocaine. The sale of crack cocaine is predominately controlled by street
gangs. Powder cocaine is very prevalent and can be purchased from a number of sources. Street
‘gangs are involved in the sales of powder cocaine but it is readily available outside the gang

1


94

Mr. Mica. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. HasTerT. Thank you, Mr. Mica, for being with us today all
the way from Florida and then back to Washington this afternoon.

One last question, kind of a related area but a little off: We are
about to pass legislation in the House that sells our encryption
software overseas. And I have a personal feeling that that is prob-
ably not the right thing to do.

What is your attitude? A lot of this intelligence and the
encryption that you can—we can pick up today or use so that some-
body else can’t pick it up is pretty much pretty important, if we
have the advantage.

If we allow foreign countries, or those people who are moving
heroin or marijuana or whatever through the system, to be able to
pick up our encryption, do you think that is a problem, or is it not
a problem?

Mr. Garcia. Congressman, if I can just mention real quick, when
it comes to the electronic industry, everybody that is really in-
yolved with that is going to build a better mousetrap every single

lay.

Whether we sell it now or whether they obtain it later is really
not the problem. It is what we do with the information. I will give
you an example, utilizing sports. Vince Lombardi had so many
plays in his repertoire, and they knew that he was going to run
that play. But he executed it so well that they couldn’t stop him.

And I think if we do the same thing and we execute our plans
real well and take that intelligence information, I think we can
have an impact.

Mr. HASTERT. Very good. I think, with that, we will stop.

Thank you very much. Thanks for being with us today. And I
want to thank all of our witnesses for the testimony they gave. And
the Subcommittee on National Security, International Affairs, and
Criminal Justice is adjourned.

(Whereupon, at 12:40 p.m., the subcommittee was adjourned.)

(0)


85

Congressional Field Hearing - Congressman J. Dennis Hastert
Testimony by Larry L. Langston, Chief of Police Aurora, Iinois

Date: September 22, 1997 _ Location: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy

We must all work together. Many agencies, churches, individuals and boards are working
independently toward solutions for the same problems—drugs and gangs. These groups and
individuals must form as a united, multi community alliance committed to mobilizing individuals
and systems to take action to eliminate those conditions which foster violence, delinquency and
‘gangs while promoting conditions to ensure a positive community for all. A 35-member Aurora
‘Community Mobilization Advisory Board has been formed in Aurora to accomplish this task
locally. The talents and resources of an entire community must be brought together to form the
customized synergy necessary for positive change within any community.

Finally we must remember that the police are not charged with making the needed

changes in society, but rather we must deal with the problems of the resultant symptoms.

Recommendatio

1. Suppression efforts are an important role of the police and often involve incarceration,
However, gang and drug operations continue to flourish and influence the effects of those
operations in communities outside the prison system. If we cannot, within the controlled
environment of the prison system, stop gang and drug operations how can we hope to
stop it in a free society. We only continue to supply better operators and stronger
commitments to each upon their release back to our communities. Example: Larry
Hoover Gangster Disciple investigation and the recent indictments of Gino Colon due to

7


92

ficult for them to support that. You are then going to have pockets
of more smaller communities that are looking toward the State and
the Federal level for assistance.

We find very often that the priorities or the criteria at the Fed-
eral level dealing with prosecutions sometimes are very serious
felonies that simply cannot be dealt with due to the caseload that
is already taken on. And the system simply cannot handle it.

And that is very well-known throughdut the criminal element at
both the State and Federal level.

Mr. Mica. But if you are asking the feds to take over, partici-
pate, or prosecute a case, are you getting a positive response and
are they able to participate?

Chief LANGSTON. Yes. We—as Roy mentioned, we have assigned
an officer with the DEA that does work with the task force, an:
we do get good response. But again, they still have only so many
personnel and so many dollars that they can apply in the northern
Illinois area that certainly does have its share of a problem.

Mr. Mica. The other area that I wanted to discuss is, I come
from centural Florida and we have had, sort of a normal drug traf-
ficking problem and drug abuse problem. The last few years, we
have experienced an incredible deluge of cocaine and now heroin.
Heroin is coming in in big quantities, and it is price-competitive
with crack.

And I think you indicated you are seeing something similar. And
the other problem we have is it is among our young people. It is—
we have had—we match—I think Dade County, which is Miami—
Los Angeles in heroin deaths among our young people, and we are
skyrocketing in cocaine and also designer drugs.

And I think your testimony or experience has been the same up
here. Is that correct?

Chief LANGSTON. That is correct. We are certainly seeing an in-
crease in the heroin market as well as some of the—primarily LSD,
some of the other drugs that you referred to as designer drugs.

Mr. Mica. Are the designer drugs being locally produced, or com-
ing out of the Midwest, or where?

Mr. Garcia. From the intelligence information that we have been
able to gather, it is a combination of. Apparently where we first
start to see them surface is in college communities where you have
an influx of people coming from different areas. At one time, the
LSD trade was isolated into the California area and came this way.

But what you are seeing, and if you ever get on the Internet, you
can find recipes for some of these designer drugs there. And it
seems that some of these students are into trying that. KAHT is
an example, which was produced in northern Michigan, that is a
drug that is starting to be used in this area.

So we will see different pockets of groups that will try some of
these different drugs—maybe only once, but the formula is still out
there.

The other problem is that the use is starting to—or I shouldn’t
say decrease, but it is starting to be used among younger students
versus the older students. And that is the problem in the rise that
I am starting to see, that it is starting in eighth grade, as was indi-
cated here earlier with the other problems, that we are getting
younger kids involved.


62

great relationship with them, and that relationship is fostered by
the Federal grant money that we receive that supports our unit.

I don’t want to go on any longer and take any more time; I am
on a tight schedule. But you have my program outline, and I would
be happy to answer any questions.

[The prepared statement of Mr. Birkett follows:]


35

And third, create expanded opportunities for prevention special-
ists to network and share programs and practices that are effective.
We can’t afford to be selfish in these areas. We must all learn what
each other know so that we can share them with all of our stu-
dents. And Judy will talk to you about a very effective program we
have in Illinois which does just that.

Finally, I hope that each of you will develop a close familiarity
and understanding with prevention programs that work. I invite
you to take a trip to an Operation Snowball event, just as you vis-
ited Latin America, and find out what it is that happens at these
programs that makes them effective.

I would also like to just add a quick comment to what Mr. Cano
said. At the school that I work with, he is correct, we have a sig-
nificant portion of Latin American students, Latino students, who,
in fact, are involved in that problem. But my leadership in dealing
with that problem is also one of Latino students. So, the commu-
nity is solving the problem.

Once again, I am honored to have had the opportunity to speak
with you today. Thank you very much, and I will be happy to an-
swer any questions you may have.

[The prepared statement of Mr. Barwa follows:]


75

is snorted or injected. Substance abuse centers have reported a
major increase in the treatment of white heroin cases.

Reports indicate that most of those treated are high school age
and up into the early twenties. Another substance seen on the rise
is LSD. This also is popular among the younger age group. Most
of the cases with LSD have been high school students.

Locally, the majority of the effort of the Aurora Police Depart-
ment is focused on the street-level dealer. In January 1995, the po-
lice department reorganized to emphasize geographic accountability
and improve our local community problem-solving efforts.

At that time the vice and narcotic unit was combined with the
gang intervention unit to form the 28-member special operations
group. Since then, investigators from both units have been cross-
trained in the fields of drugs and gangs.

Since 1995, the SOG has seized more than $12 million worth of
narcotics, more than $750,000 in cash, made more than a 1,000 fel-
ony arrests, executed almost 200 search warrants, and taken more
than 240 guns off the streets of Aurora.

It is often difficult to investigate and prosecute criminal cases
against most gang members, and they can require an intense mul-
titude of resources. Initiating a drug investigation has proven much
easier than making a case for possession of a gun or for an act of
violence.

The tactics used in a drug investigation can also require fewer
occasions when a citizen would be required to testify against a
gang member. The reluctance of people and witnesses to come for-
ward and testify or provide investigative assistance is the single
biggest deterrent to the arrest and prosecution of gang members.

The Aurora Police Department does not have the resources nec-
essary to climb the ladder of a drug ring and identify the main sup-
plier of illicit drugs. Although SOG has successfully completed sev-
eral long-term narcotics investigations, cases of this type are gen-
erally deferred to State or Federal agencies that have the needed
resources, working in cooperation with our department.

The SOG unit concentrates on identifying local hot spots for drug
or gang activity through community complaints, intelligence gath-
ering, and proactive investigations.

Operation Spring Clean has been an annual function since 1995.
In the spring of each year, undercover investigators make open air
purchases of crack cocaine from street gang members. Almost 80
street-level drug dealers and gang members have been incarcerated
over the last 3 years.

Drugs are a source of financial support for the street gangs in
Aurora. The street gangs traffic in narcotics at both the distributor
and dealer levels. The gangs are able to maintain significant in-
come for the higher ranking leaders, many of which do not main-
tain any other means of support.

The gang itself is also able to utilize proceeds from their drug
sales for the purpose of purchasing weapons, vehicles, and in some
cases bribing witnesses not to testify against them in court.

In recent years there has been a noticeable decrease in the
street-level dealing by some of the major gangs. These gangs have
worked to establish themselves as distributors of larger quantities


36

Testimony delivered to: Congressman Dennis Hastet’s Subcommittee on National
Security, international Affairs and Criminal Justice

Presented: Monday, September 22, 1997 at the Illinois Math and
1 Science Academy

By Or Robert S. Barwa, Principal of East Aurora High School
and President of Operation Snowbail Inc.

Members of the Committee: |

Thank you for this opportunity ta speak with you. For the past 23 year I have been
fortunate enough to work with young pecple from many partsjof the state of illinois in my
capacity as an educator, and for the past 18 year | have worked with students in the
area of substance abuse prevention. It is from that perspective that | wish to share my
experiences and to provide you with some recommendations.

