USA designates some PKK leaders as narcotics traffickers

ANKARA/WASHINGTON (A.A) - 21.04.2011 - The United States designated some leaders of terrorist organization PKK as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers, a statement by Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
The ministry said that the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the designation of some PKK leaders Cemil Bayik, Duran Kalkan, Remzi Kartal, Sabri Ok and Adem Uzun as Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers (SDNTs) pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act). 
Department of Treasury said, "Today's action freezes any assets the five individuals may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from conducting financial or commercial transactions with them."
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in its statement said that they welcomed the step taken by the U.S. authorities.
Meanwhile, David S. Cohen, Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing at the U.S. Department of Treasury, said that they dealt a major blow to PKK/Kongra-Gel with this step against PKK founders, leaders and financial sources.
Cohen said that they would continue their efforts to prevent flow of sources by narcotics trafficking to terrorist organization.