FBI claims world-wide powers

Year Published:  1989
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX3679

Abstract: 
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced that it has been given the authority to seize "fugitives" living in other countries without the consent of the governments of those countries. It claims that it has the right to seize foreign citizens as well as U.S. citizens. The policy would give the FBI the "right", for example, to seize a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil and take him back to the U.S., in a situation where the Canadian courts were refusing an extradition request. Washington observers think that the impetus for the FBI's claim arises out of the U.S. government's desire to lay their hands on Panamanian ruler General Manuel Noreiga, formerly on the CIA payroll, but now on the outs with Washington.