The involvement of various illegal armed groups and terrorist organizations in the drug trade helped fuel and intensify the instability that plagued much of Colombia during the 1980s and 1990s. Beginning almost a decade ago with the Colombian-designed initiative referred to as Plan Colombia, which was strongly supported by the United States, an intensified effort was launched to weaken the drug trade in Colombia and help stabilize an important ally. As a result of efforts under Plan Colombia and its successor funding programs, Colombia has made real progress in stemming the growth and distribution of illicit narcotics as well as regaining control over much of the country. While levels of United States assistance to Colombia for counternarcotics programs is gradually declining as the Colombian Government assumes more responsibility for these operations, the United States remains committed to working with Colombia and other international partners to solidify the gains made under Plan Colombia and ensure the sustainability of counternarcotics programs. In addition to support for combating drugs, the United States also provides funding and technical assistance to Colombia’s judicial system, which helps in the transition to an accusatory system of justice and provides the expertise to address human and labor rights cases.
U.S. Counternarcotics and Rule of Law Goals
- Reduce the cultivation and distribution of heroin and cocaine;
- Strengthen Colombia’s capabilities to disrupt and dismantle major drug-trafficking organizations and prevent their resurgence;
- Promote economic and social alternatives to illicit crop production through alternative development projects;
- Strengthen government institutions, support democracy, and establish public security in conflict zones; and
- Promote the rule of law, support judicial reforms, and increase access to justice.
U.S. Programs
The U.S. supports locally-led programs designed to confront multiple aspects of the drug trade and assists the Government of Colombia (GOC) in re-establishing control and the rule of law in areas threatened by drug-related violence. Primary elements of this comprehensive assistance include illicit crop eradication, alternative development programs, interdiction operations, institution building, and justice sector reform. Aerial eradication efforts are aimed at preventing and destroying illicit cultivation, while alternative development projects implemented by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), provide economic and social alternatives to illicit crop production through projects, enterprise development, natural resource protection, institutional strengthening and promoting access to markets.
The United States works with the Colombian military and the Colombian National Police to affect a substantial net decrease in coca cultivation, cocaine production, and drug trafficking facilities. U.S. assistance programs continue to train and equip police and military units and support the aircraft that perform eradication, interdiction, and counterterrorism missions. Support is provided only to units that have been vetted for human rights violations under the terms of the Leahy amendment.
The United States continues to assist the Government of Colombia create permanent alternative income-generation opportunities for local populations. Democracy programs seek to modernize the criminal justice system, promote access to justice for disenfranchised Colombians, protect human rights, increase government presence, and support the reintegration of demobilized former combatants. Emergency humanitarian assistance programs supported by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, and mid to long term programs supported by USAID provide economic and social assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), those who have been forced to flee their homes due to civil strife and violence, and youth at risk of recruitment by illegal armed groups. An estimated 291,675 families have received assistance through alternative development programs and over 238,263 hectares of licit crops have been developed.
The United States also provides continued support to improve the efficiency of Colombia’s new accusatory judicial system. U.S. programs help train judges, prosecutors, and police; promote timely and effective investigations and prosecutions of human rights violations; and advance a culture of lawfulness through schools and police academies.
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