Déating with the problem of underage use of alcohol and other drugs has always
Teguired a multi-pronged approach; interdiction efforts are required to prevent young
pepple from gaining access to these substances, laws which imposition consequences
to punish those who use and/or distribute these substances, and prevention and
education.to reduce and, hopefully, eliminate the demand for these substances among
yong people. As 2 high school administrator ! have seen few enforcement efforts that
ard effective in truly changing a. young person's behavior, and fewer still in the area of
thé use of alcohol and other aries. \

Please allow me to assure you that | am not advocating any reduction in penalties, and
certainly not the legalization of possession of controlled substances. | have seen far too
many lives forever altered, and far too much potential wasted by these substances to
ever consider making these substances easier to obtain. However, | do that the War on
Drugs should learn from the experiences of the U.S. Military as it has fought a more
conventional war in Vietnam. That is, even with superior weaponry, manpower, and
troupe strength, a war can not be won on the battlefield unless the hearts and minds of
the citizens are also conquered.
In my experience, the most potent weapon we posses in the War on Drugs is
prevention. Like all weapons, prevention strategies have been improved over the years
as'our knowledge and experiences have expanded. Education program, which sought
to “scare” young pecple into avoiding contact with these substances, were found to be
mipimally effective. Unfortunately, the réaction to these scare tactics were similar to the
experience most of us have when we have a “near collision” as we drive In the short
term our awareness is heightened and our driving habits improve, but as time passes
the impact of the scare becomds less and less until we find curselves using the same
“ driving habits we used prior to the scar

)


51

Mr. HASTERT. Thank you. Thank you very much, and to all our
presenters.

Congressman Mica, would you like to open with questions?

Mr. MICA. Well, one of the problems we have at the Federal level
is trying to reestablish again a national drug policy. A great deal
of it was dismantled in my first 2 years when I got in office, from
1992 to 1994.

And then also trying to put Federal resources where they can be
most effective. While I am a strong advocate of source country
interdiction and assistance and law enforcement, I also recognize
the need for effective education, prevention, and treatment pro-

‘ams.

One of the problems we have is we have somewhere in the neigh-
borhood of 250 drug treatment, programs that are federally spon-
sored. The success rate is horrible. I mean, if you evaluated this—
I come from the private sector in business—you would never let an-
other contract to any of these folks because it is so bad.

We have a faith-based ministry that has no Federal funding at
all, and they have like a 93-percent success rate, and they don’t
want any Federal money. What we are trying to do is sort out
where we should put Federal resources and also to groups that are
successful in educating.

But we have been putting back money into these programs. In
fact, in 1993-94, most of the money went into education and pre-
vention. What is startling is if you look at the statistics, 1993,
1994, 1995, drug use among our teens and our youth, our young
people, has absolutely skyrocketed. I don’t care how anyone pre-
sents the statistics, but they are an absolute disaster.

So, we put more Federal money and resources into these edu-
cation, prevention, and treatment programs, and we are getting
less in return.

My question, maybe to Mr. Murphy, is what specifically is your
advice to us in how to best use the Federal assistance in programs?
Are you even open to Federal assistance, and can our Federal as-
sistance be pinpointed so that it can be most effective?

Reverend Murpuy. I think that is up to each organization. I
think one of the reasons that the organizations that are 501(c)3),
oftentimes, that are directed toward faith-based programs turn
down Federal money or don’t want it is because it involves so many
infringement issues, so many pieces of the pie that they don’t want
to get involved in. They want to be able to be free to conduct their
philosophy and ideology as they see fit. And as you said, it is 93
percent successful.

It is interesting to me that we have yet to be able to successfully
treat a disease called alcoholism in anything other than a faith-
based program in an aftercare sense.

And I see the same thing in terms of our gang community and
others, where there may be diseases of the soul, where there may
be all sorts of familial and social aspects that have led to these
young men finding themselves in these plights, and yet we seem
to ignore the issue of the faith aspect because there seems to be
constitutional guardians that want to push it to the left or to the
right.


24

Cone ressisnal Heads [En
N ww xen
Wey me C&by) Chop tas Maiphy
GOOD MORNING.
MY NAME IS HAROLD OSBY.

1 AM A FORMER GANG MEMBER OF AURORA. AS SHORT AS 1 CAN. 1 WOULD LIKE TO
GIVE A SMALL PART OF MY GANG PAST. 1 WAS CHIEF OF SECURITY . THIRD IN
COMMAND. OF THE IMPERIAL INSANE VICE LORDS. | HAVE PROBABLY HURT MORE
PEOPLE THAN ARE HERE TODAY.

1 HAVE BEEN SHOT A FEW TIMES AND STABBED TWICE. I ONCE STABBED A GOOD
FRIEND THREE DIFFERENT TIMES: ONCE JUST BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T GET OFF THE
PHONE. TO SAY J WASN'T A NICE GUY IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. BUT A KILLER I WAS
NOT. WHEN I TRIED TO GET OUT OF THE GANG. MY OWN SO CALLED FRIENDS. TRIED TO
KILL ME

WHEN THEIR THREE ATTEMPTS FAILED .THEY SET ME UP TO TAKE THE FALL ON A
MURDER. OF WHICH | WAITED FOR TRIAL PROCEEDING TO CONCLUDE FOR NINE.
MONTHS . I SATIN KANE COUNTY JAIL FIGHTING TWO COUNTS OF FIRST DEGREE
MURDER. INSIDE I TRIED TO TURN MY LIFE OVER TO GOD. J LOST MY WIFE AND
DAUGHTER WHEN THEY COULDN'T GO THROUGH SEEING ME INCARCERATED ANY
LONGER.

ON MARCH 22ND, 1996 . GOD ANSWERED MY PRAYERS. AND I WAS ACQUITTED ON BOTH
COUNTS OF MURDER.

WHEN I GOT OUT I LEARNED LIVING FOR GOD WAS HARDER. ] GOT CUSTODY OF MY
DAUGHTER AND WAS DOING GOOD. UNTIL A FAMILY MEMBER GOT IN TROUBLE WITH
SOME DRUG DEALERS TO THE TUNE OF 30.000 DOLLARS. BEING THEY COULDN'T FIND
HIM I GOT CAUGHT UP IN DEALING FOR THEM ON BEHALF OF MY RELATIVES" DEBT.

FEB.3, 1997. MICHAEL O’GARA. A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WAS KILLED.

FIGHTING WITH DEALING DRUGS AND HIS DEATH J DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. AT
MIKES’ PUBLIC PRAYER VIGIL ] TALKED TO CHAPLAIN MURPHY. WE MET A COUPLE OF
WEEKS LATER .AND STARTED “DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.” UNDER THE MENTORSHIP OF
CHAPLAIN MURPHY AND “DISCIPLES OF CHRIST”. I HAVE TURNED MY LIFE AROUND.

CHAPLAIN MURPHY AND I HAVE TAKEN TO THE STREETS AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO
SO.

RECENTLY. THROUGH CHAPLAIN GEORGE ADAMSON. I HAVE BEEN APPOINTED A
VOLUNTEER PAROLE CHAPLAIN FOR THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

TOGETHER CHAPLAIN MURPHY . CHAPLAIN ADAMSON, AND I. WILL CONTINUE TO WORK
FOR GOD IN THIS MINISTRY.

IWAS AN EXAMPLE OF A WORLD THAT DOESN'T CARE. I AM NOW AN EXAMPLE FOR
GOD AND GODLY MEN. WHO LOVE AND CARE FOR PEOPLE IN PLIGHT AND MY
BACKGROUND.

IT ONLY ASK YOU TO ASK YOURSELF WHERE DO YOU AS INDIVIDUALS STAND ? DO
BELIEVE GOD CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE THROUGH CARING GODLY PEOPLE WHO ARE
WILLING TO LOOK BEYOND THE SIN & LOVE THE SINNER.


54

Mr. MIca. Mr. Barwa.

Mr. Barwa. I think that he has hit on one of the key issues
where Federal moneys could be used very effectively, and that is
that we have not done a good job as a prevention community in
communicating what programs are effective.

If I come to a new community and I want my child to be involved
in a program that is going to be effective in preventing them from
the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, I don’t know what they
are.

Mr. Cano, a community leader, doesn’t know what they are be-
cause we don’t have an effective means of saying, in public, these
are the programs that work. This is how you get information about
those programs.

I think that one of the key needs that I see in order to expand
the effective programs that we are aware of is that we have to have
the mechanism for promoting them. We have to have the mecha-
nism that says, these are the effective programs. This is how I get
in touch with those people.

Right now, on the budget that I operate in Operation Snowball,
we do use some Federal dollars. We use the limited resources that
we have to maintain current programs. We do not have sufficient
funds to expand the program.

That is what the need is, to be able to say to people, here is a
program that works. Here is the research that indicates that it
works. And I agree with you that the research would be nice if we
could do it in other ways. But even the research that we do proves
that our program is effective. We just can’t get the word out.

Ms. KREAMER. May I speak? Because I feel very strongly that we
do know how to do prevention. And we in Illinois have been doing
it far longer than almost anyone else in the United States, if not
anyone else.

And again, if you refer to this report that we put together, it is
laid out. It is really very simple: I mean, there are about eight dif-
ferent steps. And these are how you can go about, in your commu-
nity, doing prevention. And this is proven. There are statistics and
so forth to show that it does work.

What we think that would be a real good idea is the money that
you are talking about giving, is to go back and to create tax incen-
tives so that here in Aurora, businesses have a tax incentive to
participate in prevention. Stores have a tax incentive to participate
in prevention.

I don’t know how you would structure it, but if we could create
tax incentives for people in communities to do prevention and
spend the money that way, we know that it is equally accessible
to everybody and we know that then it engages everyone in the
process.

Mr. Mica. Well, tax incentives might be a little bit tough. But
you also, I think, hit on one of the problems I see, is this lack of
a coordinated message from the national level, and also a policy—
you raised a very good point, I think, that I want to look into about
contracts, Federal contracts going to folks who aren’t committed to
a responsible policy relating to drug prevention.


OFFICE OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY
DuPAGE County, LLINGS

Josern E. Birkett ‘05 N. COUNTY FARM ROAD
STATES ATTORNEY ‘WHEATON. ILLINOIS 87

“a
DUPAGE COUNTY PROGRAM NARRATIVE (6% 682-4987 Fax (CRIMINAL
(630) 6827048 FAX CIVIL

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM
REVIEW OF PROGRESS MADE
STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
FROGRAM STRATEGIES

as 2B RF

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

1% SUMMARY

The newly elected DuPage County State’s Attorney, Joseph E. Birkett, has
designated a team of prosecutors and an investigator to specialize in the
prosecution of drug and asset forfeiture cases. This team known as the Narcotics
Prosecution Unit (NPU), consists of the program director, three full-time
prosecutors, one asset forfeiture investigator and one full-time secretary. The
prosecutors are responsible for all cases where a defendant is charged with
delivery of or possession with intent to deliver either controlled substances or
cannabis. The NPU also handles all calculated criminal drug conspiracy and
trafficking cases. The NPU is solely responsible for all asset forfeiture cases as
well. The majority of cases originate from the DuPage Metropolitan
Enforcement Group (DUMEG), but the NPU also handles cases, which originate
with local agencies.

