The President denied certification to Colombia on March 1, 1996, because the efforts of Colombia's honest police, military, prosecutors, and government officials were being undermined by corruption at the highest levels of the Colombian government and its congress. The challenge the United States confronted was to find a way to maintain pressure on a president believed to be influenced by drug traffickers, while also supporting constructive drug law enforcement efforts. The United States strategy has been to maintain support for essential counternarcotics programs and institutions in Colombia. The United States has also pressed the government to take specific policy and legislative actions to strengthen law enforcement and judiciary. The United States also sought continued law enforcement and judicial action against drug traffickers; their prosecution, conviction, and sentencing to appropriate prison terms; the dismantling of their organizations; and the forfeiture of their front companies and proceeds. Progress has occurred in some of these areas. However, the Colombian government has failed to follow through on promised counternarcotics action. Nevertheless, at the operational level, counternarcotics cooperation with the Colombian National Police, the Prosecutor General's Office, and the elements of the military remains good. However, the continuing expansion of Colombia's coca crop points to one of the greatest challenges of the future.