The Drug War

The precise extent of narcotics activities in Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela is unknown. U.S. and foreign officials believe that coca is being grown and refined in the three countries but that production levels are insignificant in comparison with those in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru. Yet these same officials also believe that drug trafficking, money laundering, and other drug-related activities are growing problems. Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela have limited counternarcotics programs and receive little U.S. assistance. Combating narcotics activities is not a priority for these countries, which devote their limited resources to other pressing needs. Additionally, the lack of coordination and cooperation among host country agencies and U.S. agencies involved in counternarcotics has impeded efforts to combat drug production and trafficking. Further, host government corruption continues to be a problem. Bilateral and regional cooperation in antidrug efforts is starting to develop.

GAO found that: (1) a lack of information makes it difficult to determine the full extent of narcotics activities and to conduct successful law enforcement activities; (2) the United States believes that Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela do not grow or process a significant amount of coca and cocaine, compared to Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru; (3) rapidly shifting and numerous cocaine smuggling patterns have made it difficult to stop drug trafficking activities in Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela, and drug trafficking is increasing in those three countries; (4) it is difficult to track those countries' use and shipment of precursor chemicals for processing coca into cocaine, since the chemicals also have legitimate uses and the countries' controls over the chemicals are weak; (5) money laundering occurs to some extent in each of the countries, although more specific amounts and laundering methods are largely unknown; (6) severe economic problems and a lack of resources limit counternarcotics programs in Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela; and (7) host country and U.S. programs to address drug problems are hindered by a lack of effective coordination and cooperation, host country corruption, host country priorities, and a lack of bilateral and regional cooperation.