The supervisor of the NPU is the program director. The supervisor is not

- paid from grant funds, but does prosecute a number of drug cases, coordinates all




43

CONGRESSMAN DENNIS HASTERT

SUBCOMMITTEE ON
NATIONAL SECURITY, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE

FIELD HEARING
SEPTEMBER 22, 1997

TESTIMONY FROM
ILLINOIS DRUG EDUCATION ALLIANCE (IDEA)
JUDY KREAMER, PRESIDENT

The Dlinois Drug Education Alliance (IDEA) is considered by many to be the strongest
volunteer, grassroots, statewide drug prevention organization in the United States.
IDEA’s mission is drug free youth. Founded in 1982, the organization remains strong
because its only agenda is drug free youth, it is volunteer, it is independent, it is
grassroots, it has tremendous support from state offices and agencies and it has
committed board members.

IDEA’s belief is that if people know the facts, most will make appropriate choices,
They just need to be presented with the facts.

Drug prevention is the solution to our country’s drug problem. Drug prevention needs to
bea national priority. Drug enforcement contains the problem. Drug treatment treats the
problem. Drug prevention prevents there ever being a problem!

Illinois has developed a comprehensive community-based prevention model that has
proven to be very effective. The model targets the community at large - keeping the
healthy people healthy and building toward their potential. It works to impact families,
youths, adults, community institutions, government, health care providers, schools, faith
communities and media. The key strategies are community organization, education,
community-wide public education and marketing campaigns, systems change, impactors
training, skills training, influence on social policy, asset building, creation of positive
alternatives, and media education.

Prevention is an ongoing, systematic and interactive process that builds the capacities
of individuals, families and communities to promote healthy behaviors, lifestyles and
environments.



41

And they quote the Drug Policy Foundation. Well, the Drug Pol-
icy Foundation is a huge organization whose sole mission is to le-
galize drugs. Now, I am sure these people don’t have a clue who
they have quoted. But they are quoting the Drug Policy Founda-
tion, telling us as parents how we can talk to our kids about drugs.

Well, believe me, I am sure they have an agenda if they are
going to try to tell me how to talk to my child about drugs. So we
have to do something about getting the facts out, and that is what
we in IDEA do. But it needs to happen in every part of the country.

We also need to look at funding, as we have talked about. But

funding has to be for only effective prevention programs. And there
need to be measured outcomes, and they need to have accountabil-
ity.
The other thing that we need coming from a national source is,
we need clear, consistent, and high-profile no use of illicit drugs
messages. You know, last year during the campaign we had a
President who came out and said, well, he wished he had inhaled,
and we had a Presidential candidate who said he didn’t understand
that nicotine was addictive.

Well, those are not strong, consistent, no-use messages; and we
need to have those. Right now we have the CDC who is supposed
to be, in my mind, looking out for us, and certainly giving us strong
no-use messages.

Yet here in Illinois last summer they sponsored two conferences,
one with the Chicago Department of Public Health. They cospon-
sored this conference, a 1-day conference, and I was at that con-
ference. And the whole conference was advocating for clean nee-
dles. Not one time was any presenter there advocating against
them.

And then on August 26, CDC, working with the Illinois Depart-
ment of Public Health, sponsored a symposium and the same pro-
gram. Fortunately for us, because we had raised enough objections
to this, we were given the opportunity to present one panel which
presented an opposing view.

But I don’t understand how the CDC, when according to the ap-
propriations bill they are not supposed to be spending any Federal
money on clean needle programs, can go out and advocate for clean
needle programs.

But what they are doing, they are certainly not giving a clear,
consistent, no-use drug message. They are giving a drug message
to use drugs, and it undermines what we are telling everybody,
what we are telling our children and what we are telling the adults
in our communities.

And last, but not least, the Federal Government has given con-
tracts and grants to people who—for drug policy work who do not
support the U.S. drug policy. In fact, they advocate pro-drug policy.
And those people then get their credentials—because they have
done either a Government contract or gotten a Government grant,
they take those credentials and then they go out and write using
those credentials. And then it appears that these people are the,
you know, authorities because they have worked for the Govern-
ment and helped develop drug policy for the Government.

Well, what they are doing is undermining, again, everything that
we are doing. So, I would hope that somehow we could look at an


66°

defendant is officially charged. This has provided for better quality in police
work and a better quality of cases. NPU also gets DUMEG involved in every
< 4g case that comes through the NPU that originated in local police department.
This has provided for better communication, cooperation and officer safety. The
federal grant has allowed the NPU to be equipped to be contacted at all times and
to be available to go out in the field to support our police officers and agents.
During the 1996, our office assisted law enforcement agencies, primarily
DuPage Metropolitan Enforcement Group, in obtaining 52 cout onders penmifing
the use of electronic surveillance to overhear and tape record conversations. This is
14% of the total number of court authorized cavesdrops applied for in the state of
Illinois. Only Cook County, which has 2 population 10 times DuPage County, had
more with 62. Eavesdrops are an effective tool which we utilize when ever
practicable. The large proportion of eavesdrops filed for by our county reflect the
aggressiveness of our Narcotics Prosecution Unit. Additionally, we assisted in
drafting over 50 search warrants and two scizure warrants in drug cases.

IL STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

There is continuing need for federal as well as local funds. Drug use and
‘-afficking is occurring within DuPage County at an alarming rate. The NPU
.scognizes that this increase in the presence of drugs is an accurate indicator of
the presence of street gangs. The NPU has dedicated more time and effort in
addressing the problem of street gangs. Street gangs are the main source of
narcotics in DuPage County. The presence of street gangs and narcotics are no
longer viewed as the “Big City’s” problem. The NPU has received 190 new drug
cases over the past year. This number does not include the hundreds of
possession of illegal drug cases handled outside the NPU. In addition to handling
New cases our attorneys have and must continue to play an integral role in the
investigative stage of law enforcement. The NPU needs to provide police and
agents ready legal advice, assistance in preparing search warrants and eavesdrop
application and any other aid the comes up in the field.

The NPU handled 125 asset forfeiture requests over the last year. The NPU
and its investigator were responsible for freezing numerous bank accounts on 2
separate large scale investigations. We have the seizure of four houses pending.
The NPU with the aid of our investigator are using these innovative methods to
keep on top of the drug dealers and gang members in our county. These
anovative methods could not have been developed without the federal funding
received. To continue these efforts it is imperative that federal funding remain


11

licemen smile all over here, in the States; that they don’t act as po-
licemen the way they act here. They are like soldiers, and they
have the faces that correspond to soldiers who are in the middle
of a war.

But we have absolutely no choice. We have had to take our po-
licemen from the streets, in many cases, to send them to the jun-
gles, where I have to say that we have to thank very much some-
thing that we appreciate a lot, and I want to say it publicly: That
Congressmen like Chairman Hastert, like Congressman
Blagojevich, and formerly Congressman Mica, have taken the time
to visit Colombia to see with their own eyes what is taking place
down there.

I know how risky it is to accept to go down there. And they didn’t
go to Bogota for touristic purposes, as people might thought that
they went. They were—they visited frontier land, the very front
line of the war.

And they saw the coca plantations, and they saw how we air
spray, and they saw the things that are taking place, and they saw

e rust of what we have in what we call the cemetery of airplanes
and helicopters. And they risked their lives going there and ex-
pressing the support on the part of the U.S. people and of the
United States. And that is very important and very significant for

us.

It is tough. Security is very difficult in Colombia. Life is not nor-
mal in Colombia. Wives do not know whether their children or
their husbands are going to go back home at the end of the journey,
especially if they are working in government, especially if they are
working on the police forces, especially if they are working in cer-
tain ministries, especially if they are in public service, and other
cases as well.

But anyway, it is the only country we have, and so we have to
keep it. It is the country where our ancestors are buried and where
we want to raise our children. So we are going to win this war
sooner or later.

It is going to take lots of effort. It is going to take more sacrifices.
We are going to have to pay a higher price than the one we have
already paid, which is extremely high. But believe me, we are going
to make it, and we are going to overcome, for which we need co-
operation.

We need to work jointly with countries like yours, with people
like yours. We have the same problem, different angles and dif-
ferent sides of the same problem. So we better work together, and
jointly the way we have been doing.

There has been a maritime agreement signed between Colombia
and the United States by which the United States Coast Guard
and the United States Navy are working together with our own
navy in the process of trying to chase the speedboats that leave my
country with drugs that are aimed to the United States, and we
have been very successful. In the last 7 months, we have managed
to capture 17 of these boats.

With your help, we installed some radars which complemented
the radar net that we have in Colombia. There are some United
States radars which were installed in different places of the jungle
in Colombia to try to get the planes coming with coca, cocaine paste


53

So part of this field hearing and the hearings we have held
across the country is for you to tell us exactly what you want us
to do with your Federal dollars in these programs, and effective-
ness is possible.

Mr. Cano, you are hit pretty hard and folks, Hispanic-American
folks, in this community, it sounds like. What is your recommenda-
tion? Again, specifically what do you want from us that could do
the most effective job with the limited dollars we have available to
help young people from your community?

Mr. CANO. Well, right here in Aurora, we’ve got a lot of pro-
grams, and I guess what I recommend is to—

Mr. Mica. I know that we have got a lot of programs.

Mr. Cano. Exactly.

Mr. Mica. But I want to know what is successful in Aurora and
what you see as successful and what we should be supporting with
your money back here.

Mr. CANO. Well, that is what I was coming to.

Mr. Mica. OK.

Mr. Cano. I mean, we do have a lot of organizations out there,
and some that are not very successful because no one is monitor-
ing, actually finding out what they are doing.

I mean, you need to identify who is very effective.

Mr. Mica. You tell me. Right now I am going back. My colleague
and your representative and I will be deciding in the next few days,
with the Congress. He actually has more say, probably, than any-
one as to how these moneys are expended.

My question, again, is: Tell me what program you want us to
spend the money, or what efforts from the Federal Government
you—how you want those funds directed. What do you see as most
successful to assist your young people here?

Mr. Cano. I will say prevention.

Mr. Mica. Which prevention programs?

Mr. Cano. Helping to prevent kids to get involved in——

Mr. Mica. Is there one that works here?

Mr. CANO. Here again, we are going back to this. A lot of organi-
zations, but I cannot tell you which one is effective and which one
is not. I guess someone needs to do something like that and find
out which organization works.

I mean, there is a lot of organizations all over, and a lot of, they
are not doing the job they were supposed to do. I am part of the
Prayer Coalition, and I can tell you they are very effective, you

LOW.

We started a community mobilization with the help of the city
of Aurora and the police department, which community leaders,
they are getting involved. And I am sure that is going to be very
effective. I mean, we have—we just started. We got pretty good
people—school leaders, churches, community leaders. id that is
going to be—I know it is going to be effective.

