U.S. - Colombia Team Up to Fight "Narco-Terror"

The National Guard is helping shut down illicit drug trafficking routes in South America through a unique linguistic program that has prevented the export of billions of dollars worth of cocaine.^[1]"

Since 2001, the Host Nation Rider Program has supported the Air Bridge Denial (ABD) Program which has basically closed down air trafficking of illicit narcotics," said LTC Roberto Vazquez, program manager, National Guard Host Nation Rider (HNR) Program.^[2]"We are forcing drug traffickers to find other means to export their drugs, costing them more time and resources."^[3]

The small team of airmen, based in Miami, act as liaisons and translators between the Colombian and United States Air Forces.^[4] By policy, a member of the host nation must be on board all aircraft that fly certain types of counter-drug missions. The Colombians and USAF share intelligence, making this a joint mission to end narco-terrorism.^[5]"Every year we see less and less aircraft transporting drugs," said LTC Vazquez.^[6] "We are a part of larger counter-narcotics effort that last year alone prevented $4 billion worth of cocaine from being distributed and abused around the world."^[7]

Colombia is known around the world for producing cocaine, and by preventing the use of aircraft for drug exportation, this program has made the business much less profitable.^[8] Closing down drug trafficking routes will also prevent weapons and human trafficking as well as any other transnational threats from leaving the country.^[9]

We have previously discussed “narco – terrorism” here.

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^[1] SSG Cheryl Hackley, Guard Members, Colombians Fight Together Against Drug Trafficking, GX Online, February 15, 2007.
^[2] Id.
^[3] Id.
^[4] Id.
^[5] Id.
^[6] Id.
^[7] Id.
^[8] Id.
^[9] Id.