Miami ? Colombia Bust Highlights Border Security Threat

By Bill West

Media reports today revealed the arrests in Colombia on Thursday of 19 suspects allegedly involved in a passport forgery ring. Among those arrested are eight of ten defendants indicted in Miami for providing material support to the Colombian terrorist organization �Fuerzas Armadas de Revolucion Colombiano�, or FARC, US designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Those Miami defendants are also accused of an alien smuggling and false document scheme that is suspected of bringing people they believed to be FARC operatives into the United States.

Eight of the US indicted suspects are reported to be Colombians while one is a Venezuelan and the last is believed to be a Palestinian. Colombian authorities announced that some of the suspects were also wanted by the United States in connection with activities linked to Hamas and al-Qaeda, although US authorities have denied this, saying only the FARC terrorist organization is involved.

The case highlights, in any event, the key issues of false identity and travel documents being utilized to penetrate US border defenses by violent terrorist organizations. Among the false passports alleged to have been utilized by this ring were Spanish passports, which allowed bearers to enter the US without visas under the Visa Waiver Program.

Whether the Colombian law enforcement assertions of Hamas and al-Qaeda links prove to be true or not, this case is noteworthy and should be followed closely. The fact it was investigated and now being prosecuted jointly between US and Colombian authorities is a very positive sign. However, the existence of the alleged ring of perpetrators, while not surprising, should serve as a strong reminder that our border security remains readily penetrable by significant security threats with resources.

The use of Spanish passports by this ring is particularly disturbing. As my fellow CT Blog contributor Mike Cutler and I have repeatedly noted, the Visa Waiver Program is one of this country�s most vulnerable border security soft spots. The rise of radical Islamic terror cells throughout Europe realizes their ready access to stolen and false documents, combined with those �home grown� members who legitimately possess European passports. America is threatened by any number of such jihadists whose identities may not be on any security service �radar screen� and who will be unburdened by the visa issuance process at a US embassy or consulate abroad where, just maybe, they might be identified as being suspicious and prevented from entering the US. Yet, there is no move within our Government to abandon the Visa Waiver Program.

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