FACTFINDING MISSION TO COLOMBIA AND PUERTO RICA

• NCJ Number: 63241
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 51 pages
• Corporate Author: US Congress
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Legislative/Regulatory Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A REPORT IS MADE BY THE FACTFINDING MISSION OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON NARCOTICS ABUSE AND CONTROL CONCERNING DRUG ABUSE AND TRAFFIC IN COLOMBIA AND PUERTO RICO.

Abstract

IN PUERTO RICO AND COLOMBIA, MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON NARCOTICS ABUSE AND CONTROL AND THEIR STAFF MET FORMALLY AND INFORMALLY WITH A WIDE RANGE OF OFFICIALS. BECAUSE THE UNITED STATES, ACTING UNILATERALLY, COULD NOT CONTROL INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRAFFIC, INTEREST IN U.S. COLOMBIAN COOPERATION WAS STRONG, AND METHODS WERE DEVELOPED TO IMPLEMENT AN ANTINARCOTICS PROGRAM. U.S. INTEREST IN PUERTO RICO OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE EASE WITH WHICH DRUGS COULD BE MOVED FROM THAT LOCATION SINCE THERE WAS NO ADDED CUSTOMS CLEARANCE OF AIRCRAFT OR VESSELS DEPARTING PUERTO RICO. THE FACTFINDING GROUP EXAMINED COLOMBIA'S DRUG PRODUCTION, TRAFFICKING, AND THE EXTENT OF U.S. AID TO CURRENT NARCOTICS CONTROL PROGRAMS. THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE PRODUCTION OF COCAINE AND MARIJUANA HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT SOURCE OF INCOME FOR MANY POOR FARMERS; THAT THE LEVEL OF PRODUCTION IS LINKED TO THE HIGH LEVELS OF AMERICAN DRUG CONSUMPTION; THAT COLOMBIA HAS A CLEAR COMMITMENT TO MOVE AGAINST THE DRUG TRAFFIC, BUT REQUIRES U.S. ASSISTANCE; AND THAT ACCEPTABLE METHODS OF ERADICATION RATHER THAN INTERDICTION NEED TO BE FOUND. THE FINDINGS OF THE FACTFINDING GROUP IN PUERTO RICO COVER THE ROLE, OF FOUR U.S. GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WHICH HAVE DIRECT IMPACT ON DRUG TRAFFIC THERE AND THE ROLE OF THE PUERTO RICO POLICE DEPARTMENT. HEARINGS WERE HELD IN PUERTO RICO TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE DRUG PROBLEM, AND TREATMENT AVAILABILITY AND SERVICES, PARTICULARLY FOR VETERANS. THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED AN OVERHAUL OF THE PRESENT DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM, MONITORING OF VA PRESCRIPTIONS, BUDGET REEVALUATIONS, AND ATTENTION TO ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL PROBLEMS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO THE DRUG PROBLEM. APPENDIXES INCLUDE A PLEA BY A COLOMBIAN FINANCIER TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA, AND DRUG VIOLATOR CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS AND CRITERIA. (RFC)