U.S. Department of State
1997 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, March 1998

Released by the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC, March 1998

INTERNATIONAL TRAINING

International anti-narcotics training is managed and funded by INL, and carried out by the DEA, US Customs Service, and US Coast Guard. Major objectives are: contributing to the basic infrastructure for carrying out counternarcotics law enforcement activities in countries which cooperate with and are considered significant to US narcotics control efforts; improving technical skills of drug law enforcement personnel in these countries; and increasing cooperation between US and foreign law enforcement officials. Over 8,250 persons participated in the US Government's international narcotics control training program in FY 1997, an increase of approximately 1,500 persons from FY 1996. Included in this total were individuals trained by DEA using funding from the Department of Justice's Asset Forfeiture Fund.

INL training continues to focus on encouraging foreign law enforcement agency self-sufficiency through infrastructure development. The effectiveness of our counternarcotics efforts overseas should be viewed in terms of what has been done to bring about the establishment of effective host country enforcement institutions, thereby taking drugs out of circulation before they begin their journey toward the US. US law enforcement personnel stationed overseas are increasingly coming to see their prime responsibility as promoting the creation of host government systems which are compatible with and serve the same broad goals as ours.

During FY 1997, law enforcement training continued to devote increased attention to the development and support of infrastructure building in those countries which posed the greatest threat to the US as a result of their role as source or transit countries for narcotics destined for the US. INL received positive feedback both from US Embassies and foreign governments on the direct benefits gained from this training, including the discovery of illegal narcotics as a result of techniques learned during a program.

INL-funded training will continue to support the major US and international strategies for combating narcotics trafficking worldwide. Emphasis will be placed on contributing to the activities of international organizations, such as the UNDCP and the OAS. Through the meetings of major donors, the Dublin Group, UNDCP and other international fora, we will coordinate with other providers of training, and urge them to shoulder greater responsibility in providing training which serves their particular strategic interests.

INL will maintain its role of coordinating the activities of US law enforcement agencies in response to requests for assistance from US Embassies. This will avoid duplication of effort and ensure that presentations represent the full range of US Government policies and procedures.

Training Statistics

Other US Assistance Provided

Section 489 (b)(2)(B) requires the INCSR submission to include a report specifying the assistance provided by the United States to support international narcotics control efforts. In addition to the budget for INL, which is provided in the Executive Summary, the report is also to include information on assistance provided or to be provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the US Customs Service, and the US Coast Guard to various countries, and information on any assistance provided or to be provided by such governments to those agencies. This information has been prepared by the three agencies and is provided in this section.

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