INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS SITUATION REPORT

Created: 8/1/1992

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

WOT MICROFILMED

vJffl.*/ Directorate of Intelligence

International Narcotics Situation Report

2

Peru-Kcuador: Emerging Opium Cultivation and Processing [

The profitability of heroin and, more recently.increasing enforcement operations arecommercial poppy cultivation and opiumin Peru and Ecuador. Cali traffickers may have moved some of their opium operations to Peru or Ecuador to evade antidrug efforts focused on poppy culiissuoo in Colombia, much as they did with cocaine operations after9 crackdoT, Peruvian and Ecuadorian iratrscking families,probably arc eager to assist tbe Colombians in developing opium produciion. and wc believe that it isatter of lime before poppy cultivation be-comes more significant, particularly in

Peru Steps Up

Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori hu increased efforts to curb trafficking, probably with an eye toward tempering US criticism of his April palace coup. The BOvcrnment has issued decrees aimed at limiting the drug trade and has ordered the security forces lo be more supportive of antidrug operations. Tbe campaign focuses on exerting control over several airstrips used by iraflkke-rs,op concern of US policymakers

Fujimori's Record

Fujimori administration hasreater effort than its predecessor to address US antidrug concerns, though it remains preoccupied with Peru's economic crisis and insurgent violence.P

New Antidrug initiatives

Since the coup, Fujimori has issued several decrees aimed at curtailing the drug trade in Peru and has1 ordered the military to increase counternarcoticsFujimori directed the Air Force to take control of municipal airfields in drug-producing areas, to destroy clandestine airstrips, and to intercept suspect aircraft. To combal corruption, heecree requiring military and police officers in drug regions to disclose their properly and income at the beginning and end of their tours. Another decree increased penalties for money laundering and other drug-related offenses. I-

Assessment

Tbe airfield controld important step in curtailing drug flights and probably will increase pressure on traffickers As the municipal airports arc lessleast during the day -trafficker* will turn more frequently to remote airstrips, which are generally shorter, more dangerous, and lessto laboratories, storage, and other supportTo evade the Air Force presence, ptkxs ire likelyy more often at night, increatuit somewhat the risk of crashes.P

Weuccessful airfield denial program would result in significant constriction of drug Bights only if coupled with effective air interdictionar-reaching anticorruption campaign. Air interdiction will remain difficult because the Air Force lacks the aircraft, pilot training, radars, and other assets to track and intercept drug

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