Pubdate: Tue, 22 Feb 2000 Source: Boston Globe (MA) Copyright: 2000 Globe Newspaper Company. Contact: P.O. Box 2378, Boston, MA 02107-2378 Feedback: http://extranet.globe.com/LettersEditor/default.asp Website: http://www.boston.com/globe/ Author: David Briscoe CIA ANALYSIS SEES INCREASED OPIUM PRODUCTION IN COLOMBIA WASHINGTON (AP) A CIA analysis made public Tuesday says opium poppy cultivation rose a surprising 23 percent in Colombia last year, and Colombian heroin increasingly joined cocaine in reaching U.S. streets. Gen. Barry McCaffrey, White House drug control chief, disclosed the data at a Senate hearing before heading to Colombia for three days of talks on a $1.6 billion U.S. aid plan to fight Andean drugs. "If left unchecked, the rapid expansion of drug production in Colombia threatens to significantly increase the global supply of cocaine and heroin," McCaffrey told the Senate Finance subcommittee on international trade. A week ago, McCaffrey announced a 20 percent upsurge in Colombian coca production despite an overall decrease in the region. Growing of coca in Bolivia and Peru declined dramatically last year, offset partially by a major shift to Colombia, he said. McCaffrey and other administration officials are trying to sell the two-year aid plan to Congress, stressing that Colombia itself will spend $4 billion, with nearly $2 billion more from Europe and international lenders. The total $7.5 billion plan, if approved by Congress and fully implemented, would finally begin reducing illicit drug production that has been rapidly increasing in Colombia over the last decade, McCaffrey promised. "We expect to see substantial reductions in drugs in Colombia," he said. Colombia now produces 90 percent of the cocaine sold on U.S. streets and 70 percent of the heroin, McCaffrey aide Robert Weiner said. Some of the U.S. money would go to Peru, Bolivia and other countries to bolster their success in stemming the flow of drugs a 55 percent reduction from Bolivia and 66 percent from Peru since 1995. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., said he was not convinced that Colombia is committed to cutting back illegal drug production. "They have not yet gotten their act together," he said, adding that pouring more aid without a stronger commitment would be "doomed to failure." Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., urged the administration to be totally open in any military assistance it gives to Colombia. The plan calls for U.S. equipment and training but no U.S. troops. Gen. Charles E. Wilhelm, top U.S. commander for the region, told the senators Colombia remains the most threatened nation in the region. But he praised the country's civilian and military leadership. "Colombia demonstrates a level of national organization and commitment that was not present two years ago," Wilhelm said. He said concern over increased coca production is "partially offset by improved performance by Colombia's security forces during tactical engagements" against narcotraffickers and rebels. "With our help, Colombia will succeed," he said. Thomas Pickering, the undersecretary of state, told senators Colombian aid is aimed at expanding counternarcotics operations, increasing interdiction of drugs, assisting the national policy, developing alternative economic opportunities for growers, while boosting government respect for human rights. "No assistance is provided to any units of the security forces for which we have credible evidence of commission of gross violations of human rights," he said, unless those responsible are brought to justice. - --- MAP posted-by: manemez j lovitto