Volume I Drug and Chemical Control

El Salvador

I. Summary

El Salvador is a transit country for narcotics, mainly cocaine and heroin. Illicit drugs that enter the country from South America make their way to the United States by land, eventually through Mexico. In 2006, the National Police (PNC) seized 445 kg (kg) of marijuana, 100 kg of cocaine, and 23 kg of heroin. Although El Salvador is not a major financial center, assets forfeited and seized as the result of drug-related crimes amounted to over $2 million. El Salvador is party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention.

II. Status of Country

Along with its Central American neighbors, El Salvador is a transit point for cocaine and heroin that flow through the Eastern Pacific and by land. El Salvador hosts a Forward Operating Location for trafficking detection and interception. Criminal youth gangs also plague El Salvador. While not deemed to be major traffickers, gangs retail drugs and provide "muscle" for protecting shipments. Precursor chemical production, trading, and transit are not significant problems in El Salvador.

III. Country Actions Against Drugs in 2006

Policy Initiatives. In 2006, the Government of El Salvador (GOES), in cooperation with the United States, Mexico, and other Central American countries, implemented Operation All Inclusive against trafficking along Central America's Atlantic and Pacific coastlines and money laundering operations. The Anti-Narcotics Division (DAN) of the National Civilian Police (PNC) also targeted overland transportation, commercial air, package delivery services, and maritime transportation in the Gulf of Fonseca. As a result of the operation, the PNC seized 12 kg of cocaine and arrested 12 individuals for trafficking offenses.

Accomplishments. Several significant developments during the year demonstrated the GOES commitment to the objectives of the 1988 UN Drug Convention. USG-supported Containerized Freight Tracking System (CFTS) at the Amatillo border crossing with Honduras permits the GOES to inspect commercial and passenger vehicles arriving from Honduras. In 2006, police at the CFTS inspected 1,750 commercial freight trucks, 4,748 passenger buses, and 7,680 passenger vehicles, and seized 13 kg of marijuana, seven kg of cocaine, and 10 kg of heroin. Police operations at the Amatillo border crossing resulted in the arrests of 28 individuals for trafficking offenses. In 2006, the National Police (PNC) seized a total of 445 kg (kg) of marijuana, 100 kg of cocaine, and 23 kg of heroin.

Law Enforcement Efforts. Law enforcement efforts in 2006 were primarily focused on priority targets of mutual interest to both the United States and the GOES. Salvadoran police investigators and prosecutors traveled to the United States on numerous occasions to share intelligence and coordinate operations. Policies initiated by the newly elected Salvadoran Attorney General, such as embedding prosecutors within police units, exponentially increased cooperation between prosecutors and the police over the previous year. The narcotics police are professionally competent, but their capabilities are hampered by a lack of resources and legal impediments against wiretapping.

Corruption. As a matter of policy, the GOES does not encourage or facilitate illicit production or distribution of narcotics or psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances, or the laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions. Under Salvadoran law, using one's official position in relation to the commission of a drug offense is an aggravating circumstance that can result in an increased sentence of up to one-third of the statutory maximum. This includes accepting or receiving money or other benefits in exchange for an act or omission in relation to one's official duties. The PNC's Internal Affairs Unit and the Attorney General's Office investigate and prosecute GOES officials for corruption and abuse of authority.

El Salvador is a party to the Inter-American Convention Against Corruption. Consistent with the country's obligations under that Convention, the law criminalizes soliciting, receiving, offering, promising, and giving bribes, as well as the illicit use and concealment of property derived from such activity. El Salvador is also a party to the UN Convention Against Corruption.

Agreements and Treaties. El Salvador is a party to the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances; the 1961 UN Single Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol; the Central American convention for the Prevention of Money Laundering Related to Drug-Trafficking and Similar Crimes; the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and its three protocols, and the 1988 UN Drug Convention. The current extradition treaty between the United States and El Salvador does not mandate the extradition of Salvadoran nationals. Negotiation of a new treaty has stalled in light of a Salvadoran constitutional ban on life imprisonment, which may prove an obstacle to extradition in some cases. Narcotics offenses are covered as extraditable crimes by virtue of the 1988 UN Drug Convention.

Cultivation/Production. Small quantities of poor quality marijuana are produced in the mountainous regions along the border with Guatemala and Honduras for domestic consumption. There is no evidence of coca or poppy cultivation.

Drug Flow/Transit. Cocaine and heroin from Colombia typically transits El Salvador via the Pan-American Highway and maritime routes off the country's Pacific coast. Most drugs transiting terrestrially are carried by commercial bus passengers in their luggage. Both heroin and cocaine also transit by go-fast boats and commercial vessels off the Salvadoran coast.

Domestic Programs (Demand Reduction). The GOES manages its demand reduction program through several government agencies. The Ministry of Education presents lifestyle and drug prevention courses in the public schools, as well as providing after school activities. The PNC operates a D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program modeled on the U.S. program. The Ministries of Governance and Transportation have units that advocate drug-free lifestyles. The Public Security Council (Consejo Nacional de Seguridad Publica) is actively involved in demobilization and substance abuse prevention within Salvador's gang communities.

The USG-supported Salvadoran NGO FundaSalva works with the GOES to provide substance abuse awareness, counseling, rehabilitation, and reinsertion services (job training) to the public. In 2006, FundaSalva provided demand reduction services to over 2,301 individuals. The USG also sponsors the U.S.-based "Second Step" program. Second Step is taught in first grade and assists teachers to identify antisocial behavior that later leads to substance abuse and violence. Other less comprehensive demand reduction programs exist, and they are usually faith-based and run by recovering addicts or religious leaders.

IV. U.S. Policy Initiatives and Programs

Policy Initiatives. U.S. assistance primarily focuses upon developing El Salvador's law enforcement agencies and on increasing the GOES ability to combat money laundering and public corruption, and ensuring a transparent criminal justice system. From September 28 to October 7, 2006, the DEA country office, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), and police and naval forces from Guatemala and El Salvador, conducted a combined maritime operation to disrupt trafficking operations off the littoral coasts of Central America. The operation resulted in the seizure of eight kg of cocaine and the arrest of 22 individuals for trafficking offenses.

Bilateral Cooperation. The United States provided funding for operational support of Grupo Cuscatlan and the high-profile crimes unit (GEAN) within the Anti-Narcotics Police. The United States also funded training and travel related to airport security, money laundering, maritime boarding operations, and anti-gang measures. Drug Enforcement Administration officers work closely with the PNC counternarcotics unit, the PNC financial crimes unit, the Financial Investigations Unit of the federal prosecutor's office, and the federal banking regulators on issues relating to drug trafficking and money laundering. El Salvador has benefited from several USCG courses including the Maritime Boarding Officer Course and the International Maritime Officer's Course. Additionally, they hosted a regional, multi-national Port Security / Vulnerability mobile training team course in which eight other countries participated.

Road Ahead. The United States will continue to provide operational and training support to Salvadoran law enforcement institutions, with an emphasis on improving intelligence, investigations and prosecutions leading to convictions. Increased integration of police and prosecutors' work will enable El Salvador to increase convictions, as will increased use of evidence tools, such as fingerprint analysis and case databases to solve crimes. Sharing information among law enforcement and financial institutions will help El Salvador to facilitate money laundering and trafficking investigations. In the coming year, El Salvador will also be an active participant in the regional anti-gang program.