Pubdate: Thu, 30 Aug 2001
Source: Miami Herald (FL)
Copyright: 2001 The Miami Herald
Contact:  http://www.herald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/262
Author: Nancy San Martin

AUTHORITIES CLAIM PROGRESS IN WAR ON DRUGS DESPITE STATISTICS

BOGOTA, Colombia -- A U.S. delegation on a three-day mission here traveled 
to rebel territory Thursday for a peek at U.S.-funded operations in a war 
on drugs that authorities claim to be winning even as statistics suggest an 
ever-growing problem.

The high-level group of U.S. officials toured the southern region of the 
country, where U.S. Special Forces have trained Colombian army units in 
combating the drug trade and where aerial drug eradication operations are 
based. Much of the $1.3 billion in U.S. aid to Colombia is to support the 
anti-drug effort.

According to Colombian authorities, more than 278,000 acres of fields where 
narcotic-producing plants are grown and 411 laboratories have been 
destroyed. Yet, statistics from the White House Office of National Drug 
Control Policy show that more drugs are being seized in the United States, 
drug consumption remains high and Colombia continues to be the largest 
supplier of cocaine and heroine.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager