U.S. Embassy Donates 40 Vehicles Estimated at $1.2 Million to Bolivian Counternarcotics Programs

U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg observes as Minister of Government Alfredo Rada (center) and General Commander of the Bolivian Police Gen. Miguel Vasquez (right) show keys to 2 of the 40 vehicles donated

Consistent with its strong commitment to supporting Bolivia, the U.S. Embassy, through its Narcotics Affairs Section (NAS), today donated 40 pick-up trucks for use in the Bolivian Government’s counternarcotics programs. The Embassy also donated a computer lab with 27 computers for the National Police Academy (ANAPOL). The total for this donation is estimated at $1,200,000.

During the ceremony, U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia Philip S. Goldberg highlighted that this donation is another indication of ongoing U.S. Government cooperation with Bolivia in the areas of interdiction against drug trafficking, a net reduction in the raw materials used to produce cocaine, promotion of integrated alternative development, and a reduction of drug use in Bolivia.

U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia Philip S. Goldberg highlighted that this donation is another indication of ongoing U.S. Government cooperation with Bolivia in the areas of interdiction against drug trafficking

Of the 40 vehicles delivered in La Paz, 15 will be destined to the General Directorate for Integrated Development of Coca-Producing Regions (Digprococa), 10 to the Counternarcotics Mobile Unit of Rural Patrolling (UMOPAR), 5 to the Joint Task Force, 5 to the Ecological Police, 4 to the Police Training Program, and 1 to the Blue Devils Task Force.

These pick-up trucks are part of a donation of 90 vehicles to be delivered next year to counternarcotics programs in Cochabamba and Santa Cruz. The overall donation is estimated at over $2 million worth of vehicles.

Ambassador Goldberg explained that the support provided by NAS goes beyond the delivery of vehicles. It also extends to providing maintenance to hundreds of vehicles currently being used by Bolivian counternarcotics programs as well as for the purchasing of spare parts for those vehicles.

Ambassador Goldberg also stated that during the previous fiscal year, from October 2006 to September 2007, NAS paid over $1.8 million for the purchase of gasoline alone for the Bolivian counternarcotics programs vehicles. In the past 20 years, NAS has donated more than 1,400 vehicles to Bolivian

U.S. Embassy Donates 40 Vehicles

Government’s programs.

Along with the vehicle donation, Ambassador Goldberg also delivered a lab comprising 27 state-of-the-art computers for the National Police Academy. The equipment in this donation amounts to $40,000. The computers have internet access capability and will be used not only by police cadets, but also by other staff during periodic training courses.