Colombian National Army Seizes Cocaine-producing Chemicals
Soldiers found the chemicals in two trucks during a traffic stop in the southern region of the Department of Valle del Cauca. The vehicles, which were traveling from the city of Cali to the municipality of Jamundí, were carrying 500 kilograms of caustic soda, 1,000 kilograms of calcium chloride and 500 kilograms of sodium metabisulfite, among other chemicals and equipment used to produce cocaine. Soldiers with the Apolo Task Force of the Army’s Third Division seized three tons of chemicals that could produce 5,000 kilograms of cocaine along with four suspects in connection with the find, the Colombian National Army reported on its website on February 16. In one of those operations, Troops with the Pegaso Task Force confiscated 4,825 gallons of coca base and 150 kilograms of coca leaves and other supplies at a site that was operated by the FARC’s Daniel Aldana Front in the municipality of Tumaco in the Department of Nariño. The Colombian Army did not immediately disclose which narcotrafficking or terrorist organization owned the chemicals. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) both engage in drug trafficking to finance their terrorist activities. The successful operation occurred less than a week after the Third Division discovered and dismantled two cocaine-producing laboratories. The Colombian Army did not immediately disclose which narcotrafficking or terrorist organization owned the chemicals. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) both engage in drug trafficking to finance their terrorist activities. The successful operation occurred less than a week after the Third Division discovered and dismantled two cocaine-producing laboratories. In the other, Soldiers with the Apolo Task Force found a laboratory in Jamundí. The facility contained 240 gallons of coca leaves that were in the process of being turned into cocaine and 25 kilograms of urea – an ingredient used to create cocaine from coca leaves – among other supplies. The Army did not disclose which organization allegedly operated the laboratory or whether Troops captured any suspects. In one of those operations, Troops with the Pegaso Task Force confiscated 4,825 gallons of coca base and 150 kilograms of coca leaves and other supplies at a site that was operated by the FARC’s Daniel Aldana Front in the municipality of Tumaco in the Department of Nariño. Soldiers with the Apolo Task Force of the Army’s Third Division seized three tons of chemicals that could produce 5,000 kilograms of cocaine along with four suspects in connection with the find, the Colombian National Army reported on its website on February 16. Soldiers found the chemicals in two trucks during a traffic stop in the southern region of the Department of Valle del Cauca. The vehicles, which were traveling from the city of Cali to the municipality of Jamundí, were carrying 500 kilograms of caustic soda, 1,000 kilograms of calcium chloride and 500 kilograms of sodium metabisulfite, among other chemicals and equipment used to produce cocaine. In the other, Soldiers with the Apolo Task Force found a laboratory in Jamundí. The facility contained 240 gallons of coca leaves that were in the process of being turned into cocaine and 25 kilograms of urea – an ingredient used to create cocaine from coca leaves – among other supplies. The Army did not disclose which organization allegedly operated the laboratory or whether Troops captured any suspects. By Dialogo February 19, 2015 The Army has eradicated 500,000 coca plants and destroyed 19 clandestine drug-producing laboratories in Jamundí so far this year. The Army has eradicated 500,000 coca plants and destroyed 19 clandestine drug-producing laboratories in Jamundí so far this year.
Student leaders from across campus met under the Undergraduate Student Government banner Wednesday night at USG’s first Council of Presidents, an event bringing together executive officers from campus organizations for collaboration, networking and a chance to voice their concerns to USG.Named for the event’s goal — to provide a forum for the presidents of student organizations to meet and share their ideas — the Council of Presidents hosted representatives from 70 different student organizations and featured presentations from USG’s six advocacy directors, USG President Holden Slusher and USG Vice President Ashlie Chan. About 100 student leaders attended and were given feedback forms to fill out over the course of the night.Presidential · Helen Moser, USG’s director of campus affairs, spoke about transportation at the first USG Council of Presidents. – Amaresh Sundaram Kuppuswamy | Daily Trojan“It’s letting them know what we’re doing, but the equally important half is them letting us know what they want to see,” said Chris Cheng, director of outreach for USG. “We believe our changes are great, but this organization represents the student body at large, and we want their input. We seek that in order to make our ideas better.”Aside from giving student leaders information about USG’s current and future projects and soliciting their input, the event also highlighted what the USC Master Plan has in store for the university, with a presentation by Kristina Raspe, associate senior vice president of real estate and asset management at USC.Although the Council of Presidents is the first event of its kind in recent USG history, the idea of uniting presidents from every student organization under one roof is not new to USC.In the 1940s, USG’s Senate was comprised of all the presidents of USC’s student organizations. Once that practice was discontinued, USG administrations continued to host forums similar to the Council of Presidents until 2000, Slusher said.After learning about this piece of USG history from a former president of the organization, Slusher said he wanted to bring the student leader forum back to USC.