GIBBONS BACKS DRUG WAR EFFORT

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., back from a weekend trip to
Colombia, said this week he is certain that cultivation of coca leaves used
to make cocaine will spread through South America if the United States does
not step up to help fight its production in the region.

Gibbons traveled to Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela along with five other
members of House and Senate intelligence committees to determine the
progress of Plan Colombia, a $1.3 billion package of U.S. military aid to
eradicate the drug trade.

The lawmakers met with U.S. military leaders and embassy officials and
leaders of the three countries. They also traveled into a region of
Colombia where 70 percent of the world's cocaine reportedly is produced.

"I'm convinced the narcotics problem in Colombia is going to spill over
into neighboring countries ... unless we do more than we are doing now to
attack the problem," Gibbons said Tuesday. "Our effort to supply technology
and training assistance is crucial to the Colombia effort, as well as the
Ecuador effort to stop narcotics trade."

Gibbons said it can be determined whether Plan Colombia is working if the
price of cocaine escalates.