22 March 2002

Top U.S. Drug Official Will Visit Colombia

Washington -- The administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Asa Hutchinson, travels to Colombia for a two-day visit starting March 25, saying he will be "excited" to meet with President Andres Pastrana and other officials at this "very important juncture" in the relationship between the two countries.

Hutchinson cited a number of events that he says provide evidence that Colombia is achieving success in its long struggle against drug trafficking, and asserted that U.S. aid is helping the Latin American nation toward that goal.

"I believe that law is beginning to triumph over lawlessness," Hutchinson said in a Washington briefing March 22 with international journalists. "We have a long ways to go, but we have successes to point to and I think success builds upon success."

One of the successes noted by Hutchinson came on March 18 when the U.S. Justice Department, parent agency of the DEA, announced indictments of three members of a Colombian guerilla group on drug trafficking charges. The suspects are members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the insurgent group that has waged a decades-long guerilla campaign to unseat the government. Colombian and U.S. authorities have accumulated evidence that the FARC is becoming increasingly reliant upon money generated by drug trafficking to support its insurgency.

Hutchinson showcased the indictment of FARC commander Tomas Molina Caracas as a particular victory because it marks the first time that a terrorist leader has been indicted in connection with drug trafficking, adding credence to the repeated warnings issued by law enforcement officials.

The link between drug trafficking and terrorism has become a major theme in U.S. foreign policy since the campaign against terrorism began. Mounting evidence indicates that the al Qaeda terrorist group funded the September 11 attacks against the United States with income generated by trade in Afghan opium poppies.

Latin American journalists questioned Hutchinson about the potential for further indictments of individuals from the FARC or other Colombian insurgent groups. He said an investigation is ongoing, but would not speculate about further indictments.

Hutchinson expressed sympathy and concern for Colombians and their nation because of decades of violence that have exacted a difficult social and political cost. But he also expressed optimism that Colombia is headed toward a more stable future.

The DEA administrator pointed to significant increases in the number of Colombian drug suspects who have been extradited to the United States for prosecution. He made special note of the 2001 extradition of Fabio Ochoa-Vasquez, an associate of the one-time drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. Hutchinson submitted this judicial action as evidence that Colombia's criminal justice system is functioning well in the face of opposition, pressure, and the threat of violence. That development represents the "undervalued victory of Plan Colombia and the Andean Ridge Initiative," Hutchinson said. "I think that should be an encouragement and a hallmark of victory for what Colombia has done, and what we have been able to support."

Though he has significant matters of policy and security to discuss with Colombian officials, Hutchinson indicated that he will carry a personal message as well. He said that he wants to "express extraordinary thanks to the people of Colombia for their courageous participation in this anti-drug effort that [affects] both our nations."