NCJ Number
44730
Date Published
1977
Length
32 pages
Annotation
A CONGRESSIONAL FACTFINDING MISSION TO SOUTH AMERICA, UNDERTAKEN TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF MASSIVE INCREASES IN THE AMOUNT OF COCAINE BEING SMUGGLED FROM SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES INTO THE UNITED STATES, IS DOCUMENTED.
Abstract
BETWEEN AUGUST 9 AND AUGUST 23, 1977, THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON NARCOTICS ABUSE AND CONTROL OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VISITED COLUMBIA, ECUADOR, PERU, CHILE, BOLIVIA, AND BRAZIL. COMMITTEE MEMBERS SOUGHT INFORMATION ON COCAINE TRADE AND ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL ATTEMPTS TO INTERRUPT THAT TRADE. PERU, BOLIVIA, ECUADOR, AND COLUMBIA WERE FOUND TO BE THE COUNTRIES MOST DEEPLY INVOLVED IN EITHER COCA CULTIVATION OR THE PROCESSING OF PASTE, BASE, OR COCAINE HYDROCHLORIDE. PERU IS THE LARGEST CULTIVATOR OF LICIT COCA, MOST OF WHICH IS CONVERTED TO PASTE AND SMUGGLED NORTH TO ECUADOR AND COLUMBIA FOR FURTHER PROCESSING. BOLIVIA, THE OTHER SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY WITH LEGALIZED COCA CULTIVATION, BOTH GROWS AND PROCESSES. COLUMBIA IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STAGING POINT FOR COCAINE DESTINED FOR THE UNITED STATES. CHILE AND BRAZIL PLAY LESS SIGNIFICANT ROLES IN DISTRIBUTION. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION AGENTS ASSIGNED TO SOUTH AMERICA CONDUCT DRUG INVESTIGATIONS WITH COUNTERPART HOST COUNTRY AGENCIES. THE EXTENT OF COOPERATION DEPENDS ON THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE DRUG TRAFFIC PROBLEM IN A GIVEN COUNTRY. DESPITE NARCOTICS AGREEMENTS WITH SOME COUNTRIES AND EFFORTS TO STOP THE FLOW OF COCAINE BEFORE IT REACHES THE UNITED STATES, TRAFFICKING FLOURISHES AND GROWS MORE SOPHISTICATED. THE COMMITTEE CONCLUDES THAT THE ONLY WAY TO INTERRUPT COCAINE TRAFFICKING IS TO EXPOSE THE FINANCIAL TECHNIQUES USED BY TRAFFICKERS TO MOVE THEIR MONEY AROUND THE WORLD. CONGRESS IS URGED TO AMEND BANKING, INTERNAL REVENUE, AND OTHER LAWS ACCORDINGLY. PUBLIC EDUCATION TO DISCOURAGE COCAINE USE IS ALSO RECOMMENDED.