Pubdate: Wed, 13 Feb 2002 Source: Wall Street Journal (US) Copyright: 2002 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Contact: http://www.wsj.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487 U.S. TO TRIPLE ANTI-DRUG AID TO PERU The U.S. plans to triple its antinarcotics funding to Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo's government this year and hopes to announce the resumption of drug-surveillance flights during President Bush's visit to Peru next month, U.S. Ambassador John Hamilton said. He told reporters in Lima that U.S. antidrug aid to Peru will increase this year from about $50 million "to more than $150 million." At least $80 million will finance alternative-development programs that help farmers switch from growing coca, the raw material of cocaine , to planting other crops. The rest of the aid will support interdiction, eradication and demand-reduction programs, including $30 million for more helicopters. Peru is the world's second-largest producer of coca leaf and coca paste. He said Washington hopes to announce "as soon as possible" the resumption of drug-surveillance flights that were suspended last April after a Peruvian jet mistakenly shot down a small plane, killing a U.S. missionary and her 7-month-old daughter. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth