Drug Confiscations Drop in Cuba

Drug Confiscations Drop in Cuba
By ANDREA RODRIGUEZ
The Associated Press
Friday, March 2, 2007; 7:13 PM

HAVANA, Cuba -- Cuban authorities seized just 1.7 tons of narcotics in
2006, the lowest amount in 11 years, state media reported Friday.

The Communist Party daily Granma said the tally _ a bit more than half
the amount of illicit drugs seized on the island in 2004 _ is evidence
that interdiction plans are helping to keep narcotics out of Cuba.

The report said that 1,470 pounds of narcotics were recovered in dozens
of operations after they were dropped by air for fast boats waiting off
the coast of Cuba.

Cuban authorities say most illegal drugs are merely passing through on
their way to United States from South America.

The U.S. State Department on Thursday released its annual global survey
of anti-drug efforts. The report criticized Cuba for harboring drug
smugglers but recognized the island's interest in signing bilateral
anti-narcotics accords.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/02/AR2007030201293.html