USAID funds traced to Colombian drug traffickers and paramilitaries

Colombia is the largest recipient of US aid in the hemisphere – taking in over 6 billion dollars from the US government since 1999.  Most of it goes towards financing Colombian army efforts to disrupt cocaine trafficking networks.  But a small portion also goes to social and economic projects that are meant to wean farmers away from growing illicit crops like the coca leaf, the raw material of cocaine.  However, a report published recently by the The Nation claims that some of this aid money has ended up in the hands of businesses that belong to paramilitary leaders and alleged drug traffickers.  Investigative journalist - and FSRN contributor - Teo Ballvé wrote the report. He recently spoke to FSRN about his findings.