[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 65 (Monday, May 14, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4883-S4884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRANSIT ZONE STRATEGY

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, as Chairman of the Senate Caucus on 
International Narcotics Control, I want to draw attention to our 
interdiction efforts throughout the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, 
commonly referred to as the ``transit zone.''
  Although Plan Colombia is our primary counterdrug operation in 
Colombia and the emphasis in the Andean region, commonly called the 
``source zone'', continued interdiction efforts in the transit zone are 
an important part of our overall ``defense-in- depth'' plan. I have 
noted for some time, however, that our defense in depth seems more like 
a defense in doubt. I want to be confident that the United States has a 
well-thought out, overarching national drug control strategy, involving 
all components of both supply and demand reduction, including 
eradication and fumigation, alternate development, trade incentives, 
interdiction, prevention, treatment, and education. I am very pleased 
the President is ready to appoint the new Director of the Office of 
National Drug Control Policy, ONDCP, to assist with reviewing our 
plans, programs, and strategy. But I am concerned that we lack coherent 
thinking on our interdiction efforts. I am concerned about rumblings 
from the Department of Defense, DOD, that it is going to duck and weave 
on supporting such a plan.
  I desire our interdiction efforts to be integrated and balanced, both 
interagency and internationally, as well as between the source zone, 
transit zone, and arrival zones. We need balance, within the transit 
zone, between the Caribbean and the Eastern Pacific, as well as balance 
with in the eastern, central, and western portions of the Caribbean 
itself. We need to have adequate intelligence community and DOD support 
for both the source zone and the transit zone. We need to be balanced 
between our air and maritime interdiction efforts. We need to be 
equally dynamic and risk adverse as the smuggling organizations are, 
when route and conveyance shifts are detected. Our counterdrug forces 
on patrol should also be aware of the terrorism threats that are 
increasing focused against our country. It is not clear to me that we 
currently have these things I have outlined.
  The Senate Drug Caucus is planning an upcoming hearing on the Transit 
zone on May 15, 2001 to discuss the broader questions of ``What is our 
transit zone strategy?'' and ``Do we have a balanced approach in the 
transit zone?'' I hope for a discussion on the current threat, agency 
capabilities, current shortcomings, the relationship with the source 
zone and Plan Colombia, the projected future threat, any needed 
improvements, interagency and international relationships, and DOD and 
intelligence community support to our transit zone operations. I am 
especially concerned about reports of aging aircraft and vessels in the 
both the Customs Service and Coast Guard fleet inventories. I am also 
particular interested in the countries of Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, 
Venezuela, Mexico, and the Bahamas, as well as the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico. Success in the transit zone is so critical for both the 
United States as well as the many countries throughout the Caribbean, 
who are so dependent on trade and

[[Page S4884]]

tourism, and who struggle to avoid the dark influences of the narcotics 
threat.
  I want to be sure we are doing our transit zone missions effectively 
and competently. I appreciate the difficult task of foreign 
investigations and interdiction, and appreciate the daily efforts of 
the Customs Service, Coast Guard, Drug Enforcement Administration, 
Department of Defense, Department of State, and our international 
allies. The mission is an important one and deserves our serious 
attention and sustained effort.

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