But how can we—as community leaders, we need some help. I
mean, this is a voluntary. No one pays us. We want to make Au-
rora perfect. But for me to identify which one is effective and which
one is not, I cannot tell you that.

But there are some organizations that are very effective, and I
can tell you one is here right next to me.

47-639 98-3


59

They just need to be a part of something. That is just basically
all there is to that. I mean, I can’t say what does and what doesn’t
work. I know that the only thing that really touches anybody’s lives
is going to be—is any kind of faith, you know, anything that deals
with God.

You know, it is going to—that is the only thing I have seen work,
you know, either that or—and the only way it is going to work is
if we work with—if the Aurora Police Department works with us.

They have worked with us. Comdr. Ray Weaver, I believe, took
one of our guys that wanted to turn himself in and just treated him
with total respect. So, you know, as long as the police department
keeps working with the faith groups, you know, like our group, I
can see a big change coming for Aurora.

I mean, we have just hit the streets Saturday, and we talked to
probably about 25 different guys that are interested, you know, just
talking with us, maybe talking about turning their lives around.

So they also want to turn themselves in, but they don’t want to
turn themselves in if they are not going to be respected, you know,
if they are going to get treated like garbage. Why take themselves
through that, you know.

But I believe that the Aurora Police Department is giving us that
respect, and that is the only way I see any change, to be honest
with you.

Mr. HastERrT. I think that is probably a good place to end. Thank
you very much. I really appreciate this panel’s participation.

At this time I would ask our third panel to please come forward.
And I would like to welcome Sgt. Roy Garcia, who represents the
North Central Narcotics Task Force of the Illinois State Police. We
also have Chief Larry Langston from the Aurora Police Depart-
ment, and also Mr. Joseph Birkett, who is the DuPage County
State’s attorney. So if you gentlemen would please come forward.

Gentlemen, in accordance with our committee rules, we are going
to ask you to be sworn in. And so would you please stand and raise
your right hand.

{Witnesses sworn.]

Mr. Hastert. Let the record show that the witnesses answered
in the affirmative.

And Mr. Birkett, would you please begin with your testimony. I
understand you are on a very limited time scale here, and appre-
ciate your participation.

STATEMENTS OF JOSEPH BIRKETT, DUPAGE COUNTY STATE'S
ATTORNEY; ROY GARCIA, SERGEANT, NORTH CENTRAL NAR-
COTICS TASK FORCE, ILLINOIS STATE POLICE; AND LARRY
LANGSTON, CHIEF, AURORA POLICE DEPARTMENT

Mr. BiIRKETT. Well, good morning, Congressmen, and thank you
for inviting me here. You have——

Mr. HASTERT. You might want to pull your mic up a little bit
closer. There you go.

Mr. BirKETT. Good morning, Congressman, and thank you for in-
viting me here to talk a little bit about DuPage County’s efforts as
far as the State’s attorney’s office and our efforts to combat drug
abuse and drug dealing and trafficking in DuPage County. You


13

Mr. HASTERT. Well, thank you, Mr. Ambassador. We certainly
appreciate your candidness and heartfelt testimony today.

One of the things I wanted to ask, you talk about the cartels that
used to dominate the drug manufacturing and trade from Colom-
bia. They would bring the coca paste in from Peru, in from Bolivia,
and a small amount of it was grown in Colombia.

That has changed now, and according to your testimony and
what you said, that the organizations we used te call the grow or-
ganizations that used to be philosophical organizations—they used
to be leftist fronts or arms of the Communist party and stuff, now
they have pretty much turned not philosophical any more, but they
really are narco guerrillas.

How much money, say, the FLN organization or ELN, but prob-
ably FLN more than any, how much money can they bring in a
month by doing narco trafficking and protecting the cartels? Esti-
mated, I would guess.

Ambassador ESGUERRA. I will say that quite a number of billions
of dollars a year. They are getting very well paid for the support
that they are providing to take care of the clandestine airfields, to
take care of the plantations, to shoot at the airplanes that are try-
ing to air spray the plantations.

‘hey get paid for the protection that they provide to the labora-
tories that are hidden in the middle of the jungle, and, of course,
they get paid for the Kidnapping that they organized which is relat-
ed with narco trafficking as well.

So unfortunately, at the times we are living, our guerrillas are
as rich as they have ever been. I mean, they are incredibly wealthy
and incredibly rich.

Mr. HaAsTERT. So, you know, if you bring in billions of dollars a
year, literally hundreds of millions of dollars a month, then you can
buy the best weapons and the best technology, radars, and every-
thing else.

So your ability to fight a war within a war for those folks, they
have the money to have the best weapons and actually recruit more
people. Is that the problem?

Ambassador ESGUERRA. Unfortunately, yes. There are cases
when we see that the airplanes that they use, that the weapons
that they use, in order to carry on their activities are by far better
and more modern than those we use.

And so, the bad guys are better armed than the good guys. And
we don’t have—we lack the resources necessary to oppose all of
that. There are cases, for instance, when a peasant complains that
he was taken away—one of his sons was recruited by force, through
violence, to be a member of the guerrilla group, and they pay him
a lot more than they pay the other son who was drafted and is in
the military. And so, theve are cases that we see all that.

So the difference in resources is enormous.

Mr. HASTERT. So, actually, when we look at the money that the
narco guerrillas use actually comes from our street corners and our
cities here in the United States and comes back to Colombia and
is actually used to recruit people and to buy new weapons, and that
is where that money comes from. Is that right?

Ambassador ESGUERRA. According to the studies that we have
made and the investigations and research that we have devoted


CONTENTS

Page
Hearing held on September 22, 1997 .. 1
Statement of:

Birkett, Joseph, DuPage County State’s attorney; Roy Garcia, sergeant,
North Central Narcotics Task Force, Illinois State Police; and Larry
Langston, chief, Aurora Police Department .... 59

Esguerra, Juan Carlos, Colombian Ambassador to the United States 7

Kinney, Lt. Col. Francis “Pancho”, Director of Strategic Planning, Office
of National Drug Control Policy; Harold Osby, former gang member,
Juventino Cano, president, Aurora Hispanic Chamber of Commerce;
Mike Murphy, executive director, Prayer Coalition for Reconciliation;

Bob Barwa, principal, East Aurora High School and national president,

Operation Snowball; and Judy Kreamer, president, Illinois Drug Edu:

cation Alliance .. 18
Letters, statements, etc., submitted for the record b:

Barwa, Bob, principal, East Aurora High School and national president,
Operation Snowball, prepared statement of .. 36

Birkett, Joseph, DuPage County State's attorney, prepared statement 63
o

Garcia, Roy, sergeant, North Central Narcotics Task Force, Illinois State
Police, prepared statement of 73

. Hon. J. Dennis, a Repi
of Illinois, prepared statement of .. 4

Kreamer, Judy, president, Illinois Drug Education Alliance, prepared
statement of .. 43

Langston, Larry, chief, Aurora Police Department, prepared statement 79
of

Murphy, Mike, executive director, Prayer Coalition for Reconciliation,
prepared statement of .. 29

Osby, Harold, former gang member, prepared statement of 24

(ass)


34

OS, Operation Snowball, is operated by a volunteer board of di-
rectors, of which I currently serve as president, and funded by sev-
eral small grants which allow us to maintain a small full-time staff
in Springfield.

The staff is charged with monitoring and support of current
chapters, while offering training and technical assistance to encour-
age new chapters to form. Currently we support 120 chapters and
serve more than 6,000 youths annually.

Each Operation Snowball chapter is a coalition of volunteer teens
and adults who work together—we have taken the advice of listen-
ing to the teens to find out what is effective—and these types of
experiences show that to prevent the use of alcohol, tobacco, and
other drugs, you have to listen to teens and you have to provide
wide-ranging programs.

Continued followup studies of participants using the NATI,
which is the National Association of Teenage Institutes, survey in-
dicates that participants are less likely to use and abuse alcohol,
tobacco, and other drugs than their fellow students who have not
participated in such programs.

The Operation Snowball staff has developed curriculum mate-
rials and provides constant training to help chapters improve. In
addition, we have expanded to provide Operation Snowflurry activi-
ties to elementary school students, Operation Snowflake for mid-
dle-school students, and Avalanche programs for college students.

Operation Snowball works for several reasons. First and fore-
most, it is a program which deals with the issue of alcohol, tobacco,
and other drugs on both the cognitive and affective levels. In other
words, we understand that a young person’s choicé to use or not
to use is primarily based on that student’s attitude.

The formation of attitude is dependent upon the accumulation of
information as well as that individual’s feeling of self-worth and
understanding of the alternatives available to him or her for deal-
ing with the pressures that can precipitate the use of drugs.

The Operation Snowball Program works because there is fre-
quent followup and reinforcement of the program’s objectives
throughout the student’s educational career. It works because it
deals with attitudes which, once established, need not be externally
monitored and enforced all the time.

Operation Snowball and the Teenage Institutes are certainly not
the only programs that are effective in the prevention of the use
of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Other prevention programs
with similar characteristics show similar results. Yet, prevention
activities continue to receive far less attention and, unfortunately,
less funding than enforcement programs.

My recommendations to you are simple: First, bring national at-
tention to these programs, the ones that are effective, so that they
can be shared and expanded. Every young person in this Nation
should have the opportunity to develop a healthy attitude with re-
spect to the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

Second, provide funding for prevention programs on the same
level as enforcement and interdiction programs. The war on drugs
will be won in the hearts of our children, not in the marijuana
fields of Latin America.


76

of drugs, in some cases to their rival gangs. In the gang world,
business will take priority over gang rivalry.

Other gangs have, for the most part, maintained strong street-
level operations and in some cases their own supply and conversion
operations. This type of activity lends itself to other types of crimes
like robbery, fencing stolen property, and prostitution. These
street-level operations are the most damaging to our neighbor-

ods.

There is a relationship between drugs and gang violence. Al-
though drugs generate financial support for the gangs, the pure ha-
tred driven by the street gang philosophy of “us versus them” or
“death before dishonor” remains the basis for the vast majority of
violence.

Well over 80 percent of the street gang violence in Aurora is the

oduct of the long-term intense hatred between the People and
Fok nations. This would continue even without the drug profits.
Gang violence generally does not emanate from the drug trade. The
drug trade supports it.

A direct link between the drug trade and street gang violence
rests with the open air drug operations. Each gang generally stays
in the boundaries of their own turf when they sell drugs, thus pre-
venting any city-wide gang wars over turf.

What these street-level dealers do provide are abundant targets
for rival gangs. Drug dealers are often the targets of drive-by
shootings and other acts of violence simply because they are acces-
sible. If a rival gang is looking for revenge or to make a statement,
a target is easy to find in street-level drug dealers.

