U.S. Senate Approves Aid Package to Help Fight Against Drugs in Colombia
June 22, 2000

– Bill Includes Feinstein Amendment to Create Registry to Curb Small Arms Trafficking –

Washington, DC – The U.S. Senate today approved the FY 2001 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, which includes a $934 million aid package for Colombia to help stem the flow of illegal drugs from South America.

The measure also includes a provision sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that would address the growing proliferation of small arms and light weapons in Colombia and surrounding nations by creating a serial number registry by the U.S. State Department to better track and dispose of those weapons.

“The situation in Colombia is not simply a problem in a far away land,” Senator Feinstein said. “The events taking place in Colombia have direct and severe repercussions for the United States and the rest of the world. Only with U.S. assistance will the Colombian government be able to eradicate and intercept the tons of illegal narcotics that leave that country each year bound for our shores.”

With regard to the small arms registry, Senator Feinstein said, “Colombia is awash in small arms and most of the weapons used by criminals, drug traffickers, narco-terrorists, and the paramilitaries are recycled from previous conflicts or from existing military stockpiles in the region. An effective strategy to stabilize the region and reduce the influence of the criminals, drug traffickers, narco-terrorists, and paramilitaries therefore must include the implementation of stringent controls on existing stockpiles and the destruction of surplus and seized stocks of small arms and light weapons. I am very pleased that this bill will do that.”