Mexican Drug Cartels Use Weaponized Drones to Attack Those Impeding Their Operations in Mexico, U.S.

  

Police in Mexico were attacked with weaponized drones from the Mexican drug cartels as they were in the middle of clearing blockades in El Aguaje in April.The attack has led to the growing fear that these weaponized drones pose another obstacle in the global fight against illegal drugs.Reports noted that the blockades were placed by organized crime groups who inhabited the area. El Aguaje lies in the west of Mexico and has become a known battleground for the Mexican drug cartels.According to the Courier-Journal, as the Michoacán state police were doing a routine operation in the area, a drone flew over them and dropped a bomb filled with gun powder. The attack led to two members of the force being injured in the limbs.READ NEXT: Jalisco Cartel Uses Explosive Drones to Attack Police, Hurts 2Mexican Drug Cartels Upgrade their Weapon ArsenalsTo allow more clearance in its drug flow into the United States, Mexican drug cartels such as the violent and powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, also known as CJNG, along with its rival Cárteles Unidos, have their arsenals upgraded. The rival Mexican drug cartels are now utilizing drones in bombing their enemies, which poses a greater threat to Mexicans and Americans, InSight Crime reported.Derek Maltz, who is a former agent in charge of the United States DEA's Special Operations Division, shared that he has been a strong advocate of designating the Mexican drug cartels as terrorist groups because they are acting like one. They are equipped with weapons like terrorist groups. Maltz added that the cartels are distributing record levels of drugs in the U.S.Maltz further noted that drones are part of the larger strategy of the cartel in achieving their aims by arming themselves like rogue militaries. He said they are now using the latest technology that they can have in order to overcome adversaries and use it as a scout in finding better routes to funnel drugs into the U.S.Meanwhile, a rookie drone operator who worked for Cárteles Unidos told Courier-Journal that their drug cartel alone has an estimated 100 drones. But the drone operator refused to give out his name because of their criminal activities.He added that once a cartel member would use a drone, he will receive training from a man nicknamed "Lord of the Skies."Furthermore, the cartel member, who agreed to an interview in exchange for anonymity, also said that the man nicknamed "Lord of the Skies" has been training them since last year.He noted that they have many drone models in their possession that can carry a considerable amount of explosives.He added that the drones were not too advanced, but they came legally from the U.S. through groups in Michoacán that support them.He also mentioned that they are deploying the drones in their territory for security purposes and sometimes use it in attacking their rival cartel. However, he clarified that they are not using drones in drug trafficking since it is inefficient in carrying a large volume of drugs.Meanwhile, even a border patrol helicopter encountered a 'highly modified" drone. The incident occurred on Feb. 9 in the skies over Tucson. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the incident

Sick and tried of what it takes to run a business

 Are you a business owner sick and tired of the many losses that come with running a business? Just like wedding vows, through thick and thin, in the ups and downs of life, an entrepreneur is ready to give the business his/her all for to see the business thrive and grow and be stable on its own, able to make profits and grow. So what are the factors that cause a business to not thrive, but instead to find themselves making losses especially in their first years.

Below are a couple of reasons as to why small business make so much losses in the first years.

Wasted Company Time

With so much to do and so few hours to do it in, time really is money in the business world. For this reason, it’s crucial that you waste as little of it as you can. To save yourself time, you should invest in the right software, to manage employee data on one platform. You should also minimize distractions while you work.

Loss of Merchandise

Shrinkage is an issue for any business selling physical products. It occurs when merchandise is lost, damaged, or stolen before it has a chance to be sold to customers. There is no way to eliminate this issue completely, but there is plenty that you can do to minimize it. Many companies, for example, invest in better stock management and security around their products.

High Turnover Rate

Hiring employees is a big and expensive step for your business. You need to handle costs related to job listings, interviews, training, and more, so, ideally, you’ll want to have to do so as little as possible and keep your turnover rate low. You can do so by creating a positive work environment and offering benefits and salaries better than any competing businesses.

Bad Financial Management

The only way to know for sure where your business is losing money is by keeping track of your finances. If you fail to do so, you’ll overspend unnecessarily, miss bill payments, and much more. Of course, you may not have much experience when it comes to accounting, making this task difficult. If this is the case, then consider hiring a professional accountant o do it for you.

A business without money is one that won’t survive for very long. To keep your company up and running, eliminate these causes of financial loss in your business.

