Narcotics control - Colombia

USAID ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED UNDER SEVEN SEPARATE,BUT RELATED PROJS (5140175,5140218,5140219,5140220,5140221,5140222,AND 514224). THE AUDIT INCLUDED A REVIEW OF PROJ RECORDS & VISITS TO GOC ENFORCEMENT OFFICES THROUGHOUT COLOMBIA. PROJ BEGAN 11/2/72 WITH A SMALL COMMODITY COMMITMENT TO THE ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE JUDICIAL POLICE (AAGJP). SUBSEQUENTLY,AGREEMENTS WERE EXECUTED WITH THE NATL POLICE,THE ADMINISTRATIVE DEPT FOR SECURITY (DAS),CUSTOMS,AND THE NATL COUNCIL ON DANGEROUS DRUGS (NCDD). AS OF 3/31/78, $4,109,136 OF THE $5,901,672 OBLIGATED HAD BEEN EXPENDED FOR COMMODITIES & SERVICES. USAID"S NARCOTICS ASSISTANCE OFFICE INCLUDED TWO US ADVISORS,TWO CONTRACT EMPLOYEES,A LOCAL COMMODITY TECHNICIAN,AND TWO LOCAL SECRETARIES. IN 1/78,WITH THE URGING OF THE US,A NARCOTICS UNIT WAS ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE AAGJP; AND WAS GIVEN PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR NARCOTICS CONTROL IN COLOMBIA. COMMODITIES TOTALLING $352,779 WHICH HAD BEEN HELD IN THE USAID WAREHOUSE PENDING ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH A UNIT,WILL NOW BE RELEASED. TWO PROJS (5140218 & 5140219)INVOLVING THE NCDD WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. ONE PROJ (5140218),ESTABLISHING A PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPT WITHIN NCDD,WAS TERMINATED BECAUSE NCDD FAILED TO PROVIDE EITHER FUNDS OR A COUNTERPART TO THE US MEDIA ADVISOR. HOWEVER, THEMEDIA ADVISOR COMPLETED HIS TWO-YR CONTRACT,PREPARING TRNG FILMS,SLIDE SHOWS,PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUCEMENTS,AND ASSISTING IN TREATMENT PROGS. THE SECOND PROJ (5140219) ESTABLISHED A SELF-HELP FUND FOR PRIVATE GROUPS INTERESTED IN DRUG ABUSE PROBLEMS. IN TWO YRS ONLY ONE REHAB CENTER QUALIFIED FOR ASSISTANCE;AND NCDD DID NOT PROVIDE MATCHING FUNDS AS REQUIRED. WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AAGJP NARCOTICS UNIT,THE GOC HAS PROVIDED AN ANNUAL BUDGET OF PS 50 MILLION FOR THE SALARIES OF 96 EMPLOYEES & OFFICE SPACE. BY 3/30/78, 25 EMPLOYEES WERE SWORN IN. ON 4/26/78,THE UNIT SEIZED 574 TONS OF MARIJUANA,A DC7 AIRCRAFT,8 VEHICLES,AND ARRESTED 14 PERSONS. AUDITORS CONCLUDE THAT MORE AGENTS & EQUIP ARE NEEDED. MISSION TRANSFERRED THIS PROJ TO DEPT OF STATE.