DATE=2/3/97

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-209578

TITLE=U-S / PERU DRUGS (S-O)

BYLINE=DAVID GOLLUST

DATELINE=PENTAGON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: THE UNITED STATES AND PERU HAVE REACHED AN AGREEMENT IN

PRINCIPLE FOR STEPPED-UP U-S MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO HELP PERU

INTERCEPT DRUG SHIPMENTS ON THE SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY'S RIVERS.

THE TWO COUNTRIES ALREADY HAVE A SUCCESSFUL AIR INTERDICTION

PROGRAM. V-O-A'S DAVID GOLLUST HAS DETAILS FROM THE PENTAGON.

TEXT: PENTAGON OFFICIALS SAY PERUVIAN PRESIDENT ALBERTO FUJIMORI

APPROVED THE NEW EFFORT SUNDAY IN A MEETING WITH CLINTON

ADMINISTRATION ANTI-DRUG COORDINATOR BARRY MCCAFFREY. AND THEY

SAY THEY HOPE JOINT EFFORTS TO CURB RIVERINE DRUG TRAFFIC IN PERU

CAN BE UNDERWAY WITHIN A FEW MONTHS.

A PRELIMINARY PENTAGON PLAN CALLS FOR THE UNITED STATES TO

PROVIDE PERU WITH DOZENS OF PATROL BOATS, COMMUNICATIONS GEAR,

AND TRAINING FOR THE PERUVIAN POLICE AND MILITARY PERSONNEL WHO

WOULD ACTUALLY DO THE INCREASED RIVER PATROLLING.

PERU'S AIR FORCE -- GUIDED BY U-S RADAR SURVEILLANCE PLANES --

HAS FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS CONDUCTED AN AGGRESSIVE EFFORT TO

INTERCEPT AIR SHIPMENTS CARRYING RAW COCA FROM GROWING AREAS IN

BOLIVIA AND PERU TO COCAINE REFINING CENTERS IN COLOMBIA.

DEFENSE OFFICIALS SAY THE EFFORT HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT IT

HAS FORCED TRAFFICKERS TO SWITCH TO RIVER SHIPMENTS IN PERU'S

VAST NETWORK OF AMAZON TRIBUTARIES -- PROMPTING THE NEW EMPHASIS

ON RIVER INTERDICTION.

THE OFFICIALS SAY THE NEW PROGRAM COULD REQUIRE AN INCREASE IN

THE PENTAGON'S 180-MILLION-DOLLAR-A-YEAR ANTI-DRUG BUDGET FOR

SOUTH AMERICA BUT THEY ARE CONFIDENT OF CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT.

(SIGNED)

03-Feb-97 10:56 AM EST (1556 UTC)

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Source: Voice of America