Monitor Profit and Loss Reports Constantly

P&L reports are generated on a weekly, monthly, quarterly or annual basis based on a company’s standard operating procedure. However, accountants can generate reports as needed and requested by the management. Take advantage of this and constantly look at the numbers. Look for trends and use them to forecast and project profits and minimize losses.

Change something.

Maybe you can launch a social media campaign, or hold a customer appreciation event, or even just send a comment card to your loyal customers. Do anything that is different, and in a positive direction

The idea here is that there will be times when you’re not sure if your business will make it and you’re just staring at your bank balance like a kid waiting for Christmas, but the fact is that you will usually come out of it you’ll be much more productive when you stay calm.

 Financing Hurdles

However, owners of failing companies are less in tune with how much revenue is generated by sales of products or services. This disconnect leads to funding shortfalls that can quickly put a small business out of operation.

In most instances a business owner is intimately aware of how much money is needed to keep operations running on a day-to-day basis, including funding

payroll; paying fixed and varied overhead expenses, such as rent and utilities; and ensuring that outside vendors are paid on time.

Inadequate Management

Another common reason small businesses fail is a lack of business acumen on the part of the management team or business owner. In some instances, a business owner is the only senior-level person within a company, especially when a business is in its first year or two of operation.

Ineffective Business Planning

Business owners who fail to address the needs of the business through a well-laid-out plan before operations begin are setting up their companies for serious challenges.

at a minimum:

• A clear description of the business
• Current and future employee and management needs
• Opportunities and threats within the broader market
• Capital needs, including projected cash flow and various budgets
• Marketing initiatives
• Competitor analysis

Marketing Mishaps

Similarly, having realistic projections in terms of target audience reach and sales conversion ratios is critical to marketing campaign success. Businesses that do not understand these aspects of sound marketing strategies are more likely to fail than companies that take the time to create and implement cost-effective, successful campaigns.

Conclusion.

The Kenyan saying “vitu kwa ground ni different”, often used to mean things on the ground are different from what one thought or had planned and no one understands this more than an entrepreneur who despite multiple and extensive researches find themselves in doubt, loss and sometimes downfall due to many so factors. Point is proper planning and research is important before starting a business. Yes, sometimes you can plan and things may not go according to plan, however, but you learn and you grow and avoid making the same mistakes

3 Steps For Managing Your Small Business’s Taxes. Small Business Strategy

 I write on the relationship between business, policy and politics.

Filing business-related taxes can often be a time-consuming and complicated process, especially for new entrepreneurs. Small business owners need a good understanding of the federal, state, and local taxes required to file. The types of taxes can range from income, employment, excise, and sales. It is critical that business owners are set up for success well before tax season. Here are three steps for managing your small business’s taxes. 1. Find the Right Accountant Most small business owners hire an accountant to ensure that all tax filing and payments are made correctly. Accountants help reduce the amount of time business owners spend on taxes and booking. Generally, an accountant’s services can range from estimated tax payments to asset depreciation, and this investment in your business is vital to your long-term success. Accountants are constructive partners for your business and are essential members of the broader support team. There are many accountants in the market, but small business accounting requires specific expertise. Be sure to prioritize those specializing in small business accounting, especially those that have worked with businesses similar to your size and structure. The best place to get recommendations is from other business owners. Talk to similar or local businesses to ask for specific recommendations. PROMOTED 2. Determine Your Tax Liability One of the first conversations you have with your accountant will be to determine your tax liability, which will guide how you file and pay your taxes. Each business tax liability is unique and is informed primarily by four factors: 1) business structure, 2) location, 3) asserts, and 4) number of employees. A business's structure will determine the type of federal income tax that a business will need to file and states and communities require businesses to file different types of taxes. In addition, the type and quantity of business assets (i.e., stock, equipment, property, etc.) may impact a business's overall tax liability. Businesses with employees will need to file employment-related taxes. Self-employed business owners will need to file a self-employment tax. 3. Think Ahead to Avoid Common Mistakes Beyond hiring an accountant, businesses can do a few additional things to avoid some common mistakes. For example, most small businesses are going to need to pay estimated taxes. Be sure to mark your calendar each year for the four quarterly estimated tax payments. In addition, keeping accurate records is a good business practice, but this also helps when filing tax returns. Finally, business owners need to be prepared for the unexpected. Be sure to keep a rainy day fund that can be used to cover unexpected costs associated with the business throughout the year. However, business owners need to fully protect the income you set aside for tax purposes and not include it as part of the rainy day fund. Americans,

