General says US stops only a third of smuggled drugs

Only a third of illegal drugs smuggled from Latin America into the United States are seized by authorities because of a lack of resources, the head of the US Southern Command said Wednesday.

The one-third figure is based on an estimate from intelligence services that monitor ships and aircraft used for smuggling, General Douglas Fraser told reporters. He acknowledged that a more exact estimate would be difficult.

"Do we have enough interceptor vessels for the targets that we have," Fraser asked. "Right now, we do not."

Planes taking off with illegal drugs from South America land mainly in Honduras, but also in areas of Panama, he said.

Most of the drugs are transported on ships and submersible vessels, which unload their cargo in Central America and Mexico. From there, it continues overland into the United States, Fraser said.

About 90% of the cocaine reaching the United States passes through Central America and Mexico, he said.

Central American countries simply do not have the air forces capable of intercepting all the drug flights landing in their territory, he said.

At times, he said, "We know where they are and we could have intercepted if we had a vessel available."

The problem results partly from budgetary constraints in the United States at a time when some navy ships should be retired because of age, Fraser said.

However, he said Central American countries are increasing the resources they devote to fighting drug trafficking. The United States also has donated naval vessels to countries in the region to help them secure their borders.

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General says US stops only a third of smuggled drugs