Pubdate: Fri, 02 Mar 2007
Source: Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
Copyright: 2007 Lexington Herald-Leader
Contact:  http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/240
Author: Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

ANTI-TERROR ALLIES LAG IN DRUG WAR, SAYS REPORT

WASHINGTON - The United States said yesterday that top anti-terror 
allies Afghanistan, Pakistan and Colombia had fallen short in the war 
on drugs despite enhanced counter-narcotics efforts, and it 
criticized perennial foes Iran, North Korea and Venezuela for not cooperating.

The State Department also noted backsliding in some key Latin 
American nations such as Bolivia. It praised improved performances by 
Mexico and traditional Asian transshipment points China and Thailand, 
but slammed neighboring Myanmar for illicit drug production.

In its annual global survey of the drug war, the report said opium 
poppy production in Afghanistan, long the world's top producer of 
heroin's main ingredient, continued to pose a major threat because of 
links with groups such as the Taliban.

In the Western Hemisphere, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela and Bolivia 
were identified once again as major suppliers of illegal drugs, 
mainly cocaine, to the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Only Bogota and Mexico City were singled out for positive efforts. 
The report said the governments of Colombian President Alvaro Uribe 
and Mexican President Felipe Calder--n were committed to fighting the 
narcotics trade.

This was not the case in Venezuela and Bolivia, where hostile 
governments had either refused to cooperate or were lagging in the 
counter-narcotics field, the report said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman