Costa Rica Disappointed
By U.S. Anti-Drug Aid
Package
The Costa Rican
government on Wednesday
voiced discontent with a
recent U.S. anti-drug
aid package, saying the
money is far less than
what the country needs
to combat drug
trafficking.
The us$4.2 million
dollar-aid, provided by
the United States under
the anti-drug initiative
called "Merida," is not
even enough to buy an
anti-drug vessel, said
the ministra de
Seguridad Pública,
Janina del Vecchio.
"I don't understand why
the United States gave
us so less money to
fight drug traffickers,"
she said.
The Costa Rican
government needs help
from its allies,
especially Spain, to
carry on its anti-drug
campaign, said the
minister.
In June, the U.S. Senate
approved a us$1.6
billion, three-year
package of anti-drug
assistance to Mexico,
Central America and the
Caribbean, known as the
Merida Initiative.
The package was signed
into law by U.S.
President George W. Bush
on June 30.
Costa Rica and the
United States started
joint anti-drug
operations and patrols
in 1993. A large amount
of drugs originated in
Colombia have been
confiscated since then.
Costa Rican police
seized a total of over
30 tons of drugs since
May 2006, when Oscar
Arias took office.
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