According to Barry R. McCaffrey, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, a division of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, told the Dominican press that the Dominican banking system is not yet infected by drug trafficking and money laundering. He urged Dominicans to increase controls so that this does not occur in the future. Barry R. McCaffrey visited for 24 hours to promote an increase in cooperative efforts between the Dominican Republic and the United States to reduce the effects of drug consumption and sale on the populations of both countries. He explained that the drug world involves a vast power structure with branches that penetrate and corrupt business, banks, systems and governments. He estimates that some US$400,000 million a year in drug money is laundered not in banks, but rather through business and legitimate activities in the Caribbean, Mexico, Colombia and Panama. He explained the U.S. is increasing its drug consumption prevention efforts reaching out to young Americans. He said that drug consumption in the United States has dropped 50% in the past 10 years. He said that 15 years ago 14% of the population consumed drugs. This is down to 6% today. McCaffrey said that drug consumption in the Dominican Republic is approximately 1% of the population, and there are an estimated 35,000 addicts. He said the U.S. government will assist the Dominican authorities in all ways possible so that drug consumption does not go beyond that percentage. The US will spend US$16 billion in its efforts to combat drug consumption and trafficking. This budget will increase to US$17.1 billion for the next fiscal year. The U.S. consumes 24% of the cocaine sold in the world today, for instance. Some 13 million Americans spend US$70,000 million on drugs. McCaffrey says that the fight against drug trafficking is a commitment of all countries. He described Dominican drug trafficking combat efforts as "serious, honest, patriotic and delicate." During his visit he met with President Leonel Fernández, businessmen, congressmen and officers of the Consejo Nacional de Drogas, among others. He advocated that Dominican Congress pass legislation that permit more in depth and energetic actions on behalf of repressive organizations. McCaffrey says that the war against drugs will be won by legislators, not by the military. He advocates for the passing of bills that will support more in depth and energetic actions on behalf of national and international repressive organizations.
