Drug Control in Peru

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO provided information on the impact of the U.S. decision to stop sharing information with Colombia and Peru that could lead to their shooting down of suspected drug-trafficking civilian aircraft. GAO noted that: (1) the policy change has weakened the United States' and Peru's ability to disrupt drug trafficking operations because aircraft detection and monitoring activities have been suspended; (2) drug traffickers are using less evasive tactics in moving drugs from Peru to Colombia; (3) the Department of Defense has stopped sharing aircraft tracking information because of liability concerns if planes are shot down; and (4) U.S. agencies have stopped providing certain types of training and assistance to Peru because of the new policy.