File Their Returns On Tax Day 2019 The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) building in Washington, DC. (Photo by Zach Gibson/Getty Images) GETTY IMAGES

Feds report Terrorist Attacks possible on the U.S. Mexican Border from Galveston to San Diego

 

Michael Webster: Syndicated Investigative reporter 

Back by popular demand/ revised

El Paso TX. Ft. Bliss military base that’s charged with the defense of our borders with Mexico is reported to be on alert. ISIS/ISIL and other related Islamic terrorist groups are operating in Mexico and are preparing attacks along the U.S. Mexican border from Galveston Texas to San Diego California. According to the Government the alarming terrorist plan is to attack the United States with car bombs or other vehicle born improvised explosive devices (VBIED).

Federal law enforcement have confirmed to The U.S. Border Fire report that an urgent warning bulletin to border city and county police warn of an imminent terrorist attack on the U.S. Mexican border. Based on other news reports, agents across a number of Homeland Security, Justice and Defense agencies have all been placed on alert and instructed to aggressively work all possible leads and sources concerning this imminent terrorist threat.

The U.S. Government sources reveal that the militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) is confirmed to now be operating in Juarez, a famously crime-infested narcotics hotbed situated across from El Paso, Texas. Violent crimes are so rampant in Juarez that the U.S. State Department has issued a number of travel warnings for anyone planning to go there. The last one was issued just a few days ago.

American intel officials have picked up radio talk and chatter indicating that the terrorist groups are going to “carry out an attack on the border,” according to Judicial Watch, “It’s coming very soon,” according to another high-level source, who clearly identified the groups planning the plots as “ISIS and Al Qaeda.” An attack is so imminent that the commanding general at Ft. Bliss, the U.S. Army post in El Paso, was personally briefed by Washington.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) did not respond to multiple inquiries from Judicial Watch and others, either by telephone or in writing, about this most important information.

Based on JW’s reports the disturbing inside intelligence comes on the heels of news reports revealing that U.S. intelligence has picked up increased chatter among Islamist terror networks approaching the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. While these terrorists reportedly plan their attack just outside the U.S.,

According news reports the administration has also covered up, or at the very least downplayed, a serious epidemic of crime along the U.S. Mexican border even as heavily armed Mexican Drug Cartels have taken over portions of the region.

Judicial Watch has reported that the U.S. Border Patrol actually ordered officers to avoid the most crime-infested stretches because they’re “too dangerous” and patrolling them could result in an “international incident” of cross border shooting. In the meantime, who could forget the famous words of Obama’s first Homeland Security Secretary, Janet Napolitano;  the southern border is “as secure as it has ever been.”

Gold Placer Mining Claims Southern California

 Back By Popular Demand/Revised

Michael Webster: Syndicated Investigative Reporter:

It may come as a surprise to most southern Californian’s that mining is a part of this area’s rich history. Long before the cry of gold was heard at the Mother load country of Northern California tales were told of gold flakes and nuggets being found on properties right here in Southern California. Prehistoric as well as historical Indians along with early Spaniards are believed by some to have mined for gold both in L.A. and Orange counties before other Europeans and Americans.

Weekend and day gold prospectors are heading for the Mountains in Southern California and are not just looking for gold but checking out their new just purchased gold mining claims. Not far from downtown Los Angeles and Santa Anna and where sunny beaches and millions of people reside there are dozens of gold claims to be had.

Welcome to the exciting world of gold prospecting, sluicing, panning, hand dredging, crevassing & detecting. With the almost daily increase in gold’s value it’s only natural to want to acquire gold on your own terms while enjoying the great outdoors with an UNPATENTED PLACER MINING CLAIM in the heart of gold country, yes, I mean Southern California.

Most gold claims will always include a properly filed location of minerals with the county and BLM, maps with corners marked and a description with longitude/latitude, locations of access roads, forms on how to keep your claim active, and a notarized quit claim deed to the buyer. Some claims are better than others as to accessibility and the possibility of finding gold. Prospecting for gold, whether panning, sluicing or dredging is HARD work and gold is HARD to locate. Many claim sellerswill answer any pertinent questions about their mining claims. It is important to understand what you are getting for your hard earned money. If you are in the area of the claim most sellers are willing to show you the claim personally as to the boundaries and location. We always recommend that you check the claim status for yourself before purchasing. Check these on BLMs’ LR2000 website or call the State BLM Office in Sacramento.

