Drug Smugglers Found Monitoring U.S. Frequencies : Tougher Security Measures Urged for Radio Communications

Citing “indisputable evidence” that drug smugglers monitor radio frequencies used by law enforcement officials, the military, the Secret Service and even President Reagan’s jet and limousine, a senator and a congressman called Monday for tough Administration action to tighten security.

Sen. Dennis DeConcini (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Glenn English (D-Okla.) said at a news conference that evidence seized recently in a south Florida drug smuggling case includes detailed records of the government frequencies and underscores the problem of insecure radio communications.

In a letter to Reagan, DeConcini and English said compromise of communications “is often disastrous” in the nation’s war against drug smuggling. They called on the President to direct the National Security Council and the Drug Enforcement Policy Board to investigate the matter.

New Electronic Capability

At the Drug Enforcement Administration, the lead agency in the federal anti-drug war, a spokesman said south Florida authorities now have new electronic capability that provides “voice privacy,” and that agents in other parts of the nation will begin using the equipment in January.

English, chairman of the House Government Operations subcommittee on government information, justice and agriculture, said a Sept. 13 raid in Broward County, Fla., revealed that the smugglers knew key government frequencies.

English said a local official provided the frequencies to the subcommittee, which oversees the federal war on drug smuggling. He said the official also asserted that the alleged smugglers had ties to the Colombian terrorist group, known as M-19, that recently seized the national Palace of Justice in Bogota on Nov. 6, killing more than 100 persons, including 12 justices.

In view of that alleged connection and the assertion that the drug smuggling suspects had radio frequencies belonging to Reagan’s bodyguards, DeConcini concluded that the “security of our national leaders” is threatened.

Study by Task Force

In Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Broward County Sheriff Nicholas G. Navarro said in a telephone interview that he was concerned that a drug smuggling ring would have frequencies that had no apparent connection to drug smuggling. He said a task force is trying to determine the significance of the 1,000 frequencies--which included those for radios in U.S. missile batteries, Air Force bases and civilian organizations such as Disney World.

Critics have charged that security breaches occur frequently and that the government is miserly in spending for technology to match that of drug smugglers and other criminals.

DeConcini and English said they intend to shape legislation to address such security lapses, and they called on the White House for assistance.