Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 8, 1990                   TAG: 9005080131
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: TAMPA, FLA.                                LENGTH: Medium

DRUG CARTEL LINKED TO STINGER MISSILE DEAL

The two men agreed to hand over $1 million in cocaine profits as a down payment for 120 Stingers and 50 automatic rifles, plus a plane to transport the weapons to Colombia, FBI Agent Charles A. Salemme testified at a court hearing.

The suspects, claiming to work for reputed cartel kingpin Pablo Escobar, said bribed officials would help them smuggle the weapons for attacks on the anti-drug Colombian government.

The suspects told undercover agents they would pay $5 million - from the planned sale of 400 to 600 kilos of cocaine - for the plane and the weapons, and $1 million to the people who would steal the weapons, Salemme told a federal magistrate.

FBI officials said a Stinger sells for about $14,000 on the legitimate arms market. The shoulder-fired missile uses an infrared homing device to aim itself at the heat generated by an aircraft's engine. It has proved highly effective against low-flying aircraft.

The 4-foot-long, 35-pound missiles were to be used against official Colombian government aircraft, according to Allen McCreight, FBI chief in Tampa.

But he said investigators weren't aware of specific plans by drug traffickers to assassinate Colombian President Virgilio Barco Vargas, who has waged war on drug smugglers, or his Cabinet.

"Our investigation is continuing, but at this point we have not established that the purpose of the purchase of the missiles was to be used against any officials and specifically the president of Colombia," McCreight said.

The case is the most recent of several reported attempts by drug traffickers to obtain Stingers, but federal officials say none of the earlier negotiations had gone as far as the plot involving the two men arrested Saturday.

An undercover drug investigation in Polk County in west-central Florida eventually led to the federal "sting" in the weapons deal.

Authorities arrested Alfredo Antonio Ramos-Tinoco, 47, at a Tampa hotel bar, and Luis Fernando Arcila-Giraldo, 28, near Miami International Airport.

Both were charged with conspiracy to receive stolen property and export arms illegally, as well as aiding and abetting the importation and possession with intent to distribute marijuana and cocaine.

Ramos-Tinoco appeared before a U.S. magistrate Monday in Tampa, but the hearing was recessed after Ramos-Tinoco said he wanted an attorney but couldn't afford to pay one. Magistrate Thomas Wilson told the public defender's office to represent him.

An FBI affidavit said Ramos-Tinoco "described Luis as a close associate" of Colombian drug boss Pablo Escobar. It also said Ramos-Tinoco "stated that if this arms exchange deal went well, it would be arranged for the undercover organization to handle future transportation of drugs into the United States on behalf of the Pablo Escobar group."