| 00:00:37 |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
HEMISPHERE SUBCOMMITTEE OF NARCOTIC AFFAIRS WILL COME TO ORDER. WELCOME TO OUR HEARING ON THE U.S. CARIBBEAN SHARED SECURITY PARTNERSHIP. RESPONDING...
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| 00:10:42 |
Rubio, Marco - U.S. Senator, [R] Florida
HEARING. I WANT TO THANK OUR WITNESSES FOR THEIR CONTINUED SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THE GAITWAY TO THE AMERICAS IS THE REGION...
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| 00:12:58 |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
IN THE CARIBBEAN AND HEMS HEMISPHERE. HE'S THE D.A.'S REPRESENTATIVE TO THE AGENCY. HE'S WORKED IN THE DEA'S INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS, CENTRAL AMERICA,...
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| 00:14:38 |
Brownfield, William - Assistant Secretary
COMMITTEE. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN. I THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY TO DISCUSS THE U.S.-CARIBBEAN SHARED...
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| 00:19:49 |
Benson, Rodney - Assistant Administrator
SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY ON OUR ASSESSMENT OF DRUG TRENDS IN THE CARIBBEAN REGION. ON BEHALF OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DEA, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT....
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| 00:24:31 |
Ayalde, Liliana - Deputy Administrator
TO SHARE WITH THE U.S. AGENCY IS DOING TO ADVANCE THE CARIBBEAN. IT'S AN HONOR TO COMPLIMENT THE TESTIMONY OF MY COLLEAGUES. MR. CHAIRMAN, DURING MY...
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| 00:29:53 |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
HERE. LET ME START WITH AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE, MULTIAGENCY, HEMISPHERIC-WIDE POLICY TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES...
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| 00:30:22 |
Brownfield, William - Assistant Secretary
FORMULATING THIS POLICY? >> MY VOICE OFTEN CARRIES WITHOUT THE ASSISTANCE OF A MICROPHONE. I HEAR THAT FROM MY SPOUSE. MR. CHAIRMAN, MY ANSWER TO YOUR...
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| 00:38:16 |
Benson, Rodney - Assistant Administrator
DEA'S PERSPECTIVE? >> SENATOR, CLEARLY VENEZUELA IS EVOLVING INTO A MAJOR SHIPPING POINT FOR MOVING COCAINE INTO CENTRAL AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN....
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| 00:39:11 |
Rubio, Marco - U.S. Senator, [R] Florida
YOU REALLY. YOU NOTE IN YOUR TESTIMONY THAT THE VIOLENCE IS AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE WORLD. THE MURDER RATES ARE HIGH IN JAMAICA. DRUG TRAFFICKING IN...
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| 00:39:51 |
Ayalde, Liliana - Deputy Administrator
REGION. AND THERE'S THE ECONOMY HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT. THAT'S PRECISELY WHY WE'RE FOCUSING ON THE YOUTH. THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE...
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| 00:40:22 |
Brownfield, William - Assistant Secretary
THAT WE ARE CORRECT. OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, AND CERTAINLY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS, THE AMOUNT OF ELICIT DRUGS TRANSFERRING THROUGH THE CARIBBEAN...
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| 00:41:38 |
Rubio, Marco - U.S. Senator, [R] Florida
RICO FOR A MOMENT. THAT'S A DOMESTIC SECURITY OBLIGATION WE HAVE. I WAS THERE EARLIER IN THE YEAR. I HEARD ABOUT THIS. THE SITUATION HAS CONTINUED....
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| 00:42:33 |
Benson, Rodney - Assistant Administrator
SEE A LOT OF THAT VIOLENCE IN THE AREA. AND IT IS DRUG RELATED. STREET LEVEL DISTRIBUTION. OUR BEST WAY TO TACKLE THAT WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS IN...
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| 00:46:54 |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
HERE. I AM PARTICULARLY CONCERNED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE CARIBBEAN ON THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. I'D LIKE TO ASK MR. BENSON TO HELP US OUT HERE. ...
