PRESS REVIEW ON THE DRUG SCENE IN COLOMBIA - JANUARY AND FEBRUARY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00380R000300060015-1
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 29, 2005
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: March 14, 1973
• Content Type: TELEGRAM

-- ,LatrcLo1+iiyn
ORIGIN/AC TION
Ap o
, -1b
P to-
s2- ,J
original to be Filed In Decentralised Fil.,.
UNCLASSIFIED
FILE DESIGNATION
A-57
.TO Department of State RECEIVED
DEPARTMENT Of E1 ATE
INFO: AMConsulates Cali, Medellin (by pw
~l 111
R$ /AN
ANALYSIS BRANCH
FROM AmEmbassy BOGOTA DATE: March 14, 1973
SUBJECT : Press Review on the Drug Scene in Colombia --
January and February
REF
WN
.-r
In
0S -TI U
Acti$a info. Initials
PA/ " X
x
The Embassy Narcotics Control Action Plan describes one of its
major goals in its campaign to stop the flow of narcotics to
the United States as "the development of an aerenesu of the
dangers of narcotics and dangerous drugs in Colombia . "
During the past several months we have reported steady progress
in the creation of such an awareness.
A USIS program of heavy media output and personal contacts with
media leaders to tell them of strong U.S. concern for the
growing amount of drug traffic passing through Colombia and
what we see as an increasing problem of drug abuse has been
highly successful. Combined with other Embassy activities,
growing official concern and a barrage of reporting from
international news agencies the USIS campaign has made drug
abuse and drug trafficking inescapable topics in the Colombian
media.
Previous reports have noted increasing media coverage of drug-
related events and some editorial pressure for stronger action
by the government to combat a growing trend. During this
reporting period there has been a quantum increase in reporting
and a sustained editorial effort on the part of many major
newspapers to alert their ream to the dangers of drugs.
Coverage of drug related matters has increased at least five-
fold during the January-February reporting period, and editorial
comment has become both more vocal and more insistent in pointing
out the problems and demanding solutions.
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
USIS: Robert Qzatten
sbG /!- S COL
Approved For Release 2005/04/21 : CIA-RDP75B0038OR000300060015-1
 Approved For Release 2005/04/21 : CIA-RDP75B0038OR000300060015-1
UNCLASSIFIED Bogota A-57
Page 2
Colombian Goverrdnent Polio
The January visit by Congressmen Morgan Murphy and Robert Steele
(CODEL MURPHY) spurred the Colombian government to publicly define
its policy on drug trafficking. Following a meeting with Cede&
Murphy, President Misael Pastrana announced the government's decision
to seriously enter into the fight against drug trafficking and drug
abuse. President Pastraraa announced the appointment of the Minister
of Justice, Miguel Escobar Mendez, as coordinator of all government
anti-drug activities and pledged that Colombia would utilize all its
resources to combat drug trafficking. The presidential message
was widely covered and praised editorially in most
El Colombia -ia of Medellin solemnly stated, "this fighmajor t does nots.
depend entirely on the authorities. The definite and sincere
cooperation of all the people is indispenslible for the campaign.
If not, the silence will be to the advantage of the trafficker. We
must act before it is too late." Cali's El Pais said, "undoubtedly
this is a transcendental campaign aimed aE-1-iberating especially youth from a growing menace." society and
A second important government measure was the introduction of new
and stronger legislation to combat drug trafficking. President Pastrana
had privately annazneed his intention to seek-new legislation but
the introduction of the bill during the special session of
Congress evidence of the high priority the government places on Congress was
The legislation has been passed by the House of Repr~esenntatives tatters.
will probably not be approved by the Senate before the session is
adjourned in mid-March.
The government's position was reiterated by the Minister of justice
during a graduation ceremony for 97 Colombian law enforcement officials
attending a special BNIX) narcotics investigation course.
Escobar cited the President's mess ~ 'en
ment coordinating , announced that the law nforce-
committees had been created, and that the government
had instructed law enforcement agencies to take the necessary steps
to insure effective action against the growing menace,
International Reputation
The capture of more Colombians in New York, Miami, New Orleans Puerto
Rico, Peru, Venezuela, and in Colombia has stimulated editorial comment
on Colombia's decaying international reputation An El Pais editorial
said, "ever hing indicatets that Colombia is t
. drug marketing. Bogota's Conservative labila
UNCLASSIFIED
Approved For Release 2005/04/21 : CIA-RDP75B0038OR000300060015-1
 Approved For Release 2005/04/21 : CIA-RDP75B00380R000300 1A 57
UNCLASSIFIED Page 3
reported that during the first fifty days of 1973 $65 million
worth of Colombian marihuana had been captured in the United
States, making marihuana Colombia's second largest export crop.
La Republica called for tighter controls to stop the "export"
of dangerous drugs.
El Siglo called it "a shameful record" and demanded more official
action to control the production and trafficking of illegal drugs.
An important aspect of growing public awareness is the realization
that drug abuse is a genuine local problem and one that is growing
rapidly. An El Pais editorial talking of the dangers for youth
said, "it is doing terrible danage to thousands of our school age
youth . . . we must immediately realize that and declare war without
quarter against this devastating menace."
E1 Siglo said, "obviously we are not refering to the export of
narcotics, in itself vituberative, but which in the end doen't
prejudice Colombians. We are worried about internal consumption
which is growing at an alarming rate."
Related Activities
Public awareness of the problem is also reflected in the activities
of organizations that until very recently were only marginally
involved in any drug related activities. The Ministry of Health
is now chairing a government level coordinating committee for non-
law-enforcement activities, and is drafting plans for a more effective
program to treat drug abusers. The Ministry is also. preparing
Spanish material on drug abuse for general distribution. The
Risaralda Regional Office of the Ministry of Health. has also pre-
pared and published a pamphlet on drug abuse which has been widely
circulated in schools and Mouth groups. The Centro Colombo American
in Bogota sponsored a three-day seminar on drug abuse which included
presentations by the National Police:., leading psychologists,.
psychiatrists, and former addicts. The seminar was well attended and
heavily publicized in all news media.
Law Enforcement Activities
The news media is pleased with an apparent increase in police activity
aimed at stopping drug trafficking. While figures.are not available'
for comparison, it looks as if the police have been more active. There
have been several arrests, seizures of large quantities of marijuana,
at least half a dozen seizures of cocaine and the discovery of one
major laboratory in the Cauca area.
Approved For Release 2005/04/21 : CIA-RDP75B00380R000300060015-1
 Approved For Release 2005/04/21 : CIA-RDP75B00380R000300O6AM-1_57
UNCLASSIFIED Page 4
The comparison has not been made in the press but the number of
Colombians arrested abroad and the amount of drugs decommissioned
in other countries is disproportionately higher than similar
seizures in Colombia.
The judiciary has been under att*ck in the press for its failure
to convict drug traffickers. An El Occidente story reporting
the seizure of a cocaine laboratory - and lU-Mos of cocaine
ended with the hone that "Justice will do its job, that the same
thing won't happen as has happened to so many traffickers.
they don't remain in jail."
Another story in El_ Tienpoo reported that of 292 persons arrested
in 1972 on charges of drug trafficking, not one of them remains
in jail today.
-%MMWZ
There exists a high degree of public awareness of the role
Colombia is playing in drug trafficking and of the dangers
that traffic represents for Colombia. More and more organIzations
are becoming involved in anti-drug efforts. Pressure on the
government for stronger and more efficient measures should
continue to mount.
El Colanbiano, the leading voice in the anti-drug campaign, has
declared drugs the most important social problem facing Colombia
and unflaggingly keeps up its battle. In El Colcmbiano's words:
"There is no alternative: either drugs orlife; courage or
cowardice; defeat or triumph."
Approved For Release 2005/04/21 : CIA-RDP75B00380R000300060015-1