These operations and the related violence have an adverse effect
on neighborhoods. Even with the successes that were previously
cited, additional programs and tactics are needed to affect the drug
problem.

Federal and State agencies tend to deal exclusively with mid-
and upper-level dealers. A large amount of resources is expended
to make cases at these levels. This is a good approach and it needs
to continue, but when a dealer at this level is taken down, it has
only a small or short-term effect on the street.

Prevention is certainly the key to any long-term hope for a solu-
tion. These programs are needed more than ever, and at an earlier
age, to teach many of the life skills that are missing in young peo-
ple that turn to drugs and gangs.

Decisionmaking, self-respect, conflict resolution, personal respon-
sibility, values, ethics, morals, and many other social skills are
needed to be taught in the home. If they are not provided in the
home or parental ability is lacking, we must either provide the as-
sistance to obtain these skills or face the consequences that will
manifest itself in violence among those in our society.

Intervention programs can also provide an avenue for young peo-
ple to experience purpose, pleasure, interactions, and create oppor-
tunities that lead to a full and productive life. When these needs
are not met, the lure of gangs and drugs are almost irresistible.

Population projections indicate that the vulnerable age group of
15-24 years will reach its highest levels by the years 2005-2010,
and we must intervene before that time is upon us. As victim and
offender violent age categories become younger, the indicators are


22

cess to medicines that work. And quite frankly, the medical mari-
juana argument is a red herring, playing on compassion to support
the legalization of drugs.

We are also opposed to what is known as the harm reduction ar-
guments, those arguing that what we need to do is minimize the
consequences of the drug war, focus on minimizing pain. It is really
another front for drug legalization.

I don’t think, Mr. Chairman, that you want a needle park here
in your city of Aurora, nor do I think that you want cannabis bar
clubs or marijuana coffeehouses like they have in Amsterdam in
your communities here. That is what we are opposing.

But at the same time, we recognize that this is a tremendously
organized effort. If you go on the Internet, for example, you will see
a complete organization of the drug legalization effort.

Just yesterday, I think it was, Mr. Mica pointed out that there
were 50,000 people smoking pot on Boston Commons. There is a lot
of organizations behind it, a lot of support for these positions. But
we are absolutely committed to opposing them because we believe
that as a society will use drugs, so will their children.

Finally, I would like to sum it up by saying that that is why I
am absolutely encouraged to be here, to see the commitment that
you bring to bear against this drug problem here in Illinois.

The example of Mayor Daley, who brought together the National
Conference of Mayors in Washington this summer to announce
their own national drug strategy. The representative—are you up
here, ma’am—from the Illinois Drug Education Alliance, that
brings 15 years of focus on prevention.

Mr. Chairman, Mr. Mica, Mr. Blagojevich, General McCaffrey
and all of us at the Office of National Drug Control Policy thank
you for your commitment and support, and we look forward to sup-
porting your efforts to protect your communities.

With your permission—I could show it now or we could leave it
and show it later—I have a video that shows a couple of public
service announcements by the Partnership for a Drug-Free er-
ica that just underscore how important it is for us to focus on pro-
tecting our children and for parents, teachers, and community lead-
ers and everybody to step in.

Mr. HASTERT. These are the announcements that we are working
together to try to develop?

Lieutenant Colonel KINNEY. Yes, sir.

Mr. Hastert. They only would be a couple minutes. Right?

Lieutenant Colonel KINNEY. Yes, sir.

Mr. Hastert. Yes. Let’s see them.

Lieutenant Colonel KINNEY. Could we please show the videos,

en?

[Videotapes played.]

Mr. Hastert. Thank you, Lieutenant Colonel Kinney. And I
imagine that we will be seeing more of that this year on TV.

Lieutenant Colonel KINNEY. We hope that is the case.

Mr. Hastert. All right. Thank you very much.

Next I would like to introduce a unique young man, Mr. Harold
Osby. I think he will tell you his own story.

ir. Osby, please proceed.
Mr. Ossy. Thanks a lot, Congressman.


COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT REFORM AND OVERSIGHT
DAN BURTON, Indiana, Chairman

BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, New York
J. DENNIS HASTERT, Illinois
CONSTANCE A. MORELLA, Maryland
CHRISTOPHER SHAYS, Connecticut
STEVEN SCHIFF, New Mexico
CHRISTOPHER COX, California
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida
JOHN M. McHUGH, New York
STEPHEN HORN, California
JOHN L. MICA, Florida
‘THOMAS M. DAVIS, Virginia
DAVID M. McINTOSH, Indiana
MARK E. SOUDER, Indiana
JOE SCARBOROUGH, Florida
JOHN B. SHADEGG, Arizona
STEVEN C. LATOURETTE, Ohio
MARSHALL “MARK” SANFORD, South
Carolina
JOHN E. SUNUNU, New Hampshire
PETE SESSIONS, Texas
MICHAEL PAPPAS, New Jersey
VINCE SNOWBARGER, Kansas
BOB BARR, Georgia
ROB PORTMAN, Ohio

HENRY A. WAXMAN, California
TOM LANTOS, California
ROBERT E. WISE, Jr., West Virginia
MAJOR R. OWENS, New York
EDOLPHUS TOWNS, New York
PAUL E. KANJORSKI, Pennsylvania
GARY A. CONDIT, California
CAROLYN B. MALONEY, New York
THOMAS M. BARRETT, Wisconsin
ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, Washington,
DC
CHAKA FATTAH, Pennsylvania
ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, Maryland
DENNIS J. KUCINICH, Ohio
ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH, Illinois
DANNY K. DAVIS, Ilinois
JOHN F. TIERNEY, Massachusetts
JIM TURNER, Texas
THOMAS H. ALLEN, Maine
HAROLD E. FORD, JR., Tennessee
BERNARD SANDERS, Vermont
(Independent)

Kevin BINGER, Staff Director
DanreL R. MOLL, Deputy Staff Director
WILLIAM MoscHELta, Deputy Counsel and Parliamentarian
dupit# McCoy, Chief Clerk
Pui. ScHILIRO, Minority Staff Director

SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY, INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, AND CRIMINAL
JUSTICE

J. DENNIS HASTERT, Chairman

THOMAS M. BARRETT, Wisconsin
TOM LANTOS, California

ROBERT E. WISE, Jr., West Virginia
GARY A. CONDIT, California

ROD R. BLAGOJEVICH, Illinois
CAROLYN B. MALONEY, New York
ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, Maryland
JIM TURNER, Texas

MARK E. SOUDER, Indiana
CHRISTOPHER SHAYS, Connecticut
STEVEN SCHIFF, New Mexico
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida
JOHN M. McHUGH, New York
JOHN L. MICA, Florida

JOHN B. SHADEGG, Arizona
STEVEN C. LATOURETTE, Ohio
BOB BARR, Georgia

EX OFFICIO

HENRY A. WAXMAN, California

RoperT CHARLES, Staff Director
DALE ANDERSON, Senior Investigative Counsel
‘AMY DaveNPonrt, Clerk

DAN BURTON, Indiana

ab


91

of drug networks that are going to move to those areas that seem
to be better for their covert operations.

I think personnel and resources at the Federal level regarding
our efforts in the drug fight is where it is going to be needed in
the future.

Mr. Mica. Any particular agency, maybe, Sergeant Garcia, that
could use more resources? DEA? FBI? Customs? Do you see any
weak links in the Federal chain?

Mr. Garcia. I would like to see an increase in DEA. And I would
also like to see the DEA participate more in local task force pro-
grams. The DEA usually has their own programs where they will
ask like the Aurora Police Department to participate in, or the IIli-
nois State Police to participate in.

We have 102 counties, and each county here in the State of Illi-
nois is a participant somehow in a State-managed task force. And
I believe there is probably only one, and that is in the Chicago
area, where you have DEA participation.

I think if they assign Federal agents to those task forces, what
you will be able to do, besides get the intelligence information, but
you will be able to bring in some expertise and some quality law
enforcement, quality—what I mean by is that there are investiga-
tive techniques to be able to go back after these groups, as far as
going after racketeering, conspiracy, and utilizing some of the Fed-
eral laws that are out there.

If we can work hand in hand with each other and get away from
statistically dominated programs, I think we can have an effect.

Mr. Mica. Chief.

Chief LANGSTON. I would certainly agree. DEA is certainly one
of the agencies. I believe also Customs is another one. And the em-
phasis that we place on our borders, that also was mentioned this
morning regarding truck trafficking from Lieutenant Colonel
Kinney, I believe.

Those efforts are important, getting those supply networks into
the country as well. So I think those are key components.

Mr. MIca. One of the other areas—I am one of these zero toler-
ance kind of guys and, I always cite Singapore and Saudi Arabia.
They have almost zero incidence of drug problems. They don’t even
have to spend money on education and prevention because they are
so strict from the enforcement and prosecution standpoint.

You spoke a little bit about the problem ye have just been
bogged down by the sheer volume of cases. And you said that some
of them you are bucking to the Federal level? Did I catch that?

Are some of these being—you are asking for assistance in the
prosecution because you can’t handle the load. Is that the case, and
is that—are they responding? Maybe you could comment.

Chief LANGSTON. What I was referring my comments to, that at
the—sometimes our priorities at the local level are certainly dif-
ferent, as are many communities. They may be different to the
county as well as the State.

But in some manner, eventually they are all going to affect the
county and the State level as well; Federal also, as these problems
become larger and larger, as local communities have less and less
resources to deal with a much more severe problem that seems to
be growing regarding the drug networking, that makes it very dif-


46

[BEST OF IDEA J

The Best of IDEA is a 20-page news magazine published 3 times a

year. The magazine is a highly respected, hard-hitting, often quoted and widely
circulated publication. The Best of IDEA is one of very few publications writing
about what is really happening with the drug problem. Known and respected
writers from around the country contribute regularly. (Attachment F)

[TRAIN UP THE CHILD ]

Train Up the Child is a newsletter specifically targeted to the faith community.
The publication outlines how communities of faith can help their congregations
prevent the pain and suffering associated with substance abuse. The Fall edition
highlights Red Ribbon Week Campaign, and the Winter edition features Alcohol
Awareness Month Campaign. It is important for the faith community to lead
their congregations in a spiritual response to the moral issues of substance
abuse. (Attachment G)

[IDEA PREVENTION GUIDE |

The 56-page IDEA Prevention Guide offers a glossary of drugs, slang terms,
commentaries on current issues, recommended resources and curricula, and
prevention strategies. The Prevention Guide is revised and updated annually.
It is printed by the Lieutenant Governor’s Office for distribution at the IDEA.
Conference. (Attachment H)

[IDEA COMMUNICATION NETWORK ]

The IDEA Communication Network is a communication and advocacy network.
The Network accesses IDEA’s extensive communication system and keeps its
members informed sbout current issues impacting prevention. Communications
are sent on a regular basis and alerts go out as needed.

