The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is under fire from a federal government watchdog for not reporting human rights abuses by its Latin American law enforcement partners in a timely manner. According to a memorandum from the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General, the DEA failed to disclose multiple instances where foreign officers admitted to using torture techniques, including waterboarding, suffocation, and electrocution, on crime suspects.

The Inspector General’s report centers on the DEA’s obligations under the Leahy Act, a U.S. law prohibiting the provision of foreign assistance to security forces that violate human rights. Law enforcement partners working with the DEA in combating drug trafficking are required to undergo vetting to ensure compliance with this law. However, the watchdog’s findings suggest the DEA did not report violations to the State Department, as required, in five separate cases.

One instance involved officers from a Central American nation admitting to waterboarding suspects and placing plastic bags over their heads to extract information. In another case, an officer used a Taser until suspects passed out or vomited. A separate case involved a South American officer who admitted to beating a suspect while they were handcuffed to a chair. Despite uncovering these violations, the DEA delayed reporting the incidents for months, only doing so after the Inspector General raised concerns.

The DEA has not issued an official response to the report but acknowledged during the audit that, at the time of the incidents, it lacked policies and training to ensure timely reporting of such violations. The agency has since updated its procedures to align with Leahy Act requirements and to ensure that future violations are reported promptly.

The findings raise serious concerns about the DEA’s oversight and accountability in its international operations, particularly as it works closely with foreign security forces in the global fight against drug trafficking. The report also comes on the heels of a separate investigation revealing that the DEA hired hundreds of agents and analysts who had either failed polygraph tests or provided disqualifying information during the hiring process, further highlighting concerns over the agency’s internal practices.

The Inspector General’s report underscores the importance of the DEA adhering to U.S. laws designed to promote human rights while engaging with foreign partners, calling for more stringent policies and better training to prevent further delays in reporting such violations.