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American Morning

Terrorism Experts Say Some Heroin Money Finds Its Way Back to Terrorist Networks Like Al Qaeda

Aired December 11, 2001 - 07:40   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: We turn now to the Afghan connection, possible links between money from the sale of heroine and financing of terrorism. The biggest cash crop in Afghanistan is the opium poppy, the basic ingredient in heroine, and terrorism experts say some of that money finds its way back to terrorist networks like al Qaeda. Yet since the start of the war against terrorism, we've heard very little about the role of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Asa Hutchinson, a former Arkansas congressman is DEA Administration. He is in Washington. I haven't had the chance to talk with you since you got this new job. Congratulations sir.

ASA HUTCHINSON, DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION: Thank you Paula, good to be with you.

ZAHN: Let's talk a little bit about the trafficking of opium from Afghanistan. A number of sources have indicated it is in fact bank rolled various terrorist operations and financed the operations of Osama bin Laden and the Taliban. How involved is the DEA in this war at this point?

HUTCHINSON: Well the concentration, of course, has been all on getting the terrorists, but as we move to a post-Taliban regime in Afghanistan, it's very important that we recognize that connection between the trafficking and terrorism and take advantage of this opportunity, which the DEA wants to be involved in and we are working with the international partners to change Afghanistan so that they don't produce 70 percent of the world's heroine. We have a great opportunity.

ZAHN: We have heard that the DEA has some of the best intelligence operations of any agency on the ground and yet your agency doesn't have a seat at the inter agency level that's declaring this war on terrorism. Why is that and wouldn't that make a big difference to your effectiveness?

HUTCHINSON: Well there's a lot of great agencies that gather intelligence. The DEA is one of those and the president's made it very clear that we're going to share intelligence. We're doing that - the DEA is very much a participant in that. Whenever we go out and we do our drug investigations, which is our responsibility, we're going to come across information that we have to pass along. We're doing that and that is a very important part of the overall investigation. It is important that the FBI, the CIA engage in this effort, but all of law enforcement must support it and that's exactly what we're doing.

ZAHN: You say that you effectively share information, but does the DEA need more power at this juncture of the fight against terrorism?

HUTCHINSON: Well the most important message, Paula, is that the American public understands this connection between terrorism and drugs whether you're talking about Afghanistan or Colombia, whenever someone purchases heroine or cocaine in the United States, it not only is wrong and it's harmful and it's illegal, but it really sends money to those people that are committing violent acts. That's the connection we're making and because we could have an opportunity in Afghanistan also to reduce drug usage in the American public. We really in the DEA are getting the message out to make that connection between terrorism and drugs and we have very receptive ears among the other agencies.

ZAHN: So you don't feel like you're limited at all because you don't have a place at that inter agency table at this juncture?

HUTCHINSON: Well for example, I'm going to be leaving with Attorney General Ashcroft to go to Europe thanking our allies for their efforts in supporting our counter terrorism effort. So we have a limited role and we are fulfilling that role and that's exactly appropriate.

It is important though that we continue to find our counter narcotics effort, understanding that connection, and it's the president of the United States that actually made the first connection between al Qaeda and drug trafficking and that's an important connection to make. We appreciate his voice on that, but - so we're very much doing our job and countering narcotics and that will in itself make a difference in the counter terrorism because the historic connection between the two.

ZAHN: Mr. Hutchinson, before we let you go, can you describe to us how you are assisting the CEA in trying to track down these opium stockpiles in Afghanistan. What exactly is your agency doing?

HUTCHINSON: Well we do have good intelligence efforts because we have been over in that arena of the world for a long time and so as we get informant information, which we utilize, not just here, but also in Afghanistan, we pass that information along to the command center in Tampa, to the - to the appropriate officials who will then go in and take the actions necessary and that's part of the operations, but it's very important as we get the information, which we do, we pass it along. That's part of the team effort.

ZAHN: Asa Hutchinson, delighted to have you with us this morning. Good luck with your meetings with the attorney general and again ...

HUTCHINSON: Thank you.

ZAHN: ... thank you for your time this morning.

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