“It’s one of those events where you don’t know what’s going to happen, but we’re going to get information to them, and they’re going to give us feedback, and anything else that happens is kind of a perk,” he said.Many student leaders who attended the event said the Council of Presidents was an opportunity for them to learn about other campus organizations and to make themselves available as resources for other student leaders.“There are a lot of organizations on campus, and this gives them a chance to meet each other,” said Eric Stein, president of the SCuba Knights and a sophomore majoring in economics. “We are the Trojan Family, so we should work together,”Lisa Robinson, president of Society 53 and a senior majoring in communication, said the event gave student leaders a chance to act as a support system and brainstorming mechanism for each other.“As student leaders, a lot of us go through the same things. We’re learning how to lead organizations and deal with a lot of people,” she said. “It’s a great opportunity for us to bounce strategies off each other and partner to see how we can serve USC better.”Blessing Waung, president of the Panhellenic Council and a senior majoring in print journalism and East Asian languages and cultures, said the event was a valuable resource, and she hopes USG will continue to host it in the future to give student leaders the support they need.“I’m coming to the end of my term, while some people may be in the middle of theirs or just beginning,” Waung said. “Being able to talk to someone about what worked and what didn’t work would have been nice to have when I was starting out … but hopefully now I can provide that for others.”USG spent $1,300 to host the Council of Presidents and hopes to give the event and its budget the chance to grow if it becomes a staple, Cheng said.“This is kind of our test run, and we’ll have to step up to bat and see how it goes,” he said. “We’re really feeling the mover-and-shaker ideas [happening] at the Council of Presidents among the student leaders. Hopefully they feel like it’s an official event they’ll want to come back to.”David Hsu, vice chair for Webb Tower Building Government and a sophomore majoring in health administration, said he would attend the Council of Presidents again if USG continued to host it and that the presentations gave him much-needed information he would not have learned otherwise.“It was actually very interesting,” Hsu said. “We found out a lot about what they’re doing, which is really great because a lot of students don’t know.”
AD Quality Auto 360p 720p 1080p Top articles1/5READ MOREUCLA alum Kenny Clark signs four-year contract extension with Packers“I’ll take credit for everything,” Prunty joked. “Unbelievable player. His IQ was and still is off the charts. Him and his brothers were tremendous high school players, just in terms of being able to pass and make plays for people.“With their size, being able to handle the ball, (they) could bring it up the floor, it was fun to watch them play and be a part of them developing.”Prunty is a well-traveled NBA assistant, having spent time with six organizations. In January, he became the interim coach in Milwaukee after the Bucks fired Jason Kidd.“I had a lot of fun with Coach Prunty when I was in high school,” Walton said. “He’s one of those guys that’s easy to talk to and he made the high school experience a lot of fun.”BALL AND PAINThe knee contusion that kept Lonzo Ball out of Friday’s game might not be a serious injury, but Walton made it clear the Lakers will not cut any corners in getting him back on the court. LOS ANGELES — Luke Walton has grown accustomed to bumping into his high school coach since they both reached the NBA. When the Lakers traded Walton to Cleveland in 2012, Joe Prunty worked as a Cavs assistant.Not until Friday, however, had the two men with ties to San Diego’s University High School been head coaches against each other in a game.“The fact that we were in the same high school together and he was coaching me,” Walton said, “that part, I’ve gotten over. But if you do take a step back it’s kind of strange that my high school coach is now the coach of the team I’m coaching against.”Prunty was the coach of the freshman team and a varsity assistant when Walton was in high school. They were both part of the team that in 1998 won a CIF State championship before Walton headed off to the University of Arizona and a 10-year NBA career. “We want to make sure he feels good and confident and he’s not compensating with the way that he’s running,” Walton said.Ball has missed 24 games in his rookie season due to injuries. A sprained shoulder cost him six games in December and on Jan. 15 he suffered a left MCL sprain that kept him out for 16 of 17 games. While the Lakers would prefer to have Ball on the court at all times, Walton said “there’s a ton of learning opportunities” when a player is sidelined.“You get to see what it’s like trying to make it through an NBA season,” Walton said. “That’s why so few players that play big minutes make it through 82 games. It’s hard on the body. So I think it’s a good tool for him to understand going into this offseason as far as getting stronger and continuing to dedicate himself in the weight room and things of that nature.”CRAZY EIGHTSBall became the youngest player in NBA history to record a triple-double when the Lakers lost in Milwaukee on Nov. 11. His injury prevented him from trying to match the feat against the Bucks.On that night along the Milwaukee River, Ball seemed destined to record one triple-double after another. Instead, he logged his second eight nights later. Since then, none.“He’s always right there,” Walton said. “I’m surprised that it hasn’t happened (more) because it’s always one assist, one rebound away from happening. It’s a couple points away.”Ball has tallied at least eight points, rebounds and assists in 10 games not counting his two triple-doubles.His inability to pull off the statistical feat more frequently, however, is a quirk rather than a concern.“The way he plays, he’ll always be flirting with triple doubles his whole career,” Walton said.
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