The table below, obtained in November 2000 from the U.S. Southern Command, offers a "snapshot" view of the counter-drug agreements the United States has signed with the countries of the region.¹ These arrangements allow U.S. personnel carrying out counter-drug operations to enter the signatory country's national waters or airspace under the following circumstances:

Shipboarding: Standing authority or procedures for the U.S. Coast Guard to stop, board and search foreign vessels suspected of illicit traffic located in the country's territorial waters.

Shiprider: Standing authority to embark host-country law enforcement officials on U.S. vessels, who may then authorize certain law enforcement actions.

Pursuit: Standing authority or procedures for U.S. government law enforcement personnel to pursue fleeing vessels or aircraft suspected of illicit traffic into foreign waters or airspace.  May also include authority to stop, board and search such vessels.

Entry-to-investigate: Standing authority or procedures for U.S. government law enforcement personnel to enter foreign waters or airspace to investigate vessels or aircraft suspected of illicit traffic. May also include authority to stop, board and search such vessels.

Relay Order-to-Land: Standing authority or procedures for U.S. government law enforcement personnel to relay an order to land in the host nation to aircraft suspected of illicit traffic.

Note from source document: Each Agreement has unique differences; this matrix is merely a shorthand guide as to types of provisions in each agreement and should not be replied upon as the sole authority as to what actions are authorized. When in doubt - read the agreement itself.

Source:

¹ Document obtained from U.S. Southern Command Washington Directorate, November 2000.