DATE=7/28/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=COLOMBIA DRUGS
NUMBER=5-43965
BYLINE=BILL RODGERS
DATELINE=BOGOTA
CONTENT=
INTRO: Drug cultivation and trafficking have increased
in Colombia - despite some gains made by the Colombian
government. Colombia is asking the United States for
more help to combat drugs - a fight that is complicated
by the involvement of leftist guerrillas in the drug
trade. VOA's Bill Rodgers has this background report
from Bogota.
TEXT: Colombia has long been a source for cocaine -
but in recent years the cultivation, production and
trafficking of the drug has grown dramatically.
According to estimates, three fourths of the world's
cocaine now comes from Colombia.
U-S drug policy director Barry McCaffrey, who just
concluded a two-day visit this week to this South
American nation, says cocaine -- and now heroin -- are
major problems.
/// McCAFFREY ACT///
Some of the figures are just horrendous. Coca
production has doubled in three years. It's continuing
to explode in the growth areas - particularly in the
south Putumayo and Caqueta provinces. Heroin production
is now more than six metric tons a year, it comes out
of Colombia and to our shock in the past two years more
than half the heroin seized in America came out of
Colombia and Mexico.
///END ACT///
Colombia - which is now receiving more U-S anti-
narcotics aid than ever before - is making some gains.
Colombian security forces seized a record amount of
coca products last year -- some 57 metric tons -- and
also destroyed 185 cocaine laboratories. Police
arrested a number of important drug smugglers,
including major figures of a key cocaine processing
organization.
Despite this, cocaine production continues to rise. A
recent report by the U-S General Accounting Office - an
investigative arm of the Congress - says coca
cultivation has increased 50 percent in Colombia
despite two years of extensive herbicide spraying.
The head of Colombia's anti-narcotics division of the
police, Colonel Leonardo Gallardo, agrees there has
been an increase in coca cultivation - but says this
has happened in areas where the police have not been
able to operate.
///Gallardo Spanish Act///
He said in places where the police, army and other
agencies of the state can conduct operations, drug
traffickers have been hit with heavy blows. Colonel
Gallardo said: we need to extend our operations into
the other areas.
The police officer was referring to territories
controlled by leftist guerrillas - where coca
cultivation and drug trafficking are allowed. Two main
rebel groups - the FARC and the E-L-N - operate freely
in more than 40 percent of Colombia's territory -
including a vast demilitarized zone in the southern
part of the country.
The FARC and E-L-N deny any involvement in the drug
trade. But there is evidence that these guerrilla
groups receive anywhere from 200 to 600 million dollars
a year from drug traffickers in return for protection.
Right-wing paramilitary groups also are said to be
heavily involved in the drug trade. All this money
helps equip and arm these groups, and fuels the
violence that is devastating this South American
nation.
U-S drug czar Barry McCaffrey warns this violence
threatens not only Colombia's democracy but other
countries as well.
/// McCAFFREY ACT ///
This is a very dangerous situation for Colombian
democracy, the spillover effect is having an enormous
impact on Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru.
It's clearly a source of enormous violence and
corruption directed at Colombian democratic
authorities. Eighty percent of the drugs that come
into the United States originate in Colombia or transit
through this nation.
/// END ACT ///
The United States is providing 289 million dollars in
anti-narcotics aid to Colombia this year - making
Colombia the third largest recipient of American aid
after Israel and Egypt. However, Colombia has asked
this figure to be increased to 500 million dollars -
and Mr. McCaffrey's office has proposed a regional
anti-drug program that would cost one-billion dollars.
Under the proposal, most of the money would be
allocated to Colombia. (Signed)
NEB/WFR/KL
28-Jul-1999 13:15 PM LOC (28-Jul-1999 1715 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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