where the main cocaine trafficking routes are located. As a result, this unit 

has a limited capability to stop vessels suspected of carrying illegal cargo 

and emigrants, according to U.S. and Haitian officials. At the time of our 

visit, this unit had 76 members, including 1 commander; 1 base located in 

Port au Prince; and 3 vessels. According to U.S. officials, this unit requires 

over 100 police officers, at least 3 bases, and more and better vessels to 

become an effective law enforcement organization.

Limited Investigative Capabilities

The United States helped Haiti improve the investigative capabilities of its 

police force by providing training, technical assistance, and donations of 

equipment. However, the current force has made little progress in 

improving its investigative capabilities. For instance, the judicial police, 

which is in charge of investigating many crimes, has only about 135 

officers, who have received little training on investigative techniques. 

According to Haitian officials, this unit would need about 500 officers to be 

fully operational. Within the judicial police, the antinarcotics unit is too 

small to be effective. Until September 2000, this unit had been without a 

leader for several months, and it consists of only 28 officers. Under an 

assistance agreement between the United States and Haiti, this unit was to 

have had about 75 officers. According to a Haitian official, it is not clear 

when Haiti will assign additional officers to the unit. The administrative 

police the majority of the regular police force receives only rudimentary 

training to protect crime scenes, although this force has a patrol function 

and is generally the first to arrive at a crime scene.

Recent Problems Raising 

Over the past year, several problems have arisen with the Haitian police 

Particular Concern

that have raised particular concern for U.S. and other donor officials. These 

concerns relate to the weakened position of the police Inspector General's 

unit, the inability of the police to deal with the growing drug trafficking 

threat, and the signs of politicization of the police force during this past 

year's extended election period.

In 1995, the United States helped Haiti establish an oversight structure to 

monitor the behavior of its police. However, over the past year the police 

oversight structure has been crippled by the unexpected departures of the 

Secretary of State for Public Security and the Inspector General of the 

police, according to U.S., Haitian, and other donor officials. These two 

positions are key to ensuring the internal accountability of the police force. 

According to the U.S. Department of State, groups reportedly associated 

with former President Aristide's political party mounted a public campaign 

calling for the resignation of the Secretary of State for Public Security. On 

October 7, 1999, the Secretary resigned from his position, which remains 

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GAO 01 24  Foreign Assistance