U.S. Department of State

In response to a request from the Chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, OIG conducted a review following up on press reports that $2 million in U.S. aid to Colombian National Police (CNP) counternarcotics efforts was reported missing.

In August 2001, the Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS) of Embassy Bogot? issued a report to CNP that raised concerns regarding vendor invoices, including the identification of 15 vendors that NAS auditors believed had committed fraud. As of June 2002, NAS Bogot? auditors questioned approximately $1.7 million in expenditures, based on their review of CNP invoices submitted from January 2000 to April 2002. At that same time, NAS Bogot? refused to conduct business with CNP until it was reassured that the CNP officers implicated in the fraud were terminated. In September 2002, Embassy Bogot? reported that 16 officers had been removed from their positions.

As a result of the decision to dismiss the officers, NAS Bogot? resumed business with CNP and established a new agreement and procedures. Specifically, NAS Bogot? assumed direct responsibility for all procurement actions and limited the number and kinds of goods and services it finances. The procurement system now in place has adequate safeguards to prevent a recurrence of the fraud, according to the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs officials. Embassy Bogot? is working with the Colombian government to ensure that the officers who committed the alleged fraud are prosecuted. The Colombian government has criminal and administrative investigations under way. If the prosecutions are successful, the Department will attempt to recover the stolen funds from the guilty parties.