  DOD. Mission Plans Describe Strategic Approaches for U.S. Counternarcotics Assistance to Andean Countries

Although no single comprehensive U.S. counternarcotics strategy exists  for the Andean region, mission strategic resource plans (MSRPs) for each  of the countries in the region delineate the strategic approaches guiding  U.S. counternarcotics assistance. Agencies Allotted Billions to Andean Countries for Counternarcotics Assistance in Fiscal Years 2006-2011

State, USAID, DOD, and DEA allotted a combined estimated total of  nearly $5.2 billion in counternarcotics assistance to Andean countries in  fiscal years 2006-2011. 2). 3.) As figure 4 shows,  each agency’s allotments decreased during this time period. State, USAID, and DEA Reported Meeting or Exceeding Many Targets, but DOD’s Reporting Has Been Unreliable

State, USAID, and DEA reported meeting or exceeding most of their  annual targets related to key counternarcotics performance measures in  the Andean countries, and each complied with the ONDCP requirement  that each agency obtain its IG’s attestation to the reliability of the  agency’s performance summary reports before submitting the reports to  ONDCP. Some of the achievements reported in these evaluations  include the following:    USAID’s alternative development program has met and surpassed  annual targets for voluntary eradication of illicit crops in Peru. In June 2012, DOD IG stated that it was unable to  attest to the reliability of DOD’s fiscal year 2011 performance report. Recommendation for Executive Action

To strengthen ONDCP’s ability to coordinate, oversee, and report to  Congress on U.S. counternarcotics assistance in the Andean countries,  we recommend that the Secretary of Defense ensure that DOD complies  with the ONDCP requirement to submit to ONDCP performance summary  reports that are accompanied by IG attestations of the reliability of the  information reported. We also interviewed officials from the  Department of State (State), the Department of Defense (DOD), the U.S.  Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Drug  Enforcement Administration (DEA). To describe the U.S. strategic approaches to counternarcotics assistance  in the five Andean countries, we examined multiple U.S. government  documents and interviewed U.S. government officials. We  reviewed department and agency planning, reporting, and budgeting  documents and obtained and reviewed the various strategy documents  produced by the United States that are the basis for overall drug control  efforts, such as the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s (ONDCP)  annual National Drug Control Strategy and the U.S. embassy’s mission  strategic resource plans for fiscal years 2007 through 2011. Each agency provided  funding data organized by country (Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and  Venezuela) and by fiscal year (2006-2011). DOD. DEA. To assess State, USAID, DOD, and DEA reporting on their performance  of counternarcotics activities in the Andean countries, we reviewed  agency planning and reporting documents related to counternarcotics  performance measures and targets. State  provided limited assistance In  Venezuela in fiscal years 2006  through 2011.
Why GAO Did This Study

Hundreds of metric tons of cocaine flow annually from South America to the United States, threatening the security and well-being of U.S. citizens. South American cocaine production and trafficking is centered in the five countries in the Andean region. State, USAID, DOD, and DEA provide counternarcotics assistance to stem production and trafficking of narcotics in these countries. ONDCP oversees and coordinates this assistance.
In this report, GAO (1) describes the U.S. strategic approaches to counter- narcotics assistance in the Andean countries; (2) identifies amounts allotted for such assistance by State, USAID, DOD, and DEA in fiscal years 2006 through 2011; and (3) reviews the agencies reporting on their performance. GAO reviewed agency and U.S. strategy documents, analyzed available agency data, and interviewed agency officials.

What GAO Found

No single U.S. counternarcotics strategy exists for the Andean region. In each countryBolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuelathe U.S. embassys mission strategic resource plan, developed in consultation with the countrys government, guides counternarcotics assistance provided by U.S. agencies. Department of State (State) officials told GAO that these plans incorporate high- level guidance from the Office of National Drug Control Policys (ONDCP) annual National Drug Control Strategy.
In fiscal years 2006 through 2011, estimated allotments for counternarcotics assistance to the Andean countries by U.S. agenciesState, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)totaled about $5.2 billion. Total allotments declined for each country during this time period.
State, USAID, and DEA reported meeting or exceeding most annual targets for key measures of their counternarcotics activities in the Andean countries since 2007. For instance, State reported assisting in the eradication of illicit crops, USAID reported promoting alternative development, and DEA reported disrupting drug trafficking organizations. In addition, State, USAID, and DEA complied with an ONDCP requirement that each agencys Inspector General (IG) attest to the reliability of annual performance summary reports before submitting the reports to ONDCP. DOD reported tracking several performance measures, but DODs IG was unable to attest to the reliability of DODs reporting to ONDCP. As a result, ONDCP lacks assurance of the accuracy of information it receives from DOD and in turn reports to Congress.

What GAO Recommends

The Secretary of Defense should ensure that DOD submits performance summary reports to ONDCP including the Inspector Generals attestation that the reported information is reliable to facilitate good management and oversight. DOD concurred with this recommendation.