(IDEA’S STRUCTURE ]

A combination of unique factors makes IDEA a strong and vital organization.
IDEA is successful because its only agenda is drug free youth, it is volunteer, it is
grassroots, it is independent; it has tremendous support from state offices and
agencies, and it has committed board members.

IDEA is the product of very committed people. It is governed by a working
board of 36 directors and supported by a Youth Board, Young Adult Board,


30

Cenniesscennt oR — SINS
Chegiad Macghy dost @ acty (pd

AURORA & MANY OF [TS SURROUNDING WHITE COLLAR COMMUNITIES HAVE A THIRST
FOR DRUGS. DRUGS ARE THE PROFIT - GANGS THE PROFITEERS, WHERE THEE ARE
DRUGS THERE IS MONEY. WHERE THERE iS MONEY THERE ARE GUNS. WHERE THERE
ARE GUNS THERE IS POWER. WHERE THERE IS DRUGS, MONEY. GUNS & POWER THERE IS
DEATH.

‘BUT THE FIRST DEATH OFTHIS CITY IS SPIRITUAL AND SOCIAL. WE DON'T HAVE A GANG
PROBLEM WE HAVE A SOCIAL PROBLEM AND A GANGS ARE THE SYMPTOMOLOGY. WE
SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TOWARDS THE SYMPTOM AND CALL THAT “ENSURING
‘THE PUBLIC SAFETY.” OFFICE BASED SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO GET
PATRONIZED AND CONTROLLED BY THE DOMINANT CULTURE AND MUNICIPAL
GOVERNMENT, WHICH BY STANDARDS OF QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT. BASED ON

;_ IMMURSEMENT AND A MINISTRY OF PRESENCE. HAVE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF RAPPORT

‘WITH THE GANG COMMUNITY. WE THROW CAUCASIAN PROGRAMS AT THE MINORITY
COMMUNITY AND SCRATCH OUR HEADS IN DISILLUSIONMENT AS OUR HOMICIDE
RECORD PEAKED IN 1996. PROGRAMS DON'T CHANGE PEOPLE, Posple née (retle. MANY
GANGS RULE BY FEAR BUT I HAVE EXPERIENCED LIVING EXAMPLES THAT LOVE AND
RESPECT ARE THE DOMINANT FORCES OF ALL CULTURES. IF THIS IS OFFERED TO OUR
GANG COMMUNTTY FROM ASPHALT & CURBS INSTEAD OF A LEATHER SWIVEL CHAIR,
OUR CITY HAS A FIGHTING CHANCE. GANG MEMBERS DO RESPOND TO A HOLISTIC
APPROACH TOWARDS INTERNAL CHANGE AND THE CHAMPIONS AND HEROES OF THIS
MOVEMENT ARE THOSE WHO ARE IN THE STRUGGLE. THE SOCIAL SERVICES WE OFFER
IN THIS CITY ARE FANTASTIC. SOME SIMPLY LACK LINKAGE AND MINORITY
REPRESENTATION. LATINOS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS IN THIS STRUGGLE DON'T WANT
‘THE GOVERNMENT TO WORK FOR THEM THEY WANT IT TO WORK WITH THEM. THE
MINORITY COMMUNITY WANTS SELF DETERMINATION AND NOT GOVERNMENT
INFRINGEMENT IN MANAGING THEIR SOCIAL AND PASTORAL CONCERNS.

THE COALITION WILL CONTINUE TO UTILIZE THE SERVICES OF THOSE. AS ONE YOUNG
FORMER GANG MEMBER PUT IT, ARE,* THE PEOPLE WHO OTHERS REACH OVER AND
LOCK THEIR CAR DOORS WHEN THEY SEE US.” WE WILL UTILIZE SURVIVORS TO REACH
SURVIVORS. WE WILL UTILIZE FORMER GANG MEMBERS TO REACH FORMER & ACTIVE
GANG MEMBERS . WE WILL UTILIZE IMPOVERISHED NEIGHBORHOODS TO REACH THEIR
BROTHER AND SISTER WITH THE MESSAGE OF PERSEVERANCE . ADVOCACY. AND HOPE.

‘THE BIGGEST ERROR IN THIS CITY IS THERE IS A GOOD GUY AND A BAD GUY. THE GOOD
GUY KEEPS THE CIVIL LAW THE BAD GUY BREAKS IT. IN THE SECULAR WORLD WE HIRE

PEOPLE TO CATCH THE BAD GUY AND IMPRISON THEM AS SOCIETIES GARBAGE. IN THE
SPIRITUAL WORLD WE ARE ALL BAD GUYS. SAVED BY GRACE. AND THEREFORE ALL

BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE REDEEMABLE. THERE IS NO LOST CAUSE. WE ARE NOT

JUST A SPIRITUAL OPTION WE ARE A SOCIAL SOLUTION THAT {S EXCLUDED IN EVERY ,
FAILING GOVERNMENT PLAN AGAINST VIOLENCE.

AURORA WILL CHANGE, WHEN THOSE LEAST EFFECTED BY VIOLENT CRIME DECIDE. BY
PROVIDENTIAL INSIGHT. THAT THEIR BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE DYING. EVERYONE IN
AURORA HAS LOST A CHILD. THEY JUST DON'Tys*IT YET. WE DON'T NEED MORE
CHANGES OF ADDRESS - OUR CITY NEEDS A CHANGE OF HEART. SOME CAN SHOOT @ Qusd
Bed WE mast ten 8 A Fug THERS NO LAND OF 0Z,AND ABANDONING 12.0 Rrstchers,
AND SISTERS IN PLIGHT LEADS TO FURTHER RACIAL AND ECONOMIC POLARIZATION,

1AM HAROLD OSBY"S MENTOR, HIS STORY. AS FORMER CHIEF OF SECURITY FOR THE
VICE LORDS. WILL PUT FLESH ON MY THOUGHT. WELCOME HAROLD.

Re. /C bgt V1 behets
ae rea oxes-- 3491

eA

(CaO FH

SA



39

Mr. HasTERT. Thank you, Mr. Barwa. I have been to one of your
Operation Snowball organizations. It has been effective. I was im-
pressed.

The next speaker—we have had folks here from the Federal Gov-
ernment. We have people from faith-based organizations, commu-
nity organizations, education. This next woman has worked from
basically her kitchen table and reached out to people like herself
to do great things.

And Ms. Kreamer, thank you for being here today.

Ms. KREAMER. Thank you very much. Can you hear me?

Mr. Hastert. I think you might want to pull that a little closer.

Ms. KREAMER. A little closer. OK. Is that all right?

Mr. HasTeERT. That is fine.

Ms. KREAMER. First of all, I thank you very much. And second,
I don’t know about all of you who are sitting in this room, but as
the Ambassador spoke, I just filled with shame.

I was ashamed that people in our country—I mean, everyone—
I am a person that believes everybody has to assume their respon-
sibility for their actions. But to listen to what that country is going
through because, to a large part, we in this country have an insa-
tiable appetite for those drugs, and because there are people in this
country who are promoting them—I mean, I went up to him after-
ward and I said, I apologize for my country. And I don’t know if
anybody else felt the same way, but I certainly feel that way.

Anyway, to tell you what IDEA is, IDEA is a grassroots, volun-
teer, Statewide organization. And our mission is simply drug-free
youth, although I have to clarify this, and I think that we make
a terrible mistake by believing that this is a kid problem.

Folks, this is not a kid problem. This is an adult problem. And
we need to recognize that. And perhaps when we have ads from the
Partnership for a Drug-Free America, maybe we need to be looking
more at, this is an adult problem, and there are problems across
the board here that we are not looking at because it is an adult
problem.

So often we—and it is easy to do—we zero in on kids and their
problems, but this is an adult problem. It is an economic problem.
It is problems that are beyond our comprehension. And we need to
be addressing it as such.

But our group’s only focus is drug-free youth. That keeps me out
of trouble, probably. But anyway, we were established in 1982. We
have a membership of almost 4,000 members, minus about a 100.
We have membership in 42 different States in our country, and we
have several different countries who are members, or people in sev-
eral different countries where they have members.

I have been strong over these long years because I believe our
only agenda is drug-free youth. And nobody gets too hung up on
what our turf issue is, because it is just drug-free children.

And because we are volunteer, we are very independent. We are
grassroots. We have a tremendous working relationship with State
offices, with State agencies, with the U.S. Customs, the DEA, a tre-
mendous support system from them. And most importantly, we
pave a tremendous support system from committed board mem-

rs.


89

until they made a pretty good profit, and then they would flood the
market with more cocaine.

Every effort that we had to iy to go ahead and stop that, the
were always 1 to 10 steps ahead of us. Their intelligence network
knows how drugs are being marketed. They know how we in the
United States have a hunger for them.

So they will bring in certain groups and target certain groups or
areas to market those drugs. Again, they have a sophisticated sys-
tem. They will do a marketing study, just as MacDonald’s or Burg-
er King would do, to see if that area is conducive to make money.

The people that we are dealing with out there, they know that
the United States and the small communities are a creature of
habit. So what they will do is they will go out and study us and
see where our faults are, and that is when they will attack.

Mr. HasTERT. For both our panelists up here, just a pretty stock
question, but I think it is pretty important: What things can the
Federal Government continue or do? You know, we are working on
a drug strategy right now and reauthorization of the ONDCP, and
trying to put, you know, the seven or eight authorizing committees
out there and the seven or eight appropriations committees—we
are trying to focus down and say, somebody has to be accountable
for this. Somebody has to order it and somebody has to be account-
able.

If you had two things that you would want to incorporate in the
drug strategy, what would it be? Both of you.

Chief LANGSTON. If I had two things——

Mr. Hastert. You could have 10 things, but 2 things so I can
remember. All right?

Chief LANGSTON. That is difficult. If I was limited to just two, I
think probably the ones that would have the greatest impact that
cost dollars would be the supply network system.

Mr. Hastert. The what?

Chief LANGSTON. The supply network system of the drugs that
are coming from foreign countries into this country. And that net-
work system has to go outside of our boundaries as well as inside.
That is something that is very expensive and costly, but is best
done and identified at the national level.

Mr. Hastert. So to interdict?

Chief LANGSTON. Exactly. To interdict in that—the supply net-
work system.

