Summary: Despite the efforts of the United States and Colombia, the illegal narcotics threat from Colombia has grown since GAO's last report. (See GAO/NSIAD-98-60, Feb. 1998.) Today, Colombia remains the primary source of cocaine products in the U.S. market. For the third year in a row, coca cultivation has increased, and Colombia is now the world's leading grower of coca. More potent coca leaf is also being grown in Colombia. Colombia is now the major supplier of heroin to the eastern part of the United States. In the past year, the Colombian government has lost several battles to insurgent groups who, along with paramilitary groups, have increased their involvement in illicit narcotics activities and gained greater control over large parts of Colombia where drug-trafficking occurs. Although the Colombian government has launched several initiatives to counter the narcotics threat, the government faces significant obstacles. The Colombian military suffers from institutional weaknesses that hamper its ability to support counternarcotics operations. Government corruption, budgetary constraints, and a weak judicial system are also problems. The United States has had limited success in reducing the flow of illegal drugs from Colombia. Despite two years of heavy herbicide spraying, U.S. estimates show no net reduction in coca cultivation. In fact, coca cultivation actually rose 50 percent. The United States has had difficulty supporting counternarcotics efforts in Colombia because of cutbacks in U.S. support for drug detection and monitoring. Moreover, reported human rights abuses by the Colombian military have led the United States to restrict assistance to Colombian police and military units if there is credible evidence of human rights violations. Finally, the growing involvement and strength of insurgent groups in areas where coca leaf and opium poppies are grown complicates U.S. support for counternarcotics activities.
