Pubdate: Tue, 05 Jun 2001
Source: Associated Press (Wire)
Copyright: 2001 Associated Press
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/27
Author: George Gedda, Associated Press Writer

U.S.: DRUG FLIGHTS HAVE INCREASED

WASHINGTON (AP) - A top State Department official acknowledged Tuesday that 
U.S.-bound cocaine flights from Peru and Colombia have increased since a 
CIA program to track the flights was suspended in April.

The suspension was ordered after a Peruvian military plane, in a case of 
mistaken identity, shot down an American missionary plane on April 20. 
Veronica Bowers, a 35-year-old missionary, and her 7-month-old adopted 
daughter, Charity, were killed. Her husband, his 6-year-old son and the 
pilot survived a crash landing.

Peter Romero, assistant secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, 
said, "I think we share the view that while we don't have the exact number 
of suspected flights, they (drug traffickers) are up and they are taking 
advantage of the stand-down."

Romero spoke to reporters ahead of his retirement from the Foreign Service 
later this week. Otto Reich, a former ambassador to Venezuela, has been 
designated as Romero's successor but has not been confirmed.

Lino Gutierrez, a career diplomat who has served as Romero's deputy, will 
replace Romero on an interim basis.

The Bush administration had been silent on whether traffickers had stepped 
up cocaine deliveries following the suspension. But Colombian officials in 
Washington had said that illicit drug flights have increased since the 
suspension.

Colombian Air Force Gen. Hector Fabio Velasco confirmed the trend publicly 
last month. Even in the absence of surveillance flights, he said, the 
Colombian Air Force has been able to intercept some cocaine planes.

To compensate for the suspended U.S. help, Velasco said, the Colombian air 
force is intensifying cooperation with the air forces of Brazil and 
Venezuela, where many of the drug planes take off.

Romero said a government-wide review of the surveillance flights is continuing.

"We want to ensure there will be no repeat of this in the future," he said, 
referring to the attack on the missionary plane.

Romero said the surveillance flights have been a key tool in the anti-drug 
war. "I really don't see any alternative."
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MAP posted-by: Beth