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 Other Presidential Documents time. The customs service was privatized to maximize efficiency and bol- ster interdiction efforts. In November 1999, the Ecuadorian Congress passed a new criminal procedural code, intended to alter the country's criminal justice system from a secretive, inquisitorial to an open, accusatorial system similar to the U.S. model. In addition, the GOE published a five-year counter-drug strategy which clearly identifies the roles and responsibilities of relevant GOE agencies in the fight against international drug trafficking. The GOE also increased its commitment to regional interdiction efforts, most visibly in November 1999 when the GOE and the USG completed a 10-year agreement permitting U.S. regional counter-drug detection and monitoring missions to operate from an EcuadorJan air force base in Manta. The GOE also completed a }oint Information Coordination Center 0ICC) in Guayaquil, and plans to integrate this center with the national anti-drug di- vision headquarters. Guatemala In \177999, President Arzu continued to implement the peace accords that ended 36 years of internal conflict. Government of Guatemala (GOG) efforts are now focused on combating violent crime, organized crime and other do- mestic problems. The GOG fully cooperated with the United States in com- bating counter-drug trafficking in Guatemala and elsewhere in the region. Guatemala has taken steps to implement, at the operational level, the provi- sions of the \177988 UN Drug convention. However, legislative support for ratification of a full maritime counter-drug agreement and adoption of money laundering legislation has not yet been obtained. Guatemala's location, scarce law enforcement resources, and a weak judi- ciary and penal system permitted its continued use by traffickers as a trans- shipment and storage point for cocaine destined for the United States via Mexico. Along with increased use of motor vehicle and container ship- ments, there has been an increase in airdrops of illicit drugs over Guate- malan territory for consolidation and transshipment. With USG assistance, the Department of Anti-Narcotics Police (DOAN) has stepped up training to develop air interdiction and related capabilities. The expanding self- funded port security program and the trained DOAN agents have made im- pressive seizures in the past year. The consolidation of the National Civilian Police (PNC) continues on track with full integration of the DOAN. The USG-trained DOAN seized over \1770 metric tons of cocaine in 1999. This year the drug prosecutor as- sistance program maintained its 90 percent conviction rate, with some traf- fickers receiving sentences of up to 20 years. Somewhat disturbing, how- ever, were several cases in which judges released suspected drug traffickers on questionable grounds. The new drug prosecutor's field office opened this year in Quetzaltenango accounted for \1770 successful prosecutions in \177999. Guatemala is a party to the \177988 UN Drug Convention, and most GOG law enforcement activities are fully consistent with its goals and obiectives. However, some of the convention's provisions have not been codified into law and regulations, including provisions on extradition and money laun- dering. The GOG does not encourage or facilitate illicit production or dis- tribution of illicit drugs or controlled substances. 367

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