Posted on 05/10/2002 3:38:21 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
BOGOTA - The United States suspended administrative funding to Colombia's counter-narcotics police, and six of the unit's top officers were fired after the discovery that at least $2 million in U.S. aid was missing, U.S. and Colombian officials said Thursday.
''We discovered about two months ago a diversion of U.S. government funds from an account used by the Colombian counter-narcotics police to cover administrative expenses,'' a U.S. embassy official said.
The aid was suspended in March, and Washington is waiting action against those responsible before resuming the fund flow, the official said.
''When this happens we anticipate resuming full support for [counternarcotics] activities,'' the embassy official said.
Colombian police and the U.S. embassy declined to say how much had been diverted from the account. But a U.S. congressional staffer who follows Colombia issues closely and who asked not to be identified further, said that there was ``at least $2 million that they can't account for.''
The administrative aid for the counternarcotics police is a small portion of the nearly $2 billion the United States has provided over the past two years to support Colombia's drug fight, much of it earmarked for aircraft and other assistance to the police and military to fight the narcotics trade.
The aid suspension has not affected the aerial eradication program of coca fields, which provide the raw ingredient for the nation's illicit cocaine industry, said Charles Barclay, a spokesman for the State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere affairs.
''We're getting good cooperation from the Colombians,'' Barclay said.
The Colombian government has opened an investigation and six top police officers were discharged May 3 in connection with the matter, according to Gen. Gustavo Socha, director of the counternarcotics police.
The embassy official said the investigation included possible criminal violations but a spokesman for the criminal prosecutor's office said no formal inquiry had been opened.
Following the dismissal of the six officers, Socha said he was confident ``the activities with respect to that aid will be resumed soon.''
He declined to discuss the officers' ranks, names or possible charges against them.
''The government of Colombia, including the Colombian national police, has responded appropriately and we are confident that action will be taken against the individuals involved,'' the embassy official said, adding that U.S. confidence in the police was ``unshaken.''
The fund suspension was another blow to counternarcotics efforts in Colombia. Earlier, 33 U.S.-donated Huey helicopters were grounded for months awaiting disbursement of fiscal 2002 funding. The State Department cleared the way for that funding last week when it certified the Colombian military was complying with human rights conditions.
The helicopters were expected to resume operations soon.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.