TALKING POINTS FOR ADDI COLOMBIA: THE NEW PRESIDENT AND HIS DRUG POLICIES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91B00874R000100240007-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 6, 2011
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: August 12, 1986
• Content Type: MISC

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/06: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100240007-9
12?August 1986
Talking Points for ADDI
The New President and His Drug Policies
All indications point to a commitment by President Virgili
con.tipued aggressive antinarcotics efforts.
-- Although he ignored narcotics in his campaign, Barco condemned drug
traffieking strongly in his inaugural address ast Thursday, and
he has expressed personal determination to combat the trade in
conversations with US officials.
-- He is very concerned about the nareoties_gnPrrilla connection,
especially in the southern and eastern Llanos (jungle) region where
many cocaine laboratories are located and the largest insurgent
group holds control.
-- Also of great concern are rising domestic drug abuse and continuing
trafficker threats--to government offi ials esn i llv iudePG
Barco wants to work closely with Washington, but will pay careful attention
to nationalist concerns. He faces controversy fanned by traffickers over
US-backed drug control and law enforcement efforts.
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-- Although public perception of narcotics as a US problem is changing,
traffickers have played on environmental fears to undermine su ort v('1fbI,-
for aerial marijuana eradic . Testing continues for an QM `^"
eT_fe_c_E-1ve -herbicide against coca.
wnicn ne signed as Ambassador to Washington in 1979. He may come 7'/"'
ur5der pressure to move for renegotiation; traffickers continue L~ a4y
efforts to intimidate or bribe judges and law enforcement officials. /7
A law passed last January toughens penalties for traffickers, but
is still untested in court.
-- The murder of a key Supreme Court justice by traffickers last month n
cou' d rekindle public support of government prosecution efforts, but w s5(
major traffickers will continue to use fear as a weapon against the
government. Barco has pledged to protect the judges, and will
probably ask for US.aid to upgrade security.
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/06: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100240007-9
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/06: CIA-RDP91 B00874R000100240007-9
The new President will probably continue or expand current eradication and
interdiction efforts. He wan o commit more resources to drug contro ,
and can be expected to ask for increased US assistance and training.
-- With no detailed strategy as yet, Barco will have to move fast to
avoid losing ground in programs started by Betancur. Appointments
to key law enforcement positions will be critical; two outgoing top
police officials have been particularly effective, and the caliber
of their replacements will have a direct impact on the new
government's drug control performance.
-- Barco will push for greater regional cooperation against drug
traffickers and insurgents, and will probably support US efforts to
establish a regional interdiction unit
Impact of Operation Blast Furnace
-- The new administration is likely to continue active cooperation with
Bolivia, and police officials may recommend participation in future
drug control operations there.
-- However, B,~arco is unlikely to allow a similar operation in C Lombi
Former President Betancur worried Blast Furnace could hurt bilateral
efforts, and Barco--who does not favor in-country training by US
t ops--shares widespread sensitivi y o use orce in
Co ombia. Top officials agree Blast Furnace was necessary, but say
the situation is different in Colombia.
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