I think probably the second one that also costs money would be—
and it has been mentioned already—is to fund—identify criteria
that looks at the qualitative aspect, identifies what the results are,
the outcomes, to programs that are receiving money.

That is critical so that we are funding with tax dollars those pro-
grams that we know work. And there has to be accountability for
that.

Mr. Hastert. So we are getting a bang for our buck, in other
words.

Chief LANGSTON, Exactly. A bang for your buck.

The third one, that doesn’t cost money, I think has to do with
our leadership that must begin at the local level all the way
through, and the message that we send on how we talk about prin-
ciples and values in our local communities.


25

Mr. Hastert. Thank you very much.

Rev. Murphy, please proceed with your statement.

Rev. MurPHy. Good morning. Thanks for having me here. I ap-
preciate it.

My name is Chaplain Michael Murphy, and I served as a senior
chaplain for the Aurora Police Department from April 17, 1994, to
August 15, 1997. I am presently the executive director of the Pray-
er Coalition for Reconciliation, which serves the direct needs of
some of those most traumatized by violence here in Aurora, espe-
cially families, survivors, of homicides.

As the director of the coalition, I facilitate an after-care advocacy
group called Families and Friends of Murder Victims. Over 40 fam-
ilies periodically attend, and ages range from 2 months old to 60
years of age.

I also facilitate community response teams that deliver bilingual
and bicultural, nonbrokered, pastoral public and social services to
the living rooms of the survivors.

I also facilitate a holistic relational intervention program, of
which you just heard Mr. Osby speak of, for active and former gang
members of the streets of Aurora. Each screened individual enters
into a covenant agreement—not a contractual agreement—with
their mentors, who work with them for employment, value clari-
fications, spiritual and emotional development, child care, tutoring
toward GED, restitution to society—that is, if they have any active
99’s on the street of Aurora, we ask that they work with us to turn
themselves in, which has happened.

And we also offer family, marital, and chemical dependency coun-
seling to these individuals. And we provide a peer gang ministry,
which works with former gang members who work with active gang
members; and relocations for what we call SOS, that is shoot on
sight, individuals here in Aurora.

Finally, I provide unanticipated death notifications and public
vigils at all homicide sites.

ly brief synopsis of Aurora encompasses some of the things that
were mentioned here at a local level as well, and probably more so
on a local level. As of January 1, 1990, through September 16,
1997, there have been 141 homicides in Aurora, and 114 have been
people of color. Those who say bullets are colorblind are issue
ind.

Demographically, a resounding majority of our homicides occur in
narrow cells and pockets of our city where poverty and hopeless-
ness abounds and opportunity is for someone down the block or
around the corner.

Aurora remains a monolinguistic society, making entry level,
minimum skill positions difficult to impossible to obtain. A lack of
economic opportunity for the marginalized is the fundamental so-
cial sin of this community.

Some_no longer believe that hard work can get your family
ahead. There is no corporate ladder for some to climb. In fact, if
our minority community needed a ladder, it would be for the hole
that we have dug them to get out of, through years of blaming the
victim and being insensitive to the root causes of violence.

May I stop just to share a short story just this week of a young
man that we are working with in our mentor program, who was


90

Mr. HasTERT. Sergeant Garcia.

Mr. GARCIA. Well, one of the things I would like to see is us to
have access to a better intelligence networking system throughout
the United States.

Mr. HASTERT. Could I stop you right there for a second? One of
the things that we are trying to work with, of course, DEA and CIA
and Border Patrol and Customs and INS, they all have their own
intelligence. But one of the things—and they want to keep it sepa-
rate, for their own reasons. And some of them are good.

There isn’t a coordination. And are you saying we need to be bet-
ter able to coordinate that intelligence?

Mr. Garcia. Definitely. It is unfortunate that there is such a di-
chotomy in law enforcement, as was mentioned here. You can pub-
lish as many intelligence information bulletins that you have out
there, but if that information, which really starts at the local level,
those people that are working on the streets on a daily basis, if
that information doesn’t flow up or the information flowing back
down, and it just ends up sitting there.

Then what you leave is major holes in the system in which these
drug dealers know how to manipulate. They know that law enforce-
ment historically does not share that type of information. They
know they are very territorial.

What had come to light when the gang problem started to sur-
face in the early 1990’s was that gang investigators—at that time
Chief Langston was running it—were sharing more and more infor-
mation across county lines because of the mobility of the gangs.

What I was able to do, working with my drug agents, was to take
that same concept and utilize that in the drug enforcement area.
That was unheard of. It was unheard of that Roy Garcia and the
North Central Narcotic Task Force shared information. Yes, we do,
because we found that we could not handle this problem alone.

And that is what I am talking about. We can have—each agency
can have their own intelligence network, but unless we coordinate
it together and bring that information down to the street level, and
vice versa, it is just going to sit there.

Mr. Hastert. Thank you.

Congressman Mica.

Mr. Mica. On the issue of cooperation of Federal agents with
local and State authorities, are there any specific areas of improve-
ment that you would recommend to us, anything that isn’t being
done as far as utilization of resources, cooperation, other than what
you have already mentioned, at both levels?

Chief LaNcsTon. I think that we have made tremendous strides
in that regard in the last year or two. And the contacts that I have
had both with the DEA and also with the Illinois State Police, the
North Central Narcotics Task Force, and the interaction we have
had with those groups has improved tremendously and appears to
keep moving forward. And we need to continue that.

We also know that they only have so many resources, as well.
And more and more problems, as they develop in local commu-
nities, are going to force and require those smaller communities to
look toward the county, the State, primarily, and the Federal task
forces to assist them because, again, you are going to see adapting


9

And they started to come to places and buy homes and buy farms
for 5 or 6 or 10 times its normal price. We didn’t know where they
had made their money. We didn’t know where they were coming
from. But it looked nice, all right. Some of them started to get into
work and into politics, and some of them were even elected to Con-
gress at those times. They bought their election to Congress.

They decided to go to places, and they paid people, poor people.
They gave them money just for free, in some cases. And they cre-
ated some sympathy on the part of the poor people for having
helped them in many of their needs and satisfied many of the
needs that they had.

So, when we started to oppose the drug people and the druglords,
in many cases we even had to face the opposition of some people,
of some poor people, of how come that you are now trying to pros-
ecute this guy who has only been nice to us, who has only been nice
to our community, who has given money to all of us, who has
given, in some cases, work or jobs, has provided with jobs to some
of our people.

And especially through violence, they started to oppose the com-
plaints and the action on the part of the state. During the last 15
years, we have lost more than 6,000 policemen in Colombia.

There were times, especially in 1989 and 1990, where Pablo
Escobar, the very famous druglord, the leader of the Medellin Car-
tel, used to pay for every policeman killed in the streets of
Medellin.

And in less than 6 months during the year of 1989, they man-
aged to kill 400 policemen. He offered to pay $5,000 for every po-
liceman killed, and $20,000 if that policeman would belong to the
elite corps that we organized in order to precisely try to pursue and
to find and to capture these people.

Then it was the judges, because when we started to prosecute
some of them, they immediately started to oppose prosecutors and
judges. And they killed them by hundreds. They killed one Minister
of Justice, two Attorney Generals in Colombia, half of the Justices
of the Supreme Court in 1985, and you name it.

And then there were the journalists, because everybody who
would criticize them, who would write an article, an editorial op-
posing them, was facing the risk of being killed. And some of them
were killed.

In 1989 and 1990, they shot and killed four Presidential can-
didates that were running for President in Colombia just because
in their campaign, as part of their campaign, they were opposing
drugs, and they were saying that they were going to confront drugs
with everything we have.

And then there was blunt terrorism, and they started to put
bombs here and there, in malls, in schools, in the middle of the
street, in public places, just because they wanted to paralyze the
country and to keep the country, for instance, from extraditing
them so that they could face the risk of being sent especially to the
United States in order to be prosecuted here.

They managed to get the country to include in the constitution
a prohibition on extradition, in my opinion as part of that paralyza-
tion. There was a time in Colombia when we were so paralyzed,
where most of the people were so paralyzed, all we need is just to


61

Some of the problems with juvenile crime, which is on the rise
and has been on the rise for the last several years, is the fact that
law enforcement has been crippled by confidentiality provisions in
the State statutes that prevent them from communicating with one
another about arrests that do not result in court involvement.

We have addressed that locally in DuPage County by creating a
data base so police officers can share information on juveniles, tar-
get juveniles sooner, and address those problems. We find that in
most cases, with the juveniles who get caught up in the criminal
justice system, there are family issues as well as just their own
antisocial behaviors.

There are also family issues which often involve substance abuse,
controlled substances and also alcohol abuse. Through this data
base, we are able to share that information sooner and address not
only that child’s specific problem but the family issues.

Many of the leaders that were here earlier talked about those
issues that have to be addressed in the family. Hopefully through
this program we are going to be able to do a better job of address-
ing those issues.

Those are just a few things that we are doing in DuPage County.
You have—I don’t want to—I am not going to read from this spe-
cifically, but you can see what we are doing in DuPage County with
our drug prosecution unit, which is partially funded from a grant
from the Justice Department administered through the Illinois
Criminal Justice Information Authority.

Very effective; without that funding, we would not be as success-
ful as we are. We have a 95-percent conviction rate, with 88 per-
cent of drug offenders who are involved in drug trafficking of either
controlled substances or cannabis in DuPage County going to jail,
approximately 50 percent going to the penitentiary and the rest
doing county jail time in conjunction with probation.

We have found that that aggressive prosecution is very effective
as a deterrent. We know it from our records as far as recidivism,
and we also know it through eavesdropping applications where we
listen to tapes of drug dealers telling the undercover agent that
they should not be in DuPage, they shouldn’t be doing the deal
here in DuPage County, because if you do it in DuPage, you are
going away for a long time. That is the message we want to send.
That is the message that we are sending through our aggressive
prosecution unit.

The unit is very proactive. We are involved at the very basic
level with police officers and investigators when they open a file.
That is essential. I mean, that should be done everyplace.

For example, last year we had 32—or 52 electronic eaves-
dropping applications, the highest in the State outside Cook Coun-
ty. Cook County, which is 10 times our size, had 62 applications.

‘hat makes for—that type of communication and cooperation with
police makes for successful investigations and successful prosecu-
tions.

A drug dealer’s words on tape is the best evidence in court. And
with that type of evidence, that is why we have a 95-percent con-
viction rate. We have got a great relationship with all the law en-
forcement agencies throughout DuPage, including Aurora, which
has 25,000 residents who live in DuPage County. We have got a


17

clear that parents, education, prevention, and intervention hold the
key to the long-term solutions.

