Path To Atonement
Chapter Four
Nick had a big grin on his face. He sat at the end of the conference table with his chair pushed out and his legs crossed. In front of him were two boxes of goods from a French bakery he could not pronounce. On either side of the boxes were plates of imported cheese and lush strawberries interspaced with sliced apples. His team rushed into the room, responding to an emergency email from Rona, their paralegal. The email read, You’re in for the shock of your lives. Go to the conference room immediately.
Nick said, “You are probably wondering why I had Rona beckon you on a moment’s notice. We’re turning the page on this task force. We’re expanding our international frontiers. The new human trafficking case, which you have read about, may lead us to Nepal, India, Vietnam, and possibly Tanzania. To celebrate, I offer you croissants, Brie, Gouda, and the like. All topped off with vine-ripened strawberries and luscious sliced apples. The croissants are in recognition of Binsa’s gourmet breakfast in Laos at the world heritage city, Luang Prabang.”
Pepe said, “Don’t tell us you’ve been to Luang Prabang?”
“Matter of fact, I have. I was one of those tourists sitting on a chair at the side of the street at dawn, making my alms offering of sticky rice to barefoot Buddhist monks. It was many years ago.
“Enough of that. Pepe’s comments last week about my lessthan-adequate provisions—donuts every quarter—pierced my heart. It brought tears to my eyes when I realized how badly I have mistreated you. You deserve the best to do the best. Voila, enjoy.”
There was a stunned silence. There were quizzical looks on all their faces, except one. Pepe was laughing. “Excuse me, Boss, but I’ve never heard such a load of bullshit in my life. The only thing that hurts your heart is putting out extra money. You must have quite a heartache right now if you paid for this spread. It’s more likely Elin paid for this as a thank you for being so attentive to Binsa’s case.”
Nick stared at Pepe, then chuckled. “Pepe, you know me too well. Elin did send the cheeses and strawberries, but I sprung for the croissants. Rona pitched in with the apples. You’re right, it did hurt my pocketbook, which hurt my heart. Let’s get down to it. We need to brainstorm and work up an investigative plan. Any ideas?”
Petra said, “We need to focus on identifying the players. DEA doesn’t have an office in Kathmandu, but there are a few DEA agents who float around Southeast and Southwest Asia. DEA personnel have trained Nepalese law enforcement in our anti-heroin efforts. We still have contacts. I’ll see if they can check into Daxa Bandari and get copies of Tiger Tops Lodge occupancy records.”
Nick said, “Great. Working backwards from Binsa’s timeline, Mister Rick would have stayed at the lodge in early January, late December. Petra, you may also want to check out victim rights organizations in Nepal who monitor human trafficking. Someone may have insight into the apparent bribery by Bandari of the border guard.”
Mario interjected, “I’ll contact the FinCEN representative I worked with on the Baja Norte Familia case and see if he can get financial records on Bandari through Nepal’s Financial Information Unit.”
FinCEN is an acronym for the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, established in 1990, to combat domestic and international money laundering. FinCEN relies on Bank Secrecy Act data collected on forms filled in by domestic financial institutions for dissemination of information to federal and local law enforcement. FinCEN has actively supported other
countries in their efforts to pass Bank Secrecy Act legislation and create Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs).
The EDMONT Group is the international organization that coordinates policy and information for the 160+ FIUs worldwide. The FIUs are broken down into eight regions. The Asian-Pacific region’s headquarters is in Australia, and Nepal is one of its 28 participating nations. The Nepalese FIU is located in Kathmandu and is operated by Nepal’s central bank, Rastra.
Josh said, “The only country in the neighborhood that the U.S. Department of Justice has a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty is Thailand. So, we’re out of luck making a formal request for records that the authorities in Nepal could authenticate for admission into evidence.”
Nick replied, “Good to know, but we’re a long way from evidentiary concerns. Does anyone have any contacts in Vietnam or know anyone who may have contacts? I would like to look into Mr. Nguyen who arranged for the forged Thai passports out of Ho Chi Minh City.”
Jerry said, “I know some vets who work at Homeland Security. A few fought in the Vietnam War. At least one of them went back to Vietnam recently for closure and met several Vietnamese officials. Also, unless Nguyen was using a false name, we should be able to get information from American Airlines for the flight he took between Taipei and LAX. We also have the Thai name used on Binsa’s passport. From the seating on the plane, we should be able to figure out most of the passport names of the other seven trafficking victims. They’ll all have Thai last names. I can also check flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Taipei as well as LAX to San Diego.”
