The United States banned Colombia’s intelligence agency DAS and possible successors from receiving financial aid from funds intended to improve law enforcement and curb drug trafficking.
When approving the State Department’s Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2010, U.S Congress “prohibits the use of any funds appropriated by this Act or prior Acts for assistance for the Colombian Departamento Administrativo de Seguridad (DAS), similar to that proposed by the Senate. The conferees intend that, should the DAS be dismantled, such prohibition will also apply to any successor organization. The conferees are aware of reports that the DAS has repeatedly engaged in phone tapping, email interception, and other illegal activities against law-abiding citizens, including collusion with illegal armed groups.”
Several former directors and other officials of the DAS are currently being criminally investigated for ties to paramilitary organization AUC and the illegal wiretapping of government opponents. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe promised to dismantle the DAS and create a new intelligence agency.
Colombia will receive US$522 million dollars in 2010 from the U.S. Foreign Military Financing and Economic Support Fund.
