State Department Fact Sheet: Country Program: Colombia

State Department Fact Sheet: Country Program: Colombia
Fact Sheet

Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
U.S. Department of State
Washington, D.C.

August 12, 2002

COUNTRY PROGRAM: COLOMBIA

Problem

Colombia is the world's leading producer of cocaine, with 90% of the world's supply produced, processed, or transported through the country. Colombia is also a significant supplier of heroin to the United States. Although it supplies only about two percent of heroin worldwide, virtually all of the approximately eight metric tons it produces yearly is destined for the U.S. Although Colombian authorities have increased coca and opium poppy aerial eradication, coca cultivation remains at unacceptably high levels and drug profits continue to feed the illegally armed actors who violently attack civil society and challenge the authority of Colombia's central government.

U.S. Counternarcotics Goals

-- Eliminate the cultivation of opium poppy and coca leaf;
-- Strengthen Colombia's capabilities to disrupt and dismantle major drug-trafficking organizations and prevent their resurgence;
-- Destroy the cocaine and heroin processing industries and stop the diversion of licit chemicals into illicit channels; and
-- Implement alternative development projects where viable to encourage growers to voluntarily abandon their narcotics crops in favor of licit economic activities.

U.S. Programs

U.S. support for the Government of Colombia (GOC) is designed to attack every element of the drug trade and to assist the GOC to re-establish government control and the rule of law in areas threatened by drug-related violence. It builds upon efforts that were already underway in Colombia and draws on the experience gained from Peru and Bolivia. Primary elements of this assistance include the eradication of illicit crops, alternative development programs, interdiction operations, institution-building, and justice sector reform. Expanded aerial eradication efforts are aimed at preventing the spread of illicit cultivation into new areas, while convincing growers that no investment in illegal crops will pay dividends anywhere in Colombia. A refined approach to alternative development balances support for agro-industrial activities with precisely targeted assistance to entire communities that are willing to eradicate coca in exchange for small infrastructure and food production assistance.

The United States works with the highly regarded Colombian National Police (CNP) and the newly created counterdrug brigade of the Colombian Army (COLAR) to produce a substantial net decrease in the coca cultivation, cocaine production, and drug trafficking facilities, particularly in the southern departments of Putumayo and Caqueta. Assistance efforts have trained and equipped this 2,500-man unit and support the helicopters that provide the air mobility needed for the brigade to support eradication missions from the ground while simultaneously performing critical interdiction operations. The human rights components of the training provided to the U.S.-supported units of the COLAR have been emulated throughout the Colombian Armed Forces training system.

The United States continues to assist Colombia's alternative development efforts, where viable, to provide legal options for Colombians who chose not to generate their income from coca or opium poppy production. The Counternarcotics Alternative Development Program reinforces eradication efforts by providing viable alternatives for communities that are currently dependent on illicit cultivation but agree to eliminate those crops. The project works in conjunction with PNDA, the Government of Colombia's alternative development agency, and currently provides over 92 percent of PNDA's international support. The Alternative Development (AD) program has supported close to 4,500 hectares of licit crops in coca and poppy growing areas and has benefited nearly 11,000 small rural families in exchange for elimination of approximately 5,000 hectares of illicit crops. Other AD activities include infrastructure expansion, environmental management, and program monitoring support.

The United States also provides continued support for CNP operations aimed at the destruction of emerging narcotics trafficking syndicates through the arrest and prosecution of syndicate leaders and the confiscation of their assets; and toward initiatives aimed at discouraging illegal money-laundering activity. Similarly, funding supports projects designed to improve the efficiency of Colombia's court and prison systems. Finally, U.S. assistance sustains Government of Colombia drug awareness and education programs that seek to dissuade Colombians from engaging in illegal drug use and trafficking. The U.S. continues its balanced approach to resolving Colombia's multifaceted challenges, and dedicated $137 million of the FY02 Colombia assistance package to programs in Colombia to address social, economic, and humanitarian needs.

For more information, please see the Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá web site.

As of August 15, 2002, this document was also available online at http://usinfo.state.gov/admin/011/lef306.htm