“You guys don’t need me. The croissants are paying off. Great initiative.”
Pepe said, “Let’s not forget about what happened and what’s still going on in our backyard. I’ll arrange with Baja Norte State Police to surveil Hotel Rosa and the gentlemen’s club. We can take photos of people coming and going who fit the descriptions of Misters Rick and Steve, Señora Garza, and Mister Salvadore. We should also interview Alejandro. Lastly, I’d want to interview Daudi, the young man from Tanzania. It doesn’t sound like he’s a prisoner in the hotel. Maybe we can catch him outside and talk to him. I’d like to find out more about Mister Rick’s hotel interests located outside national parks.”
Mario said, “I can work with Pepe on the financial side. I can get FinCEN and Mexico’s FIU to do a complete financial profile on Hotel Rosa and the gentlemen’s club. If we positively ID Salvadore and Madam Garza, we’ll do a workup on them as well. I can also work with Tanzania’s FIU to identify the mine where Daudi may have worked and been recruited from.”
Nick said, “We need to get a lead on the vans that picked up the girls. Jerry, once we identify the LAX to San Diego flight, can you check San Diego airport surveillance cameras to see if they captured any footage of the vans? Also, let’s think about what type of companies would use tall, narrow vans with a bed and toilet inside. They sound like Mercedes Sprinter vans. I’ve a friend that uses one like that to take photography trips around the West.”
Jerry replied, “I can also check out airport surveillance tapes at LAX to see if we can get a visual on Mr. Nguyen and the rest of the victims.”
Nick said, “One final thing that Pepe and Mario can look into. It appears that Madam Garza fed Binsa a roofie the first night in Tijuana. It’s a light green pill and is also known as Mexican valium. Try to track down the source of the supply. The Mexican cops may have some ideas.”
Nick looked around the room. “Well, I guess we have enough on our plates. Give Rona your Starbucks orders on the way out.”
Rona replied, “That’ll be the day, Nick.”
Path To Atonement
Chapter Four
Nick had a big grin on his face. He sat at the end of the conference table with his chair pushed out and his legs crossed. In front of him were two boxes of goods from a French bakery he could not pronounce. On either side of the boxes were plates of imported cheese and lush strawberries interspaced with sliced apples. His team rushed into the room, responding to an emergency email from Rona, their paralegal. The email read, You’re in for the shock of your lives. Go to the conference room immediately.
Nick said, “You are probably wondering why I had Rona beckon you on a moment’s notice. We’re turning the page on this task force. We’re expanding our international frontiers. The new human trafficking case, which you have read about, may lead us to Nepal, India, Vietnam, and possibly Tanzania. To celebrate, I offer you croissants, Brie, Gouda, and the like. All topped off with vine-ripened strawberries and luscious sliced apples. The croissants are in recognition of Binsa’s gourmet breakfast in Laos at the world heritage city, Luang Prabang.”
Pepe said, “Don’t tell us you’ve been to Luang Prabang?”
“Matter of fact, I have. I was one of those tourists sitting on a chair at the side of the street at dawn, making my alms offering of sticky rice to barefoot Buddhist monks. It was many years ago.
“Enough of that. Pepe’s comments last week about my lessthan-adequate provisions—donuts every quarter—pierced my heart. It brought tears to my eyes when I realized how badly I have mistreated you. You deserve the best to do the best. Voila, enjoy.”
There was a stunned silence. There were quizzical looks on all their faces, except one. Pepe was laughing. “Excuse me, Boss, but I’ve never heard such a load of bullshit in my life. The only thing that hurts your heart is putting out extra money. You must have quite a heartache right now if you paid for this spread. It’s more likely Elin paid for this as a thank you for being so attentive to Binsa’s case.”
Nick stared at Pepe, then chuckled. “Pepe, you know me too well. Elin did send the cheeses and strawberries, but I sprung for the croissants. Rona pitched in with the apples. You’re right, it did hurt my pocketbook, which hurt my heart. Let’s get down to it. We need to brainstorm and work up an investigative plan. Any ideas?”
