Pubdate: Thu, 26 Jul 2001
Source: Telegraph Herald (IA)
Copyright: 2001 Telegraph Herald
Contact:   http://www.thonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/604
Author: Associated Press
http://www.mapinc.org/area/Colombia

U.S.: FAR MORE COLOMBIAN DRUG CROPS THAN THOUGHT

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - With Washington set to deepen its involvement in 
Colombia's anti-drug efforts, a U.S. Embassy official said Wednesday that 
there are far more cocaine- and heroin-producing crops growing here than 
previously believed.

Washington is considering giving more aid to Colombia, atop a $1.3 billion 
existing package aimed against leftist rebels and rival right- wing 
paramilitaries who tax drug crops that are exported to the United States 
and beyond.

The most recent U.S. estimate, conducted at the end of last year, showed 
336,400 acres of coca - the prime ingredient of cocaine - were being 
cultivated. In addition, Colombian police say 15,300 acres were being used 
to grow poppy, from which heroin is made.

But now officials say they've found drug crops in areas of Colombia where 
none was believed to have existed before.

"We've underestimated the coca in Colombia. Everywhere we look there is 
more coca than we expected," a U.S. Embassy official told a small group of 
American journalists on condition of anonymity.

It is unclear by how much the estimates may be short. Of the heroin crops, 
the official said: "There is more out there than we can find right now." 
The official said a very pure grade of Colombian heroin has been arriving 
in the United States, particularly New York and Philadelphia.

The belief that there are more drug crops than previously estimated means 
more work for U.S.-trained Colombian army troops and American crop-duster 
pilots contracted by the State Department.

The U.S. Embassy official said the pace of fumigation will pick up "very 
dramatically" and that a leveling off of drug cultivation in Colombia can 
be expected in 18 months.

The anti-drug offensive is aimed primarily at cutting into the main source 
of revenue of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia and the 
paramilitary United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia.

Washington made a clear sign Tuesday that U.S. participation will continue 
when the House approved $676 million to fight drugs and advance economic 
and political stability in Colombia and in its neighboring countries.

Critics of Washington's aid say the United States is being sucked into 
another war, as in Vietnam or El Salvador.

The first of dozens of new combat helicopters provided under the aid 
package will be arriving on Saturday from the United States, the U.S. 
Embassy said. Fourteen more U.S. crop dusters will also be arriving 
starting in September, which will more than double the current fleet in 
Colombia by next March.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth