The following is from http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/cngrtest/ct101002a.html which contains

Statement of
Rogelio E. Guevara
Chief of Operations
Drug Enforcement Administration
Before
House Committee on International Relations
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
October 10, 2002

Executive Summary

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The political structure in Guatemala is fluid, resulting in a lack of stability for Guatemalan law enforcement. Since January 2000, Guatemala has seen four different Ministers of Government, seven Policia Nacional Civil (Guatemalan National Police (PNC)) Directors, and at least nine Departamento de Operaciones Anti-Narcoticos (DOAN) Comisario Generales. (The DOAN is the section within the Guatemalan Treasury Police dedicated to counter-narcotics and is DEA Guatemala's direct counterpart.) This lack of continuity has made it very difficult for the DEA to establish effective working relationships with the individuals in these positions.

Although various high-level officials have pledged to engage the counter-drug effort, they have been unable to affect or control the deep seated and well-entrenched culture of corruption that exists within the PNC and the DOAN. Corruption within the DOAN became so intolerable that, in April of 2002, the force was reduced from 650 to 140 members. The criminal behavior of the DOAN far exceeded bribery -- it had become as grievous as kidnapping and murder. The impact of this situation on DEA counter-drug efforts in Guatemala is obvious. Counter-drug operations are constantly under threat of being compromised. DEA has had to be very judicious in sharing of intelligence and operational leads with host nation counterparts, for fear of compromising the information.

Persistent and worsening corruption limits the ability of the DEA to work closely with our host nation counterparts. Monetary assistance for the DOAN and PNC from the U.S., as well as other foreign governments, has been curtailed sharply. The U.S. Government has completely stopped funding the DOAN with money for training, equipment and operations. Nevertheless, a relationship does exist. The PNC has been generally cooperative and supportive of DEA's efforts.

Judges and prosecutors are routinely bribed. Judges have compromised search warrant operations by revealing the impending operations to targeted narco-traffickers and have taken large sums of money to dismiss court cases against narco-traffickers. In 2001, for example, Judge Delmi Castaneda accepted thousands of dollars to dismiss a criminal case against narco-traffickers. The judge was observed meeting with and transporting the defendants in her own car. Although she has lost her judgeship, there has yet to be a successful arrest or prosecution against her.

Prosecutors are reluctant to vigorously pursue criminal cases because they fear being compromised at every level. Police officers are mistrustful of their peers because corruption is pervasive within their ranks. The courts, the prosecutors and the police are afraid of compromise, and all are without mutual support of each other. The result is an almost complete refusal by any of these three entities to effectively engage in the counter-drug mission.

Issues of corruption and involvement in narco-trafficking have long existed in the Guatemalan military, as well. Even within the ranks of the military, there is considerable mistrust because of the trafficking activities of some of the armed forces. This has hindered the anti-narcotics efforts of legitimate members of the Guatemalan military.

The situation in Guatemala has made it very difficult for the DEA to conduct counter-drug operations. Complicated, protracted drug investigations being conducted in this country with local law enforcement have effectively stopped.

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