Petra said, “We need to focus on identifying the players. DEA doesn’t have an office in Kathmandu, but there are a few DEA agents who float around Southeast and Southwest Asia. DEA personnel have trained Nepalese law enforcement in our anti-heroin efforts. We still have contacts. I’ll see if they can check into Daxa Bandari and get copies of Tiger Tops Lodge occupancy records.”
Nick said, “Great. Working backwards from Binsa’s timeline, Mister Rick would have stayed at the lodge in early January, late December. Petra, you may also want to check out victim rights organizations in Nepal who monitor human trafficking. Someone may have insight into the apparent bribery by Bandari of the border guard.”
Mario interjected, “I’ll contact the FinCEN representative I worked with on the Baja Norte Familia case and see if he can get financial records on Bandari through Nepal’s Financial Information Unit.”
FinCEN is an acronym for the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, established in 1990, to combat domestic and international money laundering. FinCEN relies on Bank Secrecy Act data collected on forms filled in by domestic financial institutions for dissemination of information to federal and local law enforcement. FinCEN has actively supported other
countries in their efforts to pass Bank Secrecy Act legislation and create Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs).
The EDMONT Group is the international organization that coordinates policy and information for the 160+ FIUs worldwide. The FIUs are broken down into eight regions. The Asian-Pacific region’s headquarters is in Australia, and Nepal is one of its 28 participating nations. The Nepalese FIU is located in Kathmandu and is operated by Nepal’s central bank, Rastra.
Josh said, “The only country in the neighborhood that the U.S. Department of Justice has a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty is Thailand. So, we’re out of luck making a formal request for records that the authorities in Nepal could authenticate for admission into evidence.”
Nick replied, “Good to know, but we’re a long way from evidentiary concerns. Does anyone have any contacts in Vietnam or know anyone who may have contacts? I would like to look into Mr. Nguyen who arranged for the forged Thai passports out of Ho Chi Minh City.”
Jerry said, “I know some vets who work at Homeland Security. A few fought in the Vietnam War. At least one of them went back to Vietnam recently for closure and met several Vietnamese officials. Also, unless Nguyen was using a false name, we should be able to get information from American Airlines for the flight he took between Taipei and LAX. We also have the Thai name used on Binsa’s passport. From the seating on the plane, we should be able to figure out most of the passport names of the other seven trafficking victims. They’ll all have Thai last names. I can also check flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Taipei as well as LAX to San Diego.”
“You guys don’t need me. The croissants are paying off. Great initiative.”
Pepe said, “Let’s not forget about what happened and what’s still going on in our backyard. I’ll arrange with Baja Norte State Police to surveil Hotel Rosa and the gentlemen’s club. We can take photos of people coming and going who fit the descriptions of Misters Rick and Steve, Señora Garza, and Mister Salvadore. We should also interview Alejandro. Lastly, I’d want to interview Daudi, the young man from Tanzania. It doesn’t sound like he’s a prisoner in the hotel. Maybe we can catch him outside and talk to him. I’d like to find out more about Mister Rick’s hotel interests located outside national parks.”
Mario said, “I can work with Pepe on the financial side. I can get FinCEN and Mexico’s FIU to do a complete financial profile on Hotel Rosa and the gentlemen’s club. If we positively ID Salvadore and Madam Garza, we’ll do a workup on them as well. I can also work with Tanzania’s FIU to identify the mine where Daudi may have worked and been recruited from.”
Nick said, “We need to get a lead on the vans that picked up the girls. Jerry, once we identify the LAX to San Diego flight, can you check San Diego airport surveillance cameras to see if they captured any footage of the vans? Also, let’s think about what type of companies would use tall, narrow vans with a bed and toilet inside. They sound like Mercedes Sprinter vans. I’ve a friend that uses one like that to take photography trips around the West.”
Jerry replied, “I can also check out airport surveillance tapes at LAX to see if we can get a visual on Mr. Nguyen and the rest of the victims.”
Nick said, “One final thing that Pepe and Mario can look into. It appears that Madam Garza fed Binsa a roofie the first night in Tijuana. It’s a light green pill and is also known as Mexican valium. Try to track down the source of the supply. The Mexican cops may have some ideas.”
Nick looked around the room. “Well, I guess we have enough on our plates. Give Rona your Starbucks orders on the way out.”
Rona replied, “That’ll be the day, Nick.”