GAO Report on U.S. Assistance to Narcotics Control in Colombia and Bolivia Shows Enforcement Fighting a Losing Battle

In a report evaluating the effectiveness of assistance provided through the U.S. international narcotics control program, issued on November 1, 1988, the General Accounting Office (GAO) has found that, despite years of eradication and interdiction activities and significant U.S. assistance, U.S. and Colombian efforts to curb the flow of drugs have had limited success.  In fact, the GAO reports that since 1985 Colombia’s cocaine production potential has increased by 30 percent and net marijuana production has doubled.