State/INL Laos Program

Funding FY 2005-2012:

• FY 2005 - $1,984,000 (INCLE*)
• FY 2006 - $990,000 (INCLE*)
• FY 2007 - $900,000 (INCLE*)
• FY 2008 - $1,567,000 (INCLE*)
• FY 2009 - $1,000,000 (INCLE*)
• FY 2010 - $1,000,000 (INCLE*)
• FY 2011 - $1,000,000 (INCLE*)

*INCLE: International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement Funds

Program Goals:

• The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) counternarcotics program has been in existence since 1989, at which time Laos had approximately 42,000 hectares under opium cultivation.
• In 2009, according to the annual UNODC opium survey, the area under opium cultivation in Laos was estimated at 1,900 hectares, up from an approximately 1,600 hectares in 2008. While this slight increase is worth watching, the area under cultivation in 2009 still represents a 95% reduction since 1989.
• INL’s ongoing counternarcotics program in Laos focuses on alternative development, demand reduction and training for counternarcotics law enforcement.
• In addition, from FY2011 onward Laos program is increasingly focused on broader law enforcement and justice sector capacity-building.

Program Components/Accomplishments:

• INL’s programs have coincided with significant gains by the Government of Laos (GOL) in poppy elimination, bringing them closer to the threshold required remove Laos from the President’s list of major illicit drug producing and drug-transit countries (the Majors list).
• FY 2009 and FY 2010 funding supports continued work with the GOL to train counternarcotics law enforcement units, provide alternative livelihood assistance for villages in northern Laos, and sustain drug treatment and rehabilitation programs. Two training courses for justice sector officials (e.g. judges and prosecutors), and a rural basic legal education program are also planned.