I'm starting to understand!! They've rolled up the permit and they're using it to clean up all of the extra dust - well who am I to judge? Maybe it'll help them work a little faster down there:

Cocaine traffic in Venezuela in 2007 doubled compared to 2004

"A permissive and corrupt environment in Venezuela, coupled with counternarcotics successes in Colombia, has made Venezuela one of the preferred routes for trafficking illicit narcotics out of Colombia," claims a US report

Authorities claim that Venezuela fights more efficiently drug trafficking without US aid (Photo: F. Builes / Reuters)

Related Articles

• Venezuelan authorities vow to keep anti-drug efforts
• Venezuela denies increase of drug transit towards US

Country REYES THEIS
EL UNIVERSAL

According to the government of the United States, 116 metric tons of cocaine has been smuggled through Venezuela in January-June 2008. In contrast, US authorities estimate that 57 MT were smuggled in 2004; 136 MT in 2005; 170 MT in 2006 and 256 MT last year.

The drug trafficking data were gathered in the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report 2008, prepared by the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, from the US State Department. The document was obtained by El Universal and comprises some of the figures that US Drug Czar John Walters wanted to show to Venezuelan authorities, who have refused to meet with him.

According to the figures provided by the US government, which were obtained from the Consolidated Counterdrug Database (CCDB), cocaine smuggling through Venezuelan territory has increased almost fourfold over the past five years.

As for the type of transport used to take cocaine out the Venezuelan territory, the report states that records show that air transport of cocaine has increased 16 times in the past five years, while the drug flow by maritime routes has increased twice in the same period.

Irregular flights
The US authorities keep comprehensive data of the aircraft suspected of carrying drugs in the region. According to reports, "Colombia has regained control of its airspace." This has led to "a transfer to Venezuela of the transit routes related to the flow of drugs."

According to US records, there has been a tenfold increase in non-commercial flights carrying cocaine from Venezuela.

The main destination of the 220 flights that allegedly transported cocaine in 2007 was the Dominican Republic (117), followed by Mexico (26) and Haiti (17). From these countries, the drug is shipped to the United Stated or Europe.

On the other hand, the report claims: "A permissive and corrupt environment in Venezuela, coupled with counternarcotics successes in Colombia, has made Venezuela one of the preferred routes for trafficking illicit narcotics out of Colombia".

The report says that "Venezuelan police and prosecutors do not receive sufficient training or equipment to carry out counternarcotics investigations properly" and adds: "Due to the lack of effective criminal prosecutions, politicization of investigations and high-level corruption, the public has little faith in the judicial system." "Within this environment, organized crime flourished, while small seizures and arrests are limited to low-level actors."

The information handled by the United States with regard to drug trafficking in Venezuela contrasts with the information reported by the Venezuelan authorities, who have said, according to the Vice President, Ramón Carrizález, that Venezuela fights more efficiently drug trafficking without the aid from the US.