Please do your homework before buying. Ask questions if you don’t know! The BLM is in the business of managing land, NOT MINING. Get all questions & concerns thoroughly explained and answered before buying.

Most claims on the open market today are not a patented site, nor are there any guarantees of ore content or values. They are most likely an UNPATENTED claim, and require a yearly maintenance fee of $140 per year, per claim, (or submit a waiver Cost of $10.00 to retain ownership.

WHAT IS AN UNPATENTED MINING CLAIM? A mining claim is a parcel of land for which the claimant has asserted a right of possession and the right to develop and extract a discovered, valuable, mineral deposit.

IS THE LAND MINE? In a landmark case in 1930, the Supreme Court stated that: When the location of a mining claim is perfected under the law, it has the effect of a grant by the United States of the right of present and exclusive possession. The claim is property in the fullest sense of that term; and may be Sold, Transferred, Mortgaged, and Inherited without infringing any right or title of the United States and is considered real property. You own only the mineral rights until a patent is secured from the government. Presently, there is a moratorium on issuance of patents; however this is subject to change in the future. Presently, because of the moratorium on issuing Patents, no applications are being accepted.

WHAT IF I FIND OTHERS CAMPING, FISHING, HUNTING HIKING, ETC ON MY CLAIM? Others may recreate on an unpatented mining claim, however: you have the right to post mining claim signs warning the public of possible hazards and dangerous conditions pertaining to your mining procedures. You may also post “No Trespassing of Mineral Rights”. In most instances, the public will respect your rights and the signs help to convey the claimant’s rights.

CAN I SELL OR GIVE MY CLAIM AWAY? Mining claims and sites are considered real property! The interest in them and associated rights may be bought, sold, transferred, leased, rented, willed or inherited. Unpatented mining claims in Oregon are not taxed. To keep your claim active, you must pay a maintenance fee to the BLM of $140.00 on or before September 1st of each year for the following year. The BLM does not send notices and expects you to remember to file this fee or your mining claim is declared closed and you lose the possession of your claim. After a location of mineral deposit has been filed with the county and BLM, a mining claim may be purchased by one or more claimants. CAN I BUILD ON MY CLAIM? PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CLOSELY. The mining laws permit the prospector and miner to make reasonable use of a mining claim, as long as the use is incident and necessary to prospecting, mining and processing operations. However, an erroneous impression sometimes exists to the effect that the act of staking a mining claim is the shortest route to obtaining public land for a home site, weekend retreat or other unlawful purpose. ANY USE OF THE SURFACE OF AN UNPATENTED MINING CLAIM FOR PURPOSES UNRELATED TO MINING IS UNAUTHORIZED and therefore, considered to be in trespass. (BLM notice to mining claimants, October 2007)

WHO CAN OWN A CLAIM: Any citizen of the United States, a minor who has reached the age of discretion, a corporation, and non-citizens (aliens) who have declared their intention to become a citizen.

After a location of mineral deposit has been filed with the county and BLM, a mining claim may be purchased by one or more claimants. The claimant can also be a business name.

There are lots of Gold claims in Southern California you just have to look for them. You can find them on the Internet, EBAY, and open market sellers in newspapers and mining magazines.

The following is a real and current gold mining claim that is available and for sale in Orange County California. This is a sample of what’s available out there on the open market for Southern California.

DON’T MISS THIS RARE CHANCE FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO OWN A GOLD CLAIM of your very own.

Orange County, California, sits the Santa Ana MountainRange, and Trabuco Creek, much of which is located in the Cleveland National Forestin South Orange County

20 Acre Placer Gold Claim, Orange County Ca, rich Deposits, Trabuco Creek.

20 Ac. Placer Gold Claim

Price:$10,500.00 Seller’s Location:Southern California Zip Code:92651

*20 Acre* Placer Gold Claim

Historic Trabuco Creek

Santiago Mountain

Orange County

This is an awesome 20Acre Placer Gold Claim in the historic and gold-rich area of Orange County on Trabuco Creek. THIS CLAIM IS FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS A QUALITY PLACER GOLD CLAIM. THIS PROPERTY WOULD BE A GREAT “GROUP” OR “CLUB” CLAIM AND IS SUITABLE FOR METAL DETECTING OR ANY TYPE OF PERMISSIBLE MINING OPERATION

