Peru elections shaken by reports of drug money

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Reuters

Peru elections shaken by reports of drug money
TERRY WADE
LIMA— Reuters
Published Thursday, Mar. 10, 2011 2:29PM EST
Last updated Thursday, Mar. 10, 2011 3:03PM EST

Peru’s presidential election race has been rattled by allegations that cash from the drugs trade has made its way into campaigns and that traffickers are extending their political influence.

President Alan Garcia, two leading presidential candidates and senior members of a third candidate’s party have all been linked by police or local media reports to suspected drug traffickers or coca growers.

In two of the cases, front-running candidate Alejandro Toledo and left-wing rival Ollanta Humala have denied any direct ties to traffickers or coca growers, and dismissed the reports as tenuous.

But Mr. Garcia, who cannot run for re-election in the April 10 vote, said he unwittingly accepted cash for his last campaign from people named in police investigations, and presidential hopeful Keiko Fujimori said she once took campaign money from people she says were framed on drug charges.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/americas/peru-elections-shaken-by-reports-of-drug-money/article1937132/

[HopeHoops]

1. DRUG MONEY IN PERU?!?!?! Who would have THUNK?

Pass the straw and mirror, will ya?