Guatemala passes property seizure law to fight gangs
Wed, 8 Dec 2010 04:19 GMT
GUATEMALA CITY, Dec 7 (Reuters) - Guatemala's Congress on Tuesday passed a bill that would allow the government to confiscate property from convicted criminals in a bid to target the wealth of powerful drug traffickers.
The impoverished Central American nation is struggling to contain the expansion of drug cartels into its territory as Mexico's amry-led battle against traffickers pushes gangs to southward, buying up land and recruiting locals.
The bill, which was passed after months of debate during which some lawmakers allegedly were threatened, will allow the state to use, donate or auction goods seized from convicted criminals, according to lawmaker Mariano Rayo.
"We achieved a concrete and specific expression that this country will not tolerate the expansion of organized crime," Rayo told Reuters. "Finally, we put in a dike against corruption."
President Alvaro Colom supported the bill, which also beefs up requirements for registering businesses in order to deter money laundering operations. He is expected to sign it into law soon.
The bill was approved only shortly after the visit on Tuesday of the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, Arturo Valenzuela, who told reporters that Central American nations needed to step up efforts against organized crime. (Reporting by Herbert Hernandez; Editing by Bill Trott)
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