US imposes sanctions on PKK leaders for drug trafficking

The US Department of Treasury announced on Wednesday that Cemil Bayık, Duran Kalkan, Remzi Kartal, Sabri Ok and Adem Uzun were named as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. The five individuals were described as founders and leaders of the Kurdistan People's Congress (Kongra-Gel). In 2003, the PKK changed its name to Kongra-Gel, but in Turkey it is still widely referred to as the PKK since this name change has made no impact on the terrorist group's leadership structure or activities. The PKK/Kongra-Gel is designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union.

“We are striking at the heart of Kongra-Gel with this action against its founders, key leaders and sources of funding and will continue efforts to suppress the flow of illicit narcotics proceeds to this organization in support of its terrorist activities,” David S. Cohen, acting under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said.

US diplomats in Ankara said the decision is another indication of US support for Turkey in its fight against terrorism. It also sends a message to Europe, which Turkey complains is not sufficiently cooperating with it in the fight against the PKK, that the fight against terrorism requires a lot more effective cooperation among nations, said diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Three PKK leaders -- Murat Karayılan, Ali Rıza Altun and Zübeyir Aydar -- were already named by the US as Specially Designated Drug Traffickers in 2009. In 2008, the US administration designated the Kongra-Gel as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker again under the Kingpin Act for what it said its more than two decades-long participation in drug trafficking.

The Kingpin Act, which became law in December 1999, targets major foreign narcotics traffickers, their organizations and operatives worldwide. Penalties for violations of the Kingpin Act range from civil penalties of up to $1.075 million per violation to more severe criminal penalties. Criminal penalties for corporate officers may include up to 30 years in prison and fines up to $5 million. Criminal fines for corporations may reach $10 million.

Turkey, which has been fighting the PKK since the 1980s, welcomed the US decision late on Wednesday, saying it hopes the move will help confirm the true activities and motives of these individuals, whose extradition is sought by Ankara. “On this occasion, we reiterate our expectations for fulfillment by relevant countries of their international responsibilities in regards to these people who reside in some foreign countries and enjoy free travel,” a statement from the Foreign Ministry said.

Turkey complains that European countries are not effectively fighting the PKK by failing to respond to Turkey’s extradition requests and turning a blind eye to PKK activities to raise funds and spread propaganda in their territories. The United States is cooperating with Turkey to curb activities of the PKK in northern Iraq, used by the terrorist group as a springboard for attacks on Turkey.

“Kongra-Gel uses its network across Europe to produce, transport and traffic opiates and cannabis,” the US Embassy in Ankara said in a statement about the Department of Treasury decision on Thursday. “Drug trafficking is one of the Kongra-Gel’s most lucrative criminal activities. The organization uses drug proceeds to obtain weapons and materials.”

The US move to designate PKK leaders as drug traffickers came a few days after the European Union’s police agency, Europol, released a report that said the PKK/Kongra-Gel was involved in drug smuggling and other illegal activities such as trafficking in human beings and money laundering in Europe to raise funds.

“Information obtained from EU member states shows, for instance, that both the PKK/Kongra-Gel are actively involved in drugs and human trafficking, the facilitation of illegal immigration, credit card skimming, money laundering and fraud for the purpose of funding terrorist (support) operations,” Europol said in its 2011 EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report.