Samper Aides Face Heroin Charge

Sat., May 3, 1997

Associated Press

Prosecutors have formally charged three air force mechanics with trying to smuggle more than 8 pounds of heroin into the United States on President Ernesto Samper’s plane, authorities said Friday.

Discovery of hidden heroin aboard the plane Sept. 20 came at an inopportune moment for Samper: the eve of a trip to the United States to address the U.N. General Assembly.

The State Department previously had stripped Samper of his U.S. tourist visa over allegations that he had solicited $6 million in contributions from the Cali drug cartel for his presidential campaign.

At the time the heroin was found, one Colombian government minister suggested conspirators wanted Samper to be arrested when he arrived in the United States.

The U.S. ambassador publicly denied suggestions that American agents might have planted the drug to embarrass Samper.

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Samper Aides Face Heroin Charge

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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