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| 00:47:53 |
Benson, Rodney - Assistant Administrator
THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. >> SENATOR, THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AS WE LOOK AT IT FROM A TARGETING POINT OF VIEW, PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE AS A TRANS-SHIPMENT...
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| 00:53:53 |
Brownfield, William - Assistant Secretary
IS? >> I'M NOT GOING TO OFFER A SPECIFIC VIEW ON A SPECIFIC CASE. I'VE HEARD THE NAME IN MY CASE MOSTLY THROUGH MEDIA REPORTING. BUT I DO NOT QUESTION...
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| 00:54:45 |
Benson, Rodney - Assistant Administrator
PROSECUTION? >> WHAT I KNOW ABOUT HIM, HE WAS A DRUG TRAFFICKER. HE WAS ULTIMATELY ARRESTED BACK IN JULY OF 2010 IN PUERTO RICO AND IS AWAITING...
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| 00:55:34 |
Brownfield, William - Assistant Secretary
AS A RESULT OF DECISIONS MADE WITHIN THE I.N.L.'S CRIME OFFICE IN TERMS OF THE CORRUPTION PROVISION IN THE STATUTE. >> AND DO YOU KNOW THAT SPECIFICALLY...
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| 00:57:43 |
Benson, Rodney - Assistant Administrator
WELL, CLEARLY THE DRUG TRAFFICKING ORGANIZATIONS HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT THE PORTS ARE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN MOVE SHIPMENTS OF DRUGS TO THE UNITED STATES...
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| 00:58:44 |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
DOMINICAN PAPER REPORTED ON THE VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES OF THE DOMINICAN DRUG CZAR, ROLANDO ROSARO TO DISCUSS THE CREATION OF WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS...
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| 00:59:02 |
Benson, Rodney - Assistant Administrator
THAT? >> WE HAVE AN OPERATION CALLED OPERATION SEA WALL THAT IS LOOKING AT MARITIME ACTIVITY BOTH FROM THE INTERDICTION FOCUS, BUT IN EVERY PIECE OF...
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| 01:00:43 |
Brownfield, William - Assistant Secretary
DIRECTION WHEN OUR CHALLENGE IS GROWING? >> YES, MR. CHAIRMAN. THAT SAID, I'M A TEAM PLAYER. AND I ACCEPT THAT I AM PART OF A LARGER TEAM AND THAT IT...
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| 01:01:40 |
Tape #2 Rolls, -
GLOBAL BUDGET NUMBER IS DRIVEN DOWN. AND THEN I HAVE TO GET WITHIN A REGION BY REGION OR GEOGRAPHIC REGION BY REGION NUMBER AS WELL. THIS IS DRIVING...
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| 01:02:45 |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
THE FIGHT THAT WE NEED TO CONTAIN? IT SEEMS TO ME WE ARE SPENDING AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY ALONG THE BORDER BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND NEXT JUST...
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| 01:03:43 |
Brownfield, William - Assistant Secretary
MY STATEMENT, I SEE A CRISIS COMING. AND I BELIEVE OUR CHALLENGE IS GOING TO GET GREATER IN THE COMING YEARS. IT IS MY VIEW RIGHT NOW THAT CONGRESS...
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| 01:04:51 |
Benson, Rodney - Assistant Administrator
MISSION? >> SENATOR, WE HAVE A STRONG FOOTPRINT IN THE CARIBBEAN. BUT IF WE HAD ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WE COULD ALWAYS DEPLOY THOSE RESOURCES TO TARGET...
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| 01:06:51 |
Rubio, Marco - U.S. Senator, [R] Florida
EMERGING CRISIS THAT MR. BROWNFIELD HAS OUTLINED HITS US, THE COSTS OF THAT ARE GOING TO BE PRETTY HIGH AS WELL. WE'RE GOING HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE....
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| 01:08:36 |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
SUCH AS "THE BOSTON GLOBE," THE FINANCIAL TIMES AND MOTHER JONES COVERING LATIN AMERICA AND WEST AFRICA. HE'S WORKED IN LOW HOME BEE, VENEZUELA, EXWHAT...
