INCSR report for 2008

The State Department’s 2008 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) is now out.

From the Introduction:

The following major illicit drug producing and/or drug-transit countries were identified and notified to Congress by the President on September 14, 2007, consistent with section 706(1) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228):

Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Burma, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela.

Of these 20 countries, Burma and Venezuela were designated by the President as having “failed demonstrably” during the previous 12 months to adhere to their obligations under international counternarcotics agreements and take the measures set forth in section 489(a)(1) of the FAA. The President also determined, however, in accordance with provisions of Section 706(3)(A) of the FRAA, that support for programs to aid Venezuela’s democratic institutions is vital to the national interests of the United States.

Other highlights:

• Last year, I noted how coca cultivation in Colombia had increased significantly between 2005 and 2006. In the report this is portrayed simply as the result of increasing the survey area. The 2007 net cultivation numbers are not given, and I cannot find the explanation for why that is the case, though it must be in there somewhere
• Bolivia comes out quite favorably, though I must say it seems odd to tout the use of the DARE program there, especially since it was even dropped from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School system because it doesn’t work
• Ecuador—and even Rafael Correa specifically--is also discussed in very positive terms. Side note: contrary to initial reports about cooperation, Correa has recalled his ambassador from Colombia in protest of the operation that killed Raul Reyes.
• Even Cuba comes out looking pretty good
• The Mexico section is a pure lovefest
• The language on Venezuela is even more scathing than last year:

Venezuela is a major drug-transit country with rampant high level corruption and a weak judicial system. Lack of international counternarcotics cooperation and a shift in trafficking patterns through Venezuela enable a growing illicit drug transshipment industry. Despite continued USG efforts to sign a mutually agreed upon addendum to the 1978 USG-Government of Venezuela (GOV) Bilateral Counternarcotics Memorandum of Understanding, Venezuela has refused to cooperate on most bilateral counternarcotics issues. Consequently, the President determined in 2007, as in 2006 and 2005, that Venezuela failed demonstrably to adhere to its obligations under international counternarcotics agreements.

• There is an interesting little nugget in the section on Uruguay: “free trade zones afford relative anonymity for the movement of cargo, including illicit substances.” In other words, the U.S. government is saying that the proliferation of free trade also encourages drug trafficking?