Fact Sheet Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Washington, DC July 21, 2005 Counternarcotics and Law Enforcement Country Program: ArgentinaChallenges Argentina is a transit country for cocaine flowing from Bolivia, Peru and Colombia. Additionally, Argentina is a transit route for Colombian heroin en route to the U.S. East Coast (primarily New York). Due to its advanced chemical production facilities, Argentina continues to be a source for precursor chemicals. The fact that cocaine seizures are significantly up in 2005 compared with the same time period in 2004 illustrates both an increase in narcotics trafficking and the increased enforcement capabilities of Argentine law enforcement. There is also evidence that Colombian drug traffickers have increased their presence in all aspects of the Argentine drug trade, signaling a new chapter in the global war on drugs, as Colombian narcotics traffickers search out alternative bases of operations and transit routes in response to the increased pressure of Plan Colombia. These are indications that the situation in Argentina is at a pivotal point, but the Kirchner Administration and GOA law enforcement agencies are committed to combating the increased presence of narcotics traffickers in Argentina. Key U.S. Counternarcotics Goals
U.S. Programs The signing of a bilateral Letter of Agreement (LOA) in September 2004 has created a window of opportunity for greater cooperation on counternarcotics efforts between the USG and the GOA. The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) has worked effectively with our GOA counterparts to combat both narcotics trafficking and drug use. The USG support has enabled the DEA-funded Northern Border Task Force (NBTF) to become one of the most effective and successful counternarcotics groups in Argentina. Additionally, the USG continues to provide training to the GOA’s FIU to enhance its ability to investigate potential money laundering crimes, particularly those linked to counternarcotics. |