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IV. Agency Budget Summaries

EMERGENCIES IN THE DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR SERVICE


  1. RESOURCE SUMMARY

  2. METHODOLOGY

    • The Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Service (EDCS) appropriation is used, in part, to fund the Counternarcotics Rewards Program. The amount budgeted for a given year is based on: outstanding cases that are pending payment of rewards, estimates of potential rewards that may be paid to informants who provide information on current counternarcotics targets, and the amount needed for publicity of counternarcotics targets.

    • Reward amounts are generally recommended by the overseas diplomatic post that refers a particular case for review by the Counternarcotics Rewards Committee. Factors determining the amount of a reward include, but are not limited to: the value of the information provided, the amount of risk taken by the informant, and the level of involvement by the informant in the arrest or conviction of the drug trafficker. The Committee may vote to approve, increase, or decrease the reward amount. The Committee's recommendation for a reward is approved by the Secretary of State for Management (for amounts over $100,000) or the Under Secretary of State (for amounts less than $100,000), with concurrence of the Attorney General.

  3. PROGRAM SUMMARY

    • The Department of State's Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) manages the Counternarcotics Rewards Program in close coordination with the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The Counternarcotics Rewards Program was established by Congress in 1986 as a tool to assist the U.S. Government in identifying and bringing to justice the major narcotics traffickers responsible for importing hundreds of tons of illicit drugs into the United States each year.

    • The Department of State's counternarcotics programs support Goal 5 of the National Drug Control Strategy, "Break foreign and domestic drug sources of supply".

    • The Emergencies in the Diplomatic and Consular Service Appropriation provides funds to support the program. Funds available under this appropriation provide rewards for information leading to the arrest or conviction of international narcotics traffickers, or for the frustration of narco-terrorism activities.

    • Authorization to make counternarcotics reward payments is detailed in Title 22, United States Code, Section 2708 (Sections 36 (b) and (c) of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, as amended), the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-690), and the International Narcotics Control Act of 1989 (P.L. 101-231). The latter legislation increased the individual ceiling on counternarcotics rewards to $2 million. INL's Counternarcotics Rewards Program supports the federal drug control priorities by strengthening international cooperation and actions against narcotics production, trafficking, and use.

  4. BUDGET SUMMARY

    1998 Program

    Goal 5: Break foreign and domestic drug sources of supply.

    • The 1998 program includes $1.5 million for international activities which support Goal 5 of the National Drug Control Strategy. This amount, which reflects an increase of $0.3 million over the FY 1997 actual level, provides funds to the Counternarcotics Rewards Program to make rewards payments, and support publicity efforts against major international narcotics traffickers.

    1999 Request

    Goal 5: Break foreign and domestic drug sources of supply.

    • The FY 1999 request includes $1.5 million for international activities which support Goal 5 of the National Drug Control Strategy. This request sustains the increase to this program which was enacted in FY 1998.

  5. PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS

    • From 1989 to the present, the Department of State has expended $2,050,000 for counternarcotics rewards. Three rewards, totaling $1.2 million were paid in FY 1997. Thus far in FY 1998, the Department of State is awaiting the concurrence of the Attorney General to provide rewards payments to three recipients totaling $1,325,000. Two of these rewards recipients provided information and assistance critical to the arrest and conviction of a Mexican narcotics trafficker, who was also on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Top Ten Most Wanted List. The third reward recipient provided key information and assistance that led to the arrest of a major Pakistani narcotics trafficker.

    • The Department of State continues to make progress in the development of publicity plans for rewards targets, using a variety of innovative approaches ranging from an Internet Home Page, public service announcements, and promotion of its program through other DEA and FBI activities. The Counternarcotics Rewards Program is fully integrated into a key interagency counternarcotics intelligence group focused on Latin America, as well as a similar group focused on Asia, and continues to promote vital information to enhance other law enforcement efforts.