This Claim encompasses a total of 20 Acres that is 95%workable, has easy access, year ’round water, and shallow bedrock, many benches that can be worked and that are totally untouched! It is located within the Cleveland National Forest and is within 20-30 minutes of services, restaurants, hotels and freeways. This is a paradise for the weekend prospector that is looking for a Gold Claim that has definite deposits and can be worked year ’round. This is one of best locations in the Trabuco Creek area because it gets flow and deposits from several tributaries into Trabuco Creek and other Canyons! There is no other claim in the area that has this.

This productive placer gold claim is easy to get to and the road can be travelled in a passenger car and there are numerous places to park within the length of the claim. The entire length of the claim, 1320′,is on this creek and there is approximately 660′ of width to do various types of prospecting including metal detecting, high-banking, crevassing and sluicing/panning. Much of this claim has not been touched in decades so the potential of hitting a good pay streak is excellent! This is the last claim of this size on this creek that is within the Cleveland National Forest! It is clear of any roads or Right of Ways and is noton Private Property.

This is a FULL 20 Acre Placer Claim!!

REMEMBER, this is Orange County, not the High Desert! This is beautiful forest land, with running water, no extreme heat to deal with and the ability to prospect ALL YEAR! The deposits in this area could be as good as some of the claims in the Mother Lode region. There are several old Lode Mines that have fed this creek for decades, so the deposits are numerous. The claim is strewn with large boulders and lots of quartz with ore deposits. There are no long desert roads to drive to get to this claim and when you are done, you can drive for 20 minutes and go to a nice restaurant!

This is a Placerclaim, so there are no dangerous shafts to enter or a lot of material that you need to process…….and there are very nice amounts of gold and silver in the creek! The deposits that we have found and tested (yes, we test our claims!), have had very nice large flake and flour as well as nice pickers. (We have never dug more than 2′!!).

This area has a very good Gold and Sliver history for more than 100 years and has seen very little prospecting. Some of the benches are more like islands, created when the creek was much higher and consequently moved tons of material, large boulders and uprooted trees. We have always found Gold here and never thoroughly prospected the area, and only done test prospecting.

FAQ:

This is an “Unpatented” Mining Claim…..this means that you own the “Mineral Rights” only. You, as owner of the Claim are governed by the regulations of both the BLM and National Forest. You have the right to ALL of the minerals (Gold, Silver, etc…) within the boundaries of the Claim.

You also have the right to camp on the Claim as long as it is within the regulations of the BLM and National Forest Service. If you are unfamiliar with any of these regulations, we suggest that you contact the appropriate entity, or us, and ask questions. We are available to answer any questions that you may have. (we will do our best to answer your questions before purchase).

You are allowed to build on the Claim as long as it is within the regulations and meets all local codes. Necessary paperwork would need to be filed before you could build and approval would have to be granted.

All fees have been paid through September 1, 2013. The annual maintenance fees for this claim are $140.00 unlessa Small Miner’s Waiver is submitted, then the annual fee is $10.00

The interest, in all or part, may be transferred thru a Quitclaim Deed.

We do not make any claims to the potential amount of minerals, gold or otherwise, that may be found on this Claim. Prospecting takes patience and hard work. We recommend that you ask questions and do your own due diligence.

(yes, we have found gold here).

This is a quality located Claim, all the necessary paperwork is done with both the BLM and County Recorder and has marked the Claim per BLM regulations. We live in the area, not out of state like some other sellers, and we are here to assist you. We WILL answer your questions!

The Claim is; CAMC 0305957, with a Legal Description which includes Section(s) 5, Township 6 South, Range 6 West, Meridian 27.

ABOUT US:

We are recreational miners/prospectors and have been involved in this area of endeavor for many decades. We encourage your questions and will do our best to answer them in a timely fashion. We do ALL of our research ourselves. We live in California and do ALL of the work ourselves, we do not outsource at all.

Payment:

There will be a $150.00 Transfer Fee in addition to the Selling Price. This will cover all recordings with the County, BLM, Quitclaim Deed and Notary. Purchase may be made in the form of Personal Check, Cashier’s Check, Money Order or Cash. If payment is made via Personal Check or Cashier’s Check, funds must clear before ownership will be transferred.

