Colombian intelligence agency's latest scandal: leaking docs to drug lord

The DAS, Colombia's scandal-ridden intelligence service, is alleged to have provided intelligence – including identities of undercover agents – to one of the region's most wanted drug lords.

By Elyssa Pachico, Guest blogger / September 20, 2011

Colombia's scandal-ridden intelligence service, the DAS, is alleged to have passed on high value information to one of the region's most wanted drug lords, in what is only the latest case of apparent collusion between the agency and the country's underworld.

According to newsweekly Semana, the Administrative Department of Security (Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad - DAS) has lost control of its own database. A collection of intelligence documents, including lists naming hundreds of undercover agents deployed across the country, was leaked to the publication, which has included censored snapshots of the "top secret" memos. They reportedly include the identity, mission, and home addresses of hundreds of detectives and informants.

Semana adds that some of the sensitive intelligence has been passed on to associates of major cocaine trafficker Daniel Barrera, alias "El Loco." The current head of DAS, Felipe Muñoz, addressed the allegations Monday, saying that "information on Barrera's organization" was leaked by at least two people some 20 days ago.

remainder: http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/Latin-America-Monitor/2011/0920/Colombian-intelligence-agency-s-latest-scandal-leaking-docs-to-drug-lord