The United States Counter Drug Strategy for Peru
Abstract
Peru is the world's largest producer of coca leaf, and therefore a critical part of the United States counter drug effort. Peru faces overwhelming problems of a depressed economy, poverty, unemployment, crushing foreign debt, and weak institutions. A brutal guerrilla insurgency threatens the survival of the nation. The guerrillas have embraced the drug trade as a source of revenues for their cause. Peruvian security forces have responded inappropriately to the guerrillas' atrocities with human rights violations of their own. In this context the United States is seeking to reduce and then stop the flow of illicit drugs out of Peru through programs under the Andean Strategy. Although the enhanced funding of the programs has just begun, the early indications of success are unfavorable. The air interdiction of drug trafficking flights by the Peruvian Air Force shows some promise, but is not resourced adequately. Lack of security for alternative development will frustrate attempts to shift to legitimate enterprises. Peruvian corruption and lack of will to embrace the counter drug effort raise doubts of the strategy's validity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 23, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA251262
Entities
People
- Peter A. Topp
Organizations
- United States Army War College