Buyer needs to allow 1-2 weeks for the paperwork(Quitclaim Deed) to be mailed to them directly after Payment

This is an actual Unpatented Placer Mining Claim. An 20 acre Southern Orange county California gold claim. This claim has a gravel road that leads right along Trabuco Creek... This claim is situated to have the maximum amount of workable area. The purchaser will have all fees paid for 2013. You will have nothing to pay until Sept. 1st, 2013. You will have a continually flowing, year-round creek that welcomes any permissible sized mining operation. For enquires and more details on this 20 ac. gold claim call 949 697-5676 or 949 376-7632

To name a few known Recreational gold producing Rivers and Creeks in L.A. and Orange counties.

Many rivers, creeks and canyons in the San Gabriel Mountains of L.A. County.

San Gabriel River North, East & West Forks

Santa Clara River

Piru Creek

Mill Creek

Alder Creek

Wickiup Canyon

Gold Creek

Placerita Creek

Cow Canyon

Cold water Canyon

Bear Creek

Lyle Creek all forks

Orange County

Santa Ana River

San Juan Creek and many of its tributaries

Trabuco Creek and many of its tributaries

San Mateo Creek

Tenaja Creek

Lucas Creek

See more articles by Michael Webster: https://journaldesk.blogspot.com

1. Related article: Trabuco Creek Gold

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Trabuco Creek Gold. By Michael Webster: March 1, 2012 At 11:50 AM PDT. mvwsr@aol.com. Weekend and day gold prospectors are heading for the Mountains ...

Michael Webster’s Syndicated Investigative Reports have been read worldwide, in 100 or more U.S. outlets and in at least 136 countries and territories. He publishes articles in association with global news agencies and media information services with more than 350 news affiliates in 136 countries. Many of Mr. Webster’s articles are printed in six working languages: English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish. With ten more languages planed in the near future.

Mr. Webster is America's leading authority on Venture Capital/Equity Funding. He served as a trustee on some of the nation’s largest trade Union funds. A noted Author, Lecturer, Educator, Emergency Manager, Counter-Terrorist, War on Drugs and War on Terrorist Specialist, Business Consultant, Newspaper Publisher. Radio News caster. Labor Law generalist, Teamster Union Business Agent, General Organizer, Union Rank and File Member Grievances Representative, NLRB Union Representative, Union Contract Negotiator, Workers Compensation Appeals Board Hearing Representative. Mr. Webster represented management on that side of the table as the former Director of Federated of Nevada. Mr. Webster publishes on-line newspapers atwww.lagunajournal.com and www.usborderfirereport.com and does investigative reports for print, electronic and on-line News Agencies. All of Mr. Webster's articles, books/CD's can be read or downloaded free at:http://www.lagunajournal.com/michael_webster.htm or MICHAEL WEBSTER'S OTHER WRITINGS Contact e-mail: wibcom@aol.com

SECRET SERVICE prostitution scandal in Cartagena

 

Back by Popular Demand/Revised

An investigation was launched in response to congressional inquiries following the 2012 prostitution scandal in Cartagena, Colombia, involving Secret Service agents. As a result even more outrages conduct was discovered. It shows that many agents in our federal law enforcement are out of control and operating under the radar when it comes to their personal and group sexual conduct and much much worse. Many Government agency leaders are either participating in the misconduct or helping to cover-up the misdeeds, while some heads will not or they claim they cannot fire or take any disciplinary action against the agents other than a few days off with pay. They claim it is the law and their hands are tied.

In a recent report, published by the Office of the Inspector General, reveals a culture of widespread and extreme sexual misconduct across several federal agencies as well as resisting and not cooperating with the investigations.. The investigation also shows several additional incidents of sexual misconduct across many federal agencies — such as the DEA, FBI, the Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) — including dozens of rendezvous with prostitutes in other countries, at least one physical assault of a hooker over a payment disagreement and several incidents of disturbing sexual harassment.

The report cited dozens of allegations of incidence whereDrug Enforcement Administration agents (DEA) (some with top secret clearances) held ‘sex parties’ and participated in multiple orgies with prostitutes funded by the local drug cartels for the agents while being hosted by the very drug traffickers they were supposed to be investigatingand at their government-leased quarters, over a period of several years. South American, Mexican drug cartels and other drug traffickersaround the world have been dolling out favors to local, state and federal law enforcement both inside and outside of the U.S. Government.

