Drug Control: Long-Standing Problems Hinder U.S. International Efforts - Government Accountability Office (GAO) report

Drug Control: Long-Standing Problems Hinder U.S. International Efforts - GAO Report

Date:	Feb. 27, 1997
Report No.:	NSIAD-97-75
Pages:	52
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Subjects: Drug trafficking Developing countries International cooperation International relations Law enforcement Political corruption Smuggling Strategic planning Afghanistan Bolivia Burma Colombia Laos Mexico National Counterdrug Enforcement Research and Development Program National Drug Control Strategy Pakistan Drugs Summary: The United States has spent billions of dollars on international drug control and interdiction efforts but illegal drugs still flow into this country. A major factor is that international drug-trafficking organizations have become sophisticated, multibillion-dollar industries capable of changing tactics to elude new U.S. drug control efforts and corrupting the institutions of drug-producing and transit countries. U.S. efforts have also been hampered by competing foreign policy objectives, inconsistent funding for U.S. international drug control plans, and a lack of ways to measure the success of counternarcotics efforts. Although no panacea exists that will curb illegal drug trafficking, a multiyear plan that sets out funding needs linked to goals and objectives would provide a more consistent approach to drug control efforts. GAO also believes that improved used of technology and intelligence and the development of a centralized "lessons learned" system could bolster counternarcotics efforts.