Cocaine discovered in UN mailroom
Sat Jan 28, 2012 2:28AM
Gary Anthony Ramsay, Press TV, New York
Cocaine shipments are regularly intercepted coming to New York. But bags of the illegal substance were found in an unlikely spot this week - The diplomatic processing center of the United Nations. The package weighing 16 kilos has a street value of two million dollars.
United Nations officials claim the pouches and the marking were in fact fake logos that somewhat looked liked the UN insignias. The package was intercepted inside the facility's mail intake center and did not have a name or address according the New York police department.
Investigators say the drugs were delivered by the private shipping company DHL. The package was sent from Mexico to the United Nations through Cincinnati. The UN Undersecretary for Security showed reporters a picture of the package to demonstrate how it differed from a real diplomatic pouch. But still questions swirl about whether this was a fluke at the world body or part of an ongoing pattern of drug trafficking.
Thomas Rushkin is international security consultant.
He says the delivery raises several concerns including its size.
That investigation is being conducted by both the New York Police Department and the US Drug Enforcement agency. But if a UN worker is involved finding and prosecuting them may not be easy. Diplomats and some workers enjoy immunity from prosecution although they can be expelled. While the under-secretary for security insists that it is unlikely that staff was involved - it has not yet been ruled out.