We must all work together. Many agencies, churches, individ-
uals, and boards are working independently toward solutions for
the same problems, drugs and gangs. These groups and individuals
must form as a united, multicommunity alliance committed to mo-
bilizing individuals and systems to take action to eliminate those
conditions which foster violence, delinquency, and gangs, while pro-
moting conditions to ensure a positive community for all.

A 35-member Aurora Community Mobilization Advisory Board
has just been formed in Aurora to accomplish this task locally. The
talents and resources of an entire community must be brought to-
gether to form the customized synergy necessary for positive
change within our community.

Finally, we must remember that the police are not charged with
making the needed changes in society, but rather we must deal
with the problems of the resultant symptoms.

Some of the recommendations, if I may take your indulgence:
Suppression efforts important. They are the role of the police, and
often involve incarceration. However, gang and drug operations
continue to flourish and influence the effects of those operations in
communities outside the prison system.

If we cannot, within the controlled environment of the prison sys-
tem, stop gang and drug operations, how can we hope to stop it in
a free society on the streets of our communities? We only continue
to supply better operators and stronger commitments to each upon
their release back to our communities.

Recent examples in the local area are those of Larry Hoover, the
Gangster Disciples investigations; and recent indictments, I be-
lieve, are pending against Gino Colon, due just to be released the
other day. The message sent to the street is that incarceration is
simply a setback and an opportunity to network.

Incarceration should be punishment and emphasize personal re-
sponsibility, while also affording rehabilitative treatment for asso-
ciated problems. Unwilling participation or acceptance of treatment
must also incur individual responsibility, and that must impact pa-
role obligations and time.

No. 2, increased emphasis must be directed toward the supply
networks from foreign countries and closer inter-agency collabora-
tion to expose those networks. There must also be sanctions toward
countries that do not support our efforts in a cooperative fashion
to expose those drug operations. Responsibility must be taken by
supply countries for their part in the operational drug networks
that cause havoc within our communities nationwide.

Drug demand reduction efforts must also be emphasized within
our domestic communities as well. Education and treatment pro-
grams must be the mainstays of future demand reduction of illicit
drugs in our country.

Interagency cooperation and collaboration have improved, but
must continue to develop further. Local communities do not have
sufficient personnel, the dollars, the technology, the expertise, or
the access to information to effectively eradicate high-level drug
network operations within their boundaries.


47

Liaison Board, and an Advisory Board. The fact that the Board is volunteer
allows for independence and integrity. State offices and agencies are
tremendously supportive of IDEA’s efforts, and we believe it is due to our clearly
stated agenda, our independence and our grassroots volunteer philosophy.

IDEA has an annual budget of over $250,000, with only about $53,000 coming.
from governmental sources. We pay a part-time bookkeeper, part-time secretary,
conference coordinator, and two conference registrars.

HOW _THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN HELP SUPPORT
DRUG PREVENTION EFFORTS

[Clear National Leadership ]

We need clear national leadership! The drug problem needs to be a number one national
priority! Every citizen needs to be engaged in this drug war. When our national security
was threatened during WWII, every citizen participated in the war effort and was proud to
do so. That same energy, commitment, determination and pride needs to be harnessed for
the war on drugs. The citizens of the United States have a need, and indeed a right, to
know that our national security is being threatened and that this threat comes from within.
‘They need to understand the nature of the threat.

Once Americans understand the peril they face, they need to know what to do and who
they can follow. There needs to be a national spokesperson and/or group who is
constantly speaking out against drugs and against individuals who promote them. The
person and/or group must be strong; provide clear, concise and consistent “no use”
messages, ard not allow the effort to be deterred, compromised, or subverted.

We all need to come together against illicit drug use. At the present time there is no
person or group that has, or probably can, unite us in our mission. We need a battle plan,
with a mission for every concemed citizen. We need practical, well defined goals,
milestones and strategies. Perhaps the leadership for such an offensive could come from
the Democrats and Republicans in the Congress.

‘An effective way of engaging citizens in the war on drugs is to build organizations similar
to IDEA in every state. IDEA is willing to be a resource for others.


49

The CDC then went on to provide funding and technical assistance to the Ilinois
Department of Public Health (IDPH) for a second NEP conference, “HIV Prevention
Among Injection Drug Users,” on August 26, 1997. The original agenda for the meeting
clearly presented a biased perspective. Only after a number of telephones calls and with
the cooperation of IDPH, were we able to present a panel offering the opposing
viewpoint.

The influence the CDC has is enormous. The CDC is not presenting “clear, consistent,
and highly visible ‘no use” drug messages,” and our efforts are being subverted.
(Attachment 1)

[Not Supporting Those Who Advocate for Legalized Drugs

Federal grants and contracts are being awarded to individuals who do not subscribe to
US. drug policy, and who, in fact, advocate against it. They use their government work
to establish impressive credentials and then advance their pro drug positions using these
credentials. This practice serves to seriously undermine drug prevention efforts.

Mark Kleiman, President of Botec Analysis Corporation, is just one person who has
received many hundreds of thousands of dollars worth in government contracts to help
shape drug policy. He has stated that: “marijuana should be legalized;” “If we could get
this society to define excess rather than drugs as the enemy to make war on, we would
have made great progress;” and “Kids have overdosed on anti-drug messages. This is
coming at the end of the 12 most hysterical years in American drug policy.” Mr. Kleiman
speaks at Drug Policy Foundation conferences, the organization whose goal is to legalize
drugs. (Attachment J)

There are a number of pro drug/legalization people collecting government dollars in the
name of drug policy research. IDEA can provide additional information upon request.

An investigation as to how individuals advocating for legalized drugs gain their influence
and their funding is imperative. Also, we need safeguards established which would
prohibit the awarding of federal grants and contracts pertaining to drug policy, to those
who are pro drug advocates.


93

Mr. Mica. What about the source of heroin? We have some now
coming in from Colombia—actually, more coming, I think, from Co-
lombia, and the brown, which has been from Mexico, sort of about
the same, a slight increase.

you seeing the same pattern of activity?

Chief LANGSTON. Yes. Yes, we are seeing the same pattern. It
seems to be the—what is generally called a China White to be the
most popular. We are also seeing the levels of purity going up.

And that, of course, affects price and the economic issues that go
with any other commodity, in that that market can very much be
manipulated and controlled and very well adapted to what loca-
tions need to have what supply during that whole network and dis-
tribution process, which is extremely difficult for a local or State-
level agency to deal with.

Mr. Mica. I guess just one other question: I saw this DuPage
County program. I didn’t hear all of the verbal testimony, but read
the written testimony. That looks like it is fairly successful, this
narcotics prosecution unit effort, that you are familiar with it. Is
your personal evaluation as good as the statistical information we
have here?

Chief LANGSTON. The information that Mr. Birkett was referring
to as far as the DuPage County drug prosecution effort?

Mr. Mica. What is your opinion?

Chief LANGSTON. Yes. Well, we have participated with that state-
wide grand jury. That also is part of that program, and the unit
that they have put together dealing with drug prosecutions. And
we have—only a portion of our city is in the DuPage County area,
and we have had good success with those prosecutions.

Mr. Mica. Can you see a change? Hold old is this? The statistics
T have are 1996-1997. Is it only a year old?

Chief LANGSTON. Yes.

Mr. Mica. A year old?

Chief LANGSTON. It is only about a year old, and I am not famil-
iar with the numbers.

Mr. Mica. But you are seeing some success from this?

Chief LANGSTON. Well, I think it is too early to say that the re-
sults are what they are. I think we need to have a longer time to
look at that. But we—they do tend to show a positive direction, so
that is encouraging.

Mr. Garcia. If I can comment on that, by having an opportunity
to work in other States and work in drug investigations—I will give
you Michigan as an example—in their drug task force units that
they have there, which are managed—local drug task forces, which
are managed by the State, they assign a prosecutor from that coun-
ty right to that drug unit specifically.

That is something we don’t see here because of lack of funding
or for whatever reason, is assigning a prosecutor who will take
those cases into court and is familiar with the investigations right
from their birth. It also helps with the investigative unit as far as
getting guidance on the different type of investigative techniques
that are out there.

This prosecutor also has the ability to not only prosecute on a
State level, but prosecute on a Federal level as well. And it has
been very successful.


12

from the south, from Bolivia and from Peru, from entering Colom-
bia or from crossing Colombia. And our air force is devoting lots of
time, lots of energies, and lots of resources in order to try to keep
our air space from being used for these purposes.

We, as I have told you, have lost many lives in this war. But
which is more sad, we have lost many souls and consciousness as
well. There are quite a number of Colombians who were good peo-
ple and are not good people any more.

We have to keep that from happening. One of the saddest parts
of it all is when one has the opportunity of going to the coca planta-
tions and the jungle and see that the labor work that they are em-
ploying nowadays in order to take the leaves out of the coca
bushes, which is a very painful and hard handwork to do, is being
developed by children, in many cases, by children under 16 because
they cannot be prosecuted according to the Colombian law.

So they use these children, who at the beginning, they do not
know what they are doing. They do not know why they are doing
it. But they get paid for it, and their parents get paid for it. So,
there are times when during vacations they are sent to the planta-
tions. We are trying to keep that from happening.

So, we are dedicating lots of efforts to education and TV cam-
paigns all the time, all the time, all the time: Please say “no” to
drugs. Please don’t work in this type of thing. Yes, you get paid a
lot more than you would in any other activity, but it doesn’t pay.

So, it is not easy. But we are doing it. We are doing it very hard,
and sincerely we do need to develop more activities. We do need to
be more successful, luckier sometimes. But there is one thing that
I see which I have not seen all the time, and that is the commit-
ment of a nation in this war, to this war.

We probably were not fully committed before, not all of us. Now
it is clear that the vast majority of Colombians really, really do un-
derstand the significance of all this and are committed as a nation
in order to defeat it.

But we have to defeat it through the rule of law, respecting at
all times principles and values which are very important, those of
democracy, presumption of innocence, due process, values and prin-
ciples that sometimes we complain against them because due to
them sometimes, the criminals hide behind due process, hide—
manage to hide behind presumption of innocence, you know.

And so, we know about it, too, and we suffer for it. But anyway,
we cannot be renegades of principles and values which have been
the support for the construction of our country. So, I sincerely do
hope that in the near future, whenever I go to places and I talk
about Colombia or hear about Colombia, it is not in regard with
drugs, but simply, again, with the smile that I used to see on
everybody’s face when they were saying, so you come from the land
of Juan Valdez.

Yes; that is the land, the only land from which I want to come,
and not from the land from which many drugs do come to this
country. But believe me, we are trying our best to stop that from
happening.

Thank you very much, and I apologize for having talked so long,
Mr. Chairman.