Colombia Drug
Main page U.S. Embassy in Colombia
1 Drug Abuse ... 1 "If the Justice and Peace Law is well implemented, I am sure that the level of violence, and also drug trafficking, will decline." Ambassador William B. Wood in El Tiempo ... 11 11 Supporting Human Rights and Democracy: the U.S. Record, 2004-2005111 11 Country Reports on Terrorism 2004.(previously Patterns of Global Terrorism)11 1 11 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers 200511 1 11 Economic Report of the President, 200511 11 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, 2005111 1 11 Country Report on Human Rights Practices: Colombia, 2004111 1 11 The National Drug Control Strategy 111 111 The 9/11 Commission Report ... [Read More]
South America
Domestic Programs (Demand Reduction). The GOU remains committed to education and prevention. In 2004, to improve its tracking of drug consumption, the GOU funded studies on the social costs of drug use, drug use in prisons, and the link of drug use to emergency room visits. It also started a register for tracking drug offenses in the prison population. Uruguay’s demand reduction efforts focus on developing prevention programs, rehabilitation and treatment. They are based on a strategy developed cooperatively in 2001 between the National Drug Secretariat, public education authorities, and the Ministries of Interior and Public Health, and include INJU (The National Institute of Youth), the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, INAME (The National Institute of Minors), municipalities and NGOs. Specific projects are: 1) the "Adventure of Life" program aimed at teaching values and healthy habits to elementary school children, which reached 90 schools in ... [Read More]
South America
Policy Initiatives. Toward fulfillment of its commitments under the 1988 UN Drug Convention, the GOP took important steps in 2000 including: the naming of a new head of the counterdrug secretariat (SENAD) who has re-energized the GOP’s antidrug efforts; the creation within SENAD of a Major Violators Unit which focuses solely on major drug traffickers and their organizations; the signing of agreements with Paraguay’s neighbors on judicial cooperation and information sharing; the expulsion of two major traffickers to Brazil; the naming by the Attorney General of special prosecutors with national jurisdiction to strengthen SENAD’s counterdrug operations; and the funding of SEPRELAD’s FAU for the first time since its creation in 1997. In addition, the Senate is considering a complete modernization of Paraguay’s existing drug law, which includes long-sought authority for police to use informants, and to conduct undercover operations and controlled deliveries. These authorities will be k ... [Read More]
Support for Plan Colombia
In response to Plan Colombia, and in consultation with the Colombian Government, the United States is providing a $1.3 billion package of assistance to Colombia. Adding to previously approved U.S. assistance to Colombia of over $330 million, the legislation provides $818 million as an emergency supplemental for Fiscal Year 2000 and $256 million in additional funding for Fiscal Year 2001. The U.S. assistance package will help Colombia address the breadth of the challenges it faces -- its efforts to fight the illicit drug trade, to increase the rule of law, to protect human rights, to expand economic development, to institute judicial reform, and to foster peace. ... [Read More]
U.S. Drug Policy in Colombia Seeks To Aid Human Rights
U.S. Drug Policy in Colombia Seeks To Aid Human Rights ... Colombia -- as well as in Peru and Bolivia -- not by counter-drug ... fueled by huge proceeds from drugs, undermines democracy and ... [Read More]
Current Developments in Colombia in the Fight Against Drug Trafficking and Narcoterrorism
The drug trade depends on poisoning children and enslaving adults. That's what matters. No democracy, no people who claim to be concerned about human rights and human dignity, about freedom, about economic development, can accept the principles of the drug trade. All the crazy talk about legalization aside -- that's great if you're in a dorm room and you don't have any responsibility. When you live in the real world and you look into the faces of the people who are victims, you realize that civilized society is incompatible with illegal drugs and addiction, as any common sense citizen sees. ... [Read More]
Country Program: Colombia
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. ... [Read More]
Plan Colombia: Major Successes and New Challenges
Since we began a rigorous monitoring program three years ago, no cases of serious damage to human health or the environment have been scientifically verified. The scientific evidence of the safety of aerial spraying stands in stark contrast to the environmental devastation caused by illicit cultivation and drug processing. I have flown over huge tracts of land in Colombia, including National Parks, that are simply barren from the erosion caused by illicit cultivation. Environmental degradation does not end there. Over seventy chemicals, including many that have been given the highest toxicity rating by the EPA, are routinely used in the cultivation and processing of illicit narcotics without regard to the manufacturer’s instructions, EPA product warnings, or safe environmental practices. These chemicals destroy the land and pollute waterways. Illicit cultivation and drug processing--very sadly--are quickly dest ... [Read More]
Colombia
Criminals sometimes use the drug "scopolamine" to incapacitate tourists in order to rob them. The drug is administered in drinks (in bars), through cigarettes and gum (in taxis), and in powder form (tourists are approached by someone asking directions, with the drug concealed in a piece of paper, and the perpetrator blows the powder into the victim's face). The drug renders the person disoriented and can cause prolonged unconsciousness and serious medical problems. ... [Read More]
Colombia
May 04, 2005 This Travel Warning is being issued to remind American citizens of ongoing security concerns in Colombia. This supersedes the Travel Warning issued March 3, 2004. The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the dangers of travel to Colombia. Violence by narcoterrorist groups and other criminal elements continues to affect all parts of the country, urban and rural, and border areas. Citizens of the United States and other countries continue to be the ... [Read More]
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