The Drug War: Observations on Counternarcotics Programs in Colombia and Peru

GAO discussed the management and effectiveness of U.S. military and law enforcement aid provided in support of the Andean Strategy in Colombia and Peru. GAO noted that: (1) U.S. legislation and policy allow Andean countries to use U.S. aid against both drug traffickers and insurgents involved in the drug trade; (2) although U.S. officials are working to improve program management, oversight of aid to Colombia and Peru is not sufficient, and there is little assurance that the aid is being used effectively and as intended; (3) although human rights continue to be abused in Colombia, the U.S. and Colombian governments are taking actions to reduce such abuses; (4) obstacles impeding the effectiveness of U.S. counternarcotics programs in Peru include Peru's inability to maintain effective government control over military and police units, the lack of coordination and cooperation between military and police, failure to control airports, political instability caused by active insurgent groups, political corruption, widespread human rights abuses, and an economy heavily dependent on coca leaf production; (5) Peru is establishing antidrug programs to reduce the flow of cocaine into the United States, improving its human rights situation, and instituting effective governmental control over the military and police in an attempt to receive 1991 U.S. aid; and (6) the executive branch has not established the management oversight needed to execute large counternarcotics aid programs.