Colombia Legislators Weaken Law Aimed at Drug Traffickers

A government crackdown on drug traffickers suffered a severe blow Tuesday when the Chamber of Representatives struck a key provision of a proposed anti-narcotics law.

The representatives voted 59-57 to amend the law, which is designed to simplify procedures for confiscating property bought with money obtained illegally--for instance, by narcotics trafficking. Under the new version, the law would apply only to goods and property acquired since 1991.

“They have left the law toothless,” Sen. Juan Camilo Restrepo said. “They have taken the law completely off track.”

The change infuriated Colombian senators, who last week passed the legislation as the administration proposed it--without excluding property bought before 1991.

Analysts said the lower house vote on the first law of a three-pronged package does not bode well for the government’s proposal to attack drug trafficking on all fronts: lengthening prison sentences, restoring extradition and moving more aggressively to confiscate properties owned by drug traffickers.

Popular sentiment here is that two of the three proposed laws must pass for the government to show critics that it is serious about toughening its stance against narcotics. U.S.-Colombian relations have been on a downward spiral in recent months, with Americans accusing Colombia of not cooperating in anti-drug efforts.

A joint committee will ultimately work out the differences in the Senate and Chamber versions and resubmit a compromise version to both houses of Congress.

However, the lower house vote could effectively kill the proposed law and ultimately sink the entire anti-narcotics package, analysts said.