Beginning Sunday, Brazil's air force will be allowed to shoot down small airplanes suspected of carrying drugs under a new law meant to reduce the flow of cocaine coming into the country at hidden landing strips in the vast Amazon rainforest. Only Colombia has a similar law. Peru shot down suspected drug airplanes but stopped after downing an airplane carrying two Americans in 2001. Brazil's law was signed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in July and has 90 days to take effect, giving the government time to inform Brazilians and neighbors. "Neighboring countries already are informed, and the criminals have been warned," Defense Minister Jose Viegas said. Viegas dismissed fears that innocent victims could be killed, saying a wide range of precautionary procedures must be taken before a pilot will get authorization to attack. Brazil is not a major drug producer but is a big transit point for cocaine headed to markets in Europe and the United States.
