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and high rates of unemployment and underemployment are pushing greater numbers of people into the underground economy, including illegal activities. In some depressed areas Of the country, the cultivation of illicit crops and narcotics trafficking may be seen by many as their only
only alternative, leading them to resist GOM efforts to suppress such activities. Evidence indicates that production of illicit crops has spread to non-traditional growing areas in Michoacan, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Veracruz and Sonora. End Summary.
five The
The Mexican Attorney General's Office (PGR) has ordered 14 new Bell 206B helicopters to support the aerial eradication program. Three units were delivered to the PGR in June; are supposed to be delivered in July and six in August. PGR will pay
pay for
for these aircraft with a special supplemental appropriation to its budget. The PGR will also purchase armor plate, radios, wirecutters and spray connections for all of the new helicopters. The spray ships will be equipped with spray booms and tanks already on hand.
is
The 1987 Special Fall Eradication Campaign, Pacifico VIII, currently scheduled to run from late summer until next February or March, with 15 pairs of
pairs of spray/cover
spray/cover helicopters committed to the campaign. Seven more teams will be added once the new Bell 206B helicopters become available. The major focus of the campaign will be the traditional growing states of Sinaloa, Chihuahua, Durango, Nayarit and Guerrero. However, the PGR has expanded the territory covered under Pacifico VIII to newer growing areas in Michoacan, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Veracruz and Sonora. INM is assisting the campaign by providing support equipment, procuring herbicides, and funding physical improvements to main and forward helicopter bases.
The 1987 fall aerial survey will cover areas in the State of Guerrero not photographed in 1986. A ground truth mission is planned for the Veracruz region. INM will modify a PGR King Air 200 airplane and purchase an aerial camera for the plane. The U.S. intends to demonstrate the Biovision and
and Pathlink systems for verifying plant destruction. If work on the King Air 200 is not completed by October, INM plans to hire a private firm to conduct the survey as was done in 1986.
In June, the Narcotics Assistance Unit (NAU) delivered to the PGR a draft "request for proposal" for the 1988 maintenance contract. The draft amends the existing contract to give the contractor more effective supervisory authority and control over aircraft maintenance activities. Proposed amendments to the current contract include: (a) giving the contractor control over the spare parts inventory; (b) installing a computer at the Mexico City hanger for inventory control, parts