Drug War Fund Allocation in 2001

From WolfWikis

Excerpt from Time Magazine Article "America's Shadow Drug War" in 2001

WAR IN THE CLOUDS...

Fighting drugs in South America is increasingly a military mission, with the U.S. providing money equipment, training and intelligence to forces in several countries

AIR SURVEILLANCE

The shooting down of an American missionary plane in Peru was the tragic end to a common type of interdiction effort

1. U.S. radar installations or surveillance aircraft detect suspicious plane

2. A U.S. spotter plane with its own radar pinpoints the location. At least five U.S. agencies are using these tracking planes

3. Peruvian military jets are sent to intercept the suspicious aircraft. Firing upon the plane is considered last resort

...AND IN THE JUNGLES

COLOMBIA $1.3 billion

Rebels in Colombia finance their operations with drugs; the proceeds enable them to purchase increasingly sophisticated weapons. To counter this threat, the U.S. is training the Colombian military and equipping them with the latest hardware

Helicopters $375 million

• 16 Blackhawks for raiding drug processing centers and fighting rebels
• 42 "Huey II" helicopters to move troops and equipment, and funds to support 15 others

Crop-eradication planes $20 million

• Using satellite and aerial images, the U.S. locates coca-growing areas. Colombia uses small planes to spray a herbicide to kill the plants. Most are flown by local pilots, though some U.S. pilots work under contract

Other spending

• $129 million for increased interdiction, of which $68 million goes to upgrading U.S. P-3 aircraft to detect and monitor targets destined for the U.S.
• $122 million for human-rights and justice programs in the region

ECUADOR $12 million

• In addition to the drug-fighting funds, the U.S. is spending $61 million to expand an air base at Manta so it can accommodate AWACS

PERU $80 MILLION

• 14 U.S.-owned UH-1H helicopters, flown by Peruvians, are used for eradication and interdiction
• The U.S. built this facility in Iquitos and gave it to the Peruvian air force, and is constructing a facility in Puerto Maldonado
• CIA surveillance program provides intelligence to help Peruvians shoot down traffickers. The program has several Citation planes on loan from the U.S. Department of Defense and is staffed by contract employees

BOLIVIA $158 million

• $101 million was earmarked for alternative economic development to help farmers support themselves without growing coca

Sources: U.S. State Department; CIA; Office of National Drug Control Policy The Balloon Effect

While coca cultivation has shrunk dramatically in Bolivia and Peru, it has exploded in Columbia as drug traffickers have relocated their businesses.