05 March 2002

U.S. DEA Administrator Participating in Anti-Drug Conference in Bolivia

Washington -- Some 58 countries, including the United States, are participating in a March 5-7 international drug enforcement conference in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, with the aim of increasing global cooperation in the fight against illegal drugs, according to the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia.

An embassy official said among those attending the conference from the United States are Asa Hutchinson, administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), other DEA officials, and several U.S. Coast Guard admirals involved in anti-drug operations in the Caribbean.

The purpose of the 20th International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) is to gather representatives from as many law enforcement agencies as possible from around the world to share experiences and information in order to fight the growth of the illicit drug industry, the official indicated.

IDEC was originally focused on the anti-narcotics fight in the Western Hemisphere, but has now been expanded to examine the problem from a global perspective, the official said.

A report about global anti-drug efforts will be released when the event concludes March 7. Participants will also select a site for the next conference. The 2001 IDEC was held in the Dominican Republic.

The conference follows the March 1 release by the U.S. State Department of the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, which cited successes by countries of the Western Hemisphere in curbing the flow of cocaine and heroin into the United States.

The report said cocaine, heroin, and synthetic amphetamine-type stimulants are the three drugs of most concern to the United States. All of the cocaine and most of the heroin entering the United States originate in the Western Hemisphere.