FIGHTING THE DRUG TRADE

To the Editor:

Re your May 10 and 11 front-page articles on the Dominican Republic, the
Dominican community in the United States and the drug issue: Less than 2
percent of people of Dominican origin living in the United States have been
involved in drug-related crimes. Unfortunately, Dominican migration to the
United States has, since 1965, coincided with the growing consumption of
drugs in the United States. Thus, unemployed youth found illegal income
opportunities in drug distribution.

As you note, two months ago the United States Government said the Dominican
Republic was cooperating closely on drug investigation matters with the
United States. While you quote a State Department official as saying that
under President Leonel Fernández "not a single drug-related case has been
prosecuted," drug-related arrests in 1997 exceeded 1,400, according to the
State Department.

A United States Embassy survey estimates that only 35,000 Dominicans are
users of cocaine and marijuana in my country -- less than 1 percent of our
population over 12 years of age, as compared with a 6 percent equivalent
figure for the United States.

BERNARDO VEGA Ambassador of Dominican Republic

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski