INTELLIGENCE
                       No. 270, 28 Aug 1995
                        (Vol. 16, No. 16)

                      Publishing since 1980

Copyright ADI 1995. Reproduction in any form forbidden without explicit
authorization from the ADI. A one-year subscription (23 issues) is US $280.

Intelligence Around the World:

     NICARAGUA - The "Gringos" are Coming Back.  In response to
an official request by the government of Nicaragua, the
American Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced on 22
August that it would open an office in Managua.  According to
army chief, General Joaquin Cuadra, the DEA office will
facilitate "exchanging information" but will not be involved in
carrying out operations which can only be legally done by
Nicaraguan forces.

                            *
People:

ROSSO JOSE SERRANO CADENA - COLOMBIA

It's anyone's guess how long the honeymoon of the U.S.
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) with Colombian National
Police Chief, General Rosso Jose Serrano Cadena, will last.
DEA director, Thomas A. Constantine, recently praised Gen.
Serrano following the arrest of several Cali cartel leaders
under a program of close cooperation between the Colombian
police and American services, including the CIA and the NSA
(IN, N. 269/24).  Constantine's congratulations to Cadena came
after former police officer Victor Patino, 35, believed to be
in charge of the cartel's hit squads, turned himself in, the
arrest of Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela and the surrender of
Henry Loaiza.  The message, which praised Cadena but said
nothing about the Colombian government, came before the last
top member of the cartel, Miguel Rodriguez Orejuela, 51, was
arrested on 6 August.  This leaves Helmer Herrera as the only
fugitive Cali cartel leader.  Cadena didn't obtain his results
without "breaking some eggs" at the police.  Before opening a
campaign against the Cali cartel, Cadena apparently revoked
some 300 police officers and 2,500 non-commissioned officers.
Many of these policemen had established contacts with the Cali
cartel during the fight, assisted by Gilberto Orejuela, against
the Medellin cartel.  But Cadena hasn't come out unscathed from
this battle:  specialists say that American pressure largely
forced Cali leaders to "negotiate" with Cadena before being
"arrested" or turning themselves in.  Now the anti-drug battle
is probably going to move on, and Mexico seems ready to fill
the ranks vacated by Cadena's efforts.

                                  *

For more info on Intelligence, or to subscribe, write:

Olivier Schmidt
intelligence-adi@wanadoo.fr
tel/fax 33 1 40.51.85.19
ADI, 16 rue des Ecoles, 75005 Paris, France