“Although some of the DEA agents participating in these parties denied it, the information in the case file suggested they should have known the prostitutes that where in attendance were paid with cartel funds,” investigators wrote of the parties. “The foreign officers further alleged that in addition to soliciting prostitutes, three DEA (special agents) in particular were provided money, protection, expensive gifts, and weapons from drug cartel members.”

During the parties, which reportedly occurred over many years, federal agents allegedly paid Colombian police officers to provide protection and security, including holding the agents’ weapons and property,” the report claimed.

The Justice Dept. reported that, that protection did not work. The serious “security risks” posed by the wrong doing where, according to the report, hookers were constantly around sensitive government computers and devices, including “agents' personal laptops, BlackBerrys, and other devices, and other government-issued equipment.

The situation “created potential security risks for the DEA and for the agents who participated in the parties. . . In 2012 DEA agents participated in a raid in Honduras that left four innocent people murdered, including a teenager and two pregnant women.

Despite these shocking headlines this scandal isn’t really about just sex – and it’s much bigger than the DEA. At its core, this sordid tale is about the futility and corruption of prohibition – told through the lens of a rogue agency that represents everything wrong with the multi billion dollar war on drugs. The report, part of a larger investigation of how the Justice Department's various law-enforcement agencies respond to sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, didn’t name any of the agents involved, but claimed that 10 of them had admitted to attending the bashes and had been punished with modest suspensions ranging from two to 10 days.

Colombia is also the location where several Secret Service personnel were caught in a separate prostitution scandal in April 2012.

The DEA wasn’t the only federal agency with personnel recently implicated in drug war-related crimes in Colombia. Though less widely reported, a much more serious allegation emerged that U.S. soldiers and military contractors raped at least 54 women and girls between 2004 and 2007 while deployed as part of “Plan Colombia” – the nearly $10-billion U.S. drug war military aid package.

Not one of the perpetrators has faced justice. Committed during drug war operations, these heinous acts should be treated as war crimes.

These are just the latest horrors that the U.S. drug war has unleashed on Latin America – with the DEA often at the center. For years the agency has been spying on governments in the region, often for political purposes not related to drugs – prompting Venezuela, Bolivia, and Ecuador to kick the DEA out of their countries. Latin American counties are increasingly rejecting drug prohibition, and each fresh episode of war crimes and human rights abuses strikes a major blow to the U.S.’s failed global drug policy.

Even on a higher level of concern for most Americans is an FBI investigation involving a CIA high level operative Normand Hodges, who has made a series of confessions. The 78-year old claims he committed 37 assassinations for the U.S. government between 1959 and 1972, including the beloved actress and model, Marilyn Monroe.

Mr. Hodges claims that he worked as a high level operative for 41-years and was granted top-level security clearances.

Trained as both a sniper and a martial arts expert, Mr. Hodges says he also has significant experience with more unconventional methods of inflicting harm upon others, like poisons and explosives.

He says he was often employed as a hit man by the organization, to assassinate individuals who could represent a threat to the security of the country.

Most of his victims were political activists, journalists and union leaders, but he also claims that he killed a few scientists and artists whose ideas represented a threat to the interests of the United States.

"We had evidence that Marilyn Monroe had not only slept with Kennedy, but also with Fidel Castro" claims M. Hodges. "My commanding officer, Jimmy Hayworth, told me that she had to die, and that it had to look like a suicide or an overdose. I had never killed a woman before, but I obeyed orders… I did it for America! She could have transmitted strategic information to the communists, and we couldn’t allow that! She had to die! I just did what I had to do!"

Hodges has been placed under custody by the FBI, which is taking his confession very seriously and has opened an investigation to verify his allegations.

In almost all the wrong doing by federal agents was not reported or not reported in a timely manner to the heads of those agencies. The incidents at the DEA, which has been led by Michele Leonhart since 2007, were never properly reported; the agency’s Office of Professional Responsibility only learned that they had happened after an anonymous tip was submitted in 2010. This week DEA chief tells House committee she can't fire agents involved in sex parties.

TIM SLOAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

A Drug Enforcement Administration agent is seen in a simulated raid. According the report, the DEA, and other agencies, did not cooperate with the Justice Department probe.

