Obama Curtails Successful Drug Interdiction Program

Monday, March 23, 2009 10:50 AM

By: Kenneth R. Timmerman




The State Department has turned down an offer by the government of El Salvador to renew a joint drug interdiction program that allows the U.S. Navy to base P-3 maritime search aircraft at Comalpa International airport in El Salvador.


The 10-year agreement, which went into force after the Salvadoran legislature approved it in 2000, is set to expire next year. The Office of National Drug Control Policy recently estimated that more than half of the drugs destined for the United States pass through the Pacific corridor patrolled by the P-3 aircraft based in El Salvador.


“El Salvador has been our staunchest anti-drug ally in the region, outside of Columbia,â€