US charges 3 al-Qaida suspects with African drug smuggling into Europe
By Devlin Barrett, APFriday, December 18, 2009
3 Al-Qaida suspects charged in African drug case
WASHINGTON — U.S. officials say three suspects linked to al-Qaida have been arrested in Africa on charges they conspired to support terrorism by smuggling drugs headed for Europe.
The arrests mark the first time U.S. authorities have captured and charged al-Qaida suspects in a drug trafficking plot in Africa, in a case officials say demonstrates the spread of the terror network into global criminal activity.
Officials say the three suspects are due to appear in federal court in New York on charges stemming from a months-long undercover investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Authorities say the men are members of al-Qaida’s North African branch, and told DEA informants that al-Qaida could protect major shipments of cocaine in the region.