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| 01:09:11 |
Gamarra, Eduardo - Director
MENENDEZ AND SENATOR RUBIO, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE THIS TESTIMONY ABOUT THE OVERALL SITUATION OF VIOLENCE PRIMARILY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC...
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| 01:17:30 |
Farah, Douglas - Senior Fellow
MANY OTHERS HAVE SAID, TRUCK TRAFFICKING ROUTES AND NETWORKS ARE LIKE WATER RUNNING DOWN HILL. THEY WILL ALL SEEK THE PATH OF LEASE RESISTANCE. THE CBSI...
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| 01:24:19 |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
OF THE DRUGS FLOWING THROUGH THEM WILL DO LITTLE TO MITIGATE THE PROBLEM. >> THANK YOU BOTH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. LET ME START, MR. FARAH, WITH YOU. ...
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| 01:25:07 |
Farah, Douglas - Senior Fellow
IN VENEZUELA. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THAT? >> I THINK THAT ONE OF THE KEY OBJECTIVES OF IRAN IN THE REGION NOT JUST THE CARIBBEAN BUT IN LATIN AMERICA...
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| 01:26:29 |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
APPRECIATE YOUR VERY BALANCED REVIEW, PARTICULARLY THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC AND SOME OF THE INITIATIVES THERE. I WONDER, AND WE APPLAUD CERTAINLY PRESIDENT...
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| 01:28:41 |
Gamarra, Eduardo - Director
THAT. >> RIGHT. FIRST, SENATOR MENENDEZ, I THINK YOU KNOW YOUR FINAL OBSERVATION IS SOMETHING THAT U.S. HAS FOUND HISTORICALLY EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT...
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| 01:32:56 |
Rubio, Marco - U.S. Senator, [R] Florida
BRIEFLY FOR BOTH OF YOU, MR. FARAH, THE GIST OF YOUR TESTIMONY IS ALL THIS STUFF IS GREAT BUT AS LONG AS VENEZUELA'S OUT THERE THE TRUE SUCCESS IS...
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| 01:33:34 |
Farah, Douglas - Senior Fellow
JUST BRIEFLY BEFORE I ANSWER THAT. THE PERSON LEADING FROM TRINIDAD TO VENEZUELA TO GET ON THE IRAN FLIGHT AS HE LEFT THE JFK BOMBING INCIDENT. YES,...
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| 01:35:11 |
Gamarra, Eduardo - Director
PROCESS. THE OPPOSITION WILL HAVE ITS ELECTIONS IN EARLY FEBRUARY AND WILL ELECT A CANDIDATE. THERE ARE AT LEAST IN MY OPINION TWO OR THREE VERY GOOD...
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| 01:36:45 |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
OKAY. THANK YOU BOTH. >> THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU. LET ME JUST FOLLOW UP ON SENATOR RUBIO'S QUESTION. IS BECAUSE YOU SAID SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS VERY...
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| 01:37:44 |
Gamarra, Eduardo - Director
AGGRANDIZEMENT? >> YES, I THINK SO, SENATOR. THE REALITY IS THAT GIVEN VENEZUELA'S WEALTH, WHILE POVERTY IN VENEZUELA HAS DECREASED IT HASN'T DECREASED...
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| 01:38:57 |
Farah, Douglas - Senior Fellow
OBSERVATION? >> ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS WITH VENEZUELA, EVERY TIME IT GOES BROKE IT MANAGES TO FIND A DONOR, PARTICULARLY CHINA. IF YOU NOTICE...
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| 01:39:41 |
Menendez, Robert "Bob" - U.S. Senator, [D] New Jersey
TO ALLOW THEM TO SOUTHEAST LARGE AMOUNTS OF CASH -- >> TAKING YOUR POINT THIS IS WHAT I SEE ON THE HORIZON FOR THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA, TO SELL TO THE...
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NOTE: The transcript for this program was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.