[Spooks] 6030 bubble machine

[kwcactus at att.net]

Re:  Numbers by drug operations.  A lot speculate about that.  I kind of doubt it.  Numerous reasons.  For one, the drug operators don't need a repetitive system of broadcasting the same message over and over, for weeks at a time.  They want to say, "shipment arriving, 11-10, at (location.)"  And they want to say it just once.  Takes ten seconds.  I can't see a valid reason for drug operations to be on the air long term.  They tend to use a few code words, such as "Phoenix" for, say, two miles off Miami Beach, and the time may be real time plus an added fictional two or three hours.  

Secondly, numbers stations originate from fixed positions.  They don't move around, geographically.  That means the support of the government in which the broadcasting site is located.  It may be true that Colombia would support that kind of operation, but I doubt it, as there are opposing factions in that country, and the opposition would soon DF the site.  

Third, it is unlikely the on-the-ground drug smugglers could manage to respond.  My guess is most drug smuggling communications today is handled via the internet, though a substantial amount of it is handled by good old telephone.  Only in the "last mile" of the aircraft or boat arriving in the US (or other target nation) would clandestine communications with the shore/ground folks be necessary, and then only in terse phrases.  And probably on VHF radio.

Of course, I readily admit this is all speculation on my part!  But I suspect the majority of the numbers broadcasts, if not ALL of them, are sponsored by specific governments, such as that of the USA, or Cuba, or Russia, or Brazil, or whomever.  Sophisticated DF techniques permit pretty rapid location of illegal transmitters that stay on the air for 20 minutes at a time!  

Just some thought.  

Cactus