§2291–4 Official immunity for authorized employees and agents of United States and foreign countries engaged in interdiction of aircraft used in illicit drug trafficking

Summary

Allows authorized foreign officials, including their military, to stop, damage, disable, or destroy an aircraft in that country’s territory or airspace when they reasonably suspect the plane is mainly being used for illegal drug trafficking. The U.S. President must have told Congress within the past 12 months that such interception is needed because of an extraordinary drug threat to that country and that the country has rules to protect innocent people, including clear ways to identify and warn an aircraft before force is used. U.S. personnel may help those foreign interdiction actions. The United States and its employees cannot be sued for money or other relief for providing that help. By February 1 each year, the President must report to Congress about the prior year’s assistance, listing certified countries and their drug threats, explaining safety procedures and training, describing the help given, and summarizing interception activity. Reports are unclassified but may have a classified annex; a different deadline applies for reports to intelligence committees. Definitions: "interdict/interdiction" = damage, disable, or destroy an aircraft; "illicit drug trafficking" = illegal trade in narcotics, psychotropic, and other controlled drugs as defined by international agreements the U.S. has joined or the country’s own laws; "assistance" = operational, training, intelligence, logistical, technical, and administrative help.