"We found that a Regional Director, an Acting Assistant Regional Director (AARD), and a Group Supervisor failed to report ... repeated allegations of DEA Special Agents (SA) patronizing prostitutes and frequenting a brothel while in an overseas posting, treating these allegations as local management issues," the report said. "It was also alleged that one of the subjects in the supervisors’ group assaulted a prostitute following a payment dispute."

Among the other findings, according to the report: in 2009, an ATF Director of Industry Operations on a temporary assignment modified a hotel room door to facilitate sex acts with anonymous people.

Law enforcement officials say the executive used a website to invite men to come to his room for sex through a so-called “glory hole.”

The individual “removed smoke detectors from the hotel room and inadvertently caused damage to the hotel’s centralized fire detection system,” the report stated. When local cops were finally called, the person “admitted the conduct and told local police this type of conduct was not an isolated incident for him and had occurred in the past.”

In a separate case, the review found evidence that a different ATF manager “failed to report allegations that two training instructors were having consensual sex with their students.”

“The same instructors had engaged in substantially the same activities 3 years earlier but had merely counseled the training instructors without reporting the alleged activities,” to the appropriate Internal Affairs personnel, the report claimed.

TODD MAISEL/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

While prostitution is legal in Colombia, the report, which alleges that U.S. government employees repeatedly paid prostitutes, will likely become another public embarrassment for the Obama administration.

In yet another troubling case mentioned in the report, a supervisor in the U.S. Marshals Service reported that a colleague at the agency engaged in “an inappropriate relationship with the common law spouse of a fugitive."

At least three other supervisors ordered the employee in question to "terminate the relationship," but he, nevertheless, continued to see the individual for another year.

In addition, the report revealed several incidents of office sexual harassment at multiple agencies, including one example from the FBI, where an employee was accused of “cornering his subordinates in their cubicles and displaying the size of his genitals by tightening his pants, making graphic and inappropriate sexual comments and gestures, and otherwise creating a hostile work environment.”

Representatives from the CIA, DEA, the ATF and the FBI did not respond to requests for comment on the report.

In many, if not most, of the described incidents, supervisors at the DEA, the ATF, the Marshals Service, and possibly, other agencies, failed to properly report or respond to the allegations appropriately, revealing “significant systemic issues with the … processes,” the review said.

When allegations were finally addressed by the Justice Department’s Inspector General’s office, the report said, investigators faced a noticeable lack of cooperation with the probe, with many agencies refusing to turn over requested information.

“We cannot be completely confident that the FBI and DEA provided us with all information relevant to this review,” investigators wrote about the agencies’ cooperation with the report. “As a result, our report reflects the findings and conclusions we reached based on the information made available to us.”

Related articles: Feds cooperate & allowed Sinaloa cartel to traffic cocaine into U.S.

Law Enforcement Corruption: November 2008 Cartels » Embassy Investigations

Sources:

U.S. Congressional sub- Committee

Office of the Inspector General

U.S. Justice Dept- http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/2015/e1504.pdf#page=1

Columbia Army members

Cartagena Police

Bogotá Police

Daniel Robelo / AlterNet

Some photos by TODD MAISEL/NEW YORK DAILY NEWSand TIM SLOAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Michael Webster’s Syndicated Investigative Reports are read worldwide, in 100 or more U.S. outlets and in at least 136 countries and territories. He publishes articles in association with global news agencies and media information services with more than 350 news affiliates in 136 countries. Mr. Webster is America’s leading authority on Venture Capital/Equity Funding. He served as a trustee on some of the nation’s largest trade Union funds. A noted Author, Lecturer, Educator, Emergency Manager, Counter-Terrorist, War on Drugs and War on Terrorist Specialist, Business Consultant, Newspaper Publisher. Radio News caster. Labor Law generalist, Teamster Union Business Agent, General Organizer, Union Rank and File Member Grievances Representative, NLRB Union Representative, Union Contract Negotiator, Workers Compensation Appeals Board Hearing Representative. Mr. Webster represented management on that side of the table as the former Director of Federated of Nevada. Mr. Webster publishes on-line newspapers at www.lagunajournal.com and www.indiangamingjournal.com and does investigative reports for print, electronic and on-line News Agencies. All of Mr. Webster’s articles, books/CD’s can be read or downloaded free at: MICHAEL WEBSTER’S OTHER WRITINGS