July 31, 2006
U.S. Congress passes resolution condemning Venezuela's counter-narcotic efforts while State Departament's International Narcotic Control gave positive marks.

(Venezuelanalysis.com) - "The US House of Representatives voted to condemn Venezuela for failing to secure airport facilities that meet international certifications in the prevention of narcotics trafficking and money laundering. The damning legislation, titled, 'Expressing Sense of Congress That Venezuela Should Support Strategies for Ensuring Secure Airport Facilities,' sparked a heated debate among U.S. Representatives.

House Resolution 400, introduced by Rep. Dan Burton (R) of Indiana and passed by voice vote, found Venezuela in violation of the 1988 United Nations Drug Convention. The resolution proclaims that the flow of drugs through Venezuela is increasing, that a weak judicial system in Venezuela fails to enforce laws or prosecute corrupt officials, that criminal organizations act with impunity, and that drugs easily pass through Simon Bolivar International Airport because Venezuela fails to utilize security systems provided by the U.S. (...)

Rep. Connie Mack (R) of Florida embraced the resolution, saying, 'Over 30 percent of the cocaine that comes into the United States comes through Venezuela.'

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D) of New York, though, staunchly opposed the measure, explaining that it would torpedo an effort to sign a new agreement between the Venezuelan government and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). 'While we are here debating the merits of this resolution, the experts are still in Venezuela completing the specifics of an agreement that would reestablish the relationship between the Drug Enforcement Agency and the appropriate Venezuelan authorities,' according to Meeks.

Meeks also contradicted some of the facts in the resolution and Republicans' claims about Venezuelan drug enforcement. 'The resolution states, drug trafficking through Venezuela significantly increased 2005, when in fact over 25 percent of drug seizures occurred at the Simon Bolivar Airport in 2005, and 2005 also witnessed a 58 percent increase in drug seizures compared to the previous year. In addition, drug seizures are up in Venezuela compared to this time last year by as much as 30 percent,' said Meeks.

Similarly, Rep. Delahunt (D) of Massachusetts pointed out that the U.S. State Department had stated that cooperation with Venezuela on drug control was on-going. According to Delahunt, 'The State Department INL had this to say. I am quoting from our own State Department. 'In spite of the political tensions, DEA continued working with its law enforcement contacts, developing information and leads that have contributed to record seizures by Venezuelan law enforcement.' The DEA is acknowledging that there have been record seizures, according to their own official report.'

Republicans, such as Rep. Burton, said that while this might be true, 'There was an agreement that was hammered out between his people and the DEA here in the United States (...)

Others, such as Rep. Royce joined the Republican chorus chastising Chávez on other issues, saying, 'Today, Hugo Chávez, President Chávez, is in Moscow signing a multibillion dollar agreement for advanced fighter jets for attack helicopters, for 100,000 Kalashnikov assault rifle. Frankly, these weapons are to allow his self-described socialist revolution to become a military force to be reckoned with in Latin America.'

The resolution passed with a majority voice vote and was referred to the Senate.

Origin of the Dispute

Resolution 400 represents only the latest incident between the two countries in the effort to fight drug trafficking. Last year President Chávez suspended cooperation with the DEA (US Drug Enforcement Agency) accusing the agency of espionage, drug trafficking, and operating beyond Venezuelan law. The US ambassador to Venezuela, William Brownfield, denied these accusations, and Caracas left open the possibility of future cooperation. In September of 2005, Venezuela's top drug enforcement official, Luis Correa, of the National Anti-Drug Office (ONA) said his agency and the DEA were close to reaching an agreement so that cooperation between the two agencies could continue.

However, that same month the US removed Venezuela from its list of allies in the war on drugs, which resulted in limited sanctions being placed on the country. Venezuelan Vice President Vicente Rangel rejected the assertion his country was not doing enough to battle drug trafficking. (...)

Efforts against the Drug Trade

Over the past few years, Venezuelan authorities have been increasingly successful in intercepting drug shipments. The US State Department's International Narcotics Control Strategy Reports (INCSR) gave positive marks for Venezuela's anti-narcotics efforts. Data from 1998 to 2004 indicates that over that period seizures rose from 8.6 tons to 19.07 tons, and cocaine seizures during the first six months of 2004 equalled the amount seized in Venezuela during all of 2003.

The US Embassy in Venezuela indicated in their 2003 annual report that the interdiction of cannabis more than doubled in the first four years of Chávez's presidency, relative to the four years prior to his presidency. Also, the interdiction of heroin more than tripled in this time period. Robert Charles, Sub-Secretary of State for International Narco-trafficking Affairs stated in 2003, 'Venezuela has achieved notable advances in the interdiction of drug trafficking... The confiscation of illegal drugs has increased drastically.' Additionally, a US report evaluating 195 countries in the fight against narco-trafficking that same year states, 'the levels of heroin confiscation have remained the same as those in 2002, in half a ton, the highest level in South America for the fourth consecutive year.'

According to the Venezuelan government's own sources, 58.5 tons of cocaine, 18.3 tons of marijuana, 869 pounds of heroine and 766.7 pounds of crack were intercepted in 2005, which representing an 87% increase from the previous year.

New legislation has corresponded with the increased vigilance. In 2005, Venezuela passed the Organic Law Against Illicit Traffic and Consumption of Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, as well as the Organic Law Against Organized Crime. These laws stipulated that those who traffic drugs will be subject to six to eight years in prison. The punishment will be increased if the offender is a government official, a member of the National Guard, or a judicial authority. Under the new laws, 60 anti-drug officers were fired this year, after charges of mishandling or losing confiscated drug supplies. Luis Correa reported that, 'they ordered a complete cleanup of the CICP anti-drug squad.'

Last year, as cooperation was suspended with the DEA, Venezuela signed multilateral agreements with France, Spain, and Colombia to develop more effective collaboration against drug trafficking. This year, as the US Congress passed Resolution 400, foreign officials from Britain, the Netherlands, and Spain congratulated Caracas for successfully challenging drug smuggling operations".