I hope you are doing well. It is nearing the end of our capstone class and I have enjoyed it immensely. As I continue to work on this blog and put the final touches on it, I have realized how much I have used my field of employment to tie into my Communication Classes. It is apparent and obvious that communication plays a vital role in law enforcement, but even more so I have been able to apply what I am learning to the particular field and learn about different topics. This next paper that I will be posting is from my ENG122 class. It is a research/position paper on Reducing Drug Trafficking in the United States. Besides high school, I found this paper to be quite challenging and a paper in which I had to devote a lot of time researching for information. I learned to sort out the fluff and write about what was relevant and important to making my point. The most important lesson I learned from writing this paper is that it is important to have facts and accurate information to take a stand on an issue.
Reducing Drug
Trafficking in the United States
In the United
States, drug trafficking is a major problem. The U.S. Department of Justice
(2010), states “the availability of illicit drugs in the United States is
increasing” (p. 1). The United States receives many drugs all over the country.
Many countries are able to import their drugs to the United States. One country
in particular, that has a significant amount of drug trafficking is Mexico near
the Southwest Border. Mexico borders the United States and has easy access to
pushing drugs through. According to The
National Drug Threat Assessment (2010), Mexico has seen an increase in
production specifically with two drugs, Marijuana and Methamphetamine. (p.1).
The United States is continuously working on ways to reduce the flow of drug
trafficking. The United States has created policies and restrictions that have
been put into place to help reduce the problem. Working with Mexico and other
U.S. agencies as well as continued and increased enforcement will help decrease
the trafficking of drugs.
Marijuana and Methamphetamine
According to Drugs of Abuse (1997),“The term marijuana, as commonly used, refers
to the leaves and flowering tops of the cannabis plant” (p. 37). Marijuana is a
“green-leafy” plant that has a distinct smell. “Marijuana is usually smoked in
the form of loosely rolled cigarettes called joints or hollowed out commercial
cigars called blunts” (U.S. Department of Justice, 1997, pg. 37). Marijuana has
many different names that are common throughout the United States. Some names
are: Mary Jane, pot, and weed. Marijuana can be found throughout the United
States and is a popular drug among many. Some effects of marijuana include,
“increased heart rate, dryness of mouth, reddening of the eyes, impaired motor
skills and concentration, and frequently hunger and an increase desire for
sweets” (U.S. Department of Justice, 1997, pg. 38).
Methamphetamine
is a highly abusive drug and according to NIDA (2010),
Methamphetamine
is a central nervous system stimulant drug. Methamphetamine is also known as
“Meth.” Methamphetamine …is a white odorless, bitter-tasting powder taken
orally or by snorting or injecting, or a rock ‘crystal’ that is heated and
smoked. Methamphetamine affects the brain and creates “euphoria” to the user.
Since methamphetamine affects the brain, there are several serious problems
that can affect the brain. (p. 1-2)
According to the NIDA (2010), the long-term
use can actually change the way the brain functions (p. 2). This drug has many
other ways it can affect the user. Some of these negative effects are, “extreme
weight loss, severe dental problems (“meth mouth”), anxiety, confusion,
insomnia, mood disturbances, and violent behavior” (NIDA, 2010, p. 2).
It
is apparent that these two drugs can be highly addictive and it is important
that the United States continues to reduce the flow of trafficking with Mexico.
There are many negative side effects that will affect the user with continued use.
These drugs can be abused easily, and with easy access to these drugs it is
only going to keep affecting the population of the United States.
The Smuggling and Trafficking of Drugs A long The
Southwest Border
Drug trafficking is a complex
problem that is very advanced when it comes to smuggling drugs from the border
through to the United States. The roadways, the sky, and underground passages,
are all used to transport drugs from one side to the other. According to the National Drug Threat Assessment (2010), “These means include the construction and use
of cross-border tunnels and subterranean passageways, and some increased use of
low-flying small or ultralight aircraft, which most often are used to smuggle
marijuana” (p. 14). The smugglers use the roadways and officers near the border
and in any state can produce a traffic stop. From a law enforcement officer’s
experience, I have conducted several stops in which the basic red light
violation can turn into a drug investigation. Officers along the border and in
any state have used basic traffic violations to further investigate drugs.
With that being
said the Drug Enforcement Administration (2010),
…has
created two operations that focus on the traffic that is around the areas of
the borders and in states where drug trafficking is a problem. The operations
are: Operation Pipeline and Operation
Convoy. Operation Pipeline focuses on the roadways, highways and smugglers that
are operating in private motor vehicles. The operation is composed of three elements:
training, real-time communication, and analytic support. Operation Convoy
focuses on the use of commercial vehicles and involves undercover officers and
wiretaps. (para. 2-3)
United States Strategies on Methamphetamine
The methamphetamine
issue has been a problem for more than a decade. In 1996 the United States
created some strategies and specific penalties to enforce on the
methamphetamine issue. “Analysis of available data indicates that
methamphetamine availability in the United States is directly related to
methamphetamine production trends in Mexico, which is the primary source of
methamphetamine consumed in the United States” (US Department of Justice, 2010).
The two strategies that were put into place are the 1996 National
Methamphetamine Strategy and the Methamphetamine Trafficking Penalty
Enhancement Act. (Executive Office, 1999) The 1996 Act “increases the penalties
for production and trafficking while expanding control over precursor chemicals”
(Executive Office, 1999). The Enhancement Act focuses on targeting businesses
or companies that supply or sell the “precursor chemicals” to methamphetamine
producers. (Executive Office, 1999) Since these have been put into place in the
beginning there was a decrease in the production of methamphetamine. (U.S.
Department of Justice, 2010) Presently and in the last couple of years
methamphetamine has increased production specifically in Mexico. (U.S.
Department of Justice, 2010) Drug traffickers have been able to find ways to
import the “precursor chemicals” and find other alternatives to use in
producing methamphetamine (U.S. Department of Justice, 2010).
Marijuana and
Eradication
The Drug
Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been focusing on marijuana growth in the
United States. A program was implemented called the Domestic Marijuana Eradication
and Investigation Project, this program specifically targets, “Drug Trafficking
Organizations (DTO) involved in cannabis cultivation” (Drug Enforcement
Administration, para. 1). The success of this program is due to sharing of
information within the different agencies (Drug Enforcement Administration). In
Mexico the production of marijuana has increased, due to the fact that law
enforcement has had to focus their resources on the ongoing violence that has
been occurring on the Southwest Border. (U.S. Department of Justice, 2010)
Mexico and the
United States have strived to put programs into place to decrease the reduction
of drug trafficking. Some of these programs have been put into place more than
a decade ago. It is important to look at some of the trends and see which
programs are being upgraded and changed. With the amount of drug trafficking
that can occur the United States and Mexico are constantly looking for ways to
improve their tactics. Many of the drug trafficking organizations in Mexico
have found ways to get drugs through to the United States.
The National Southwest Border Counternarcotic
Strategy
In June of 2009, President Obama announced a new
strategy, The National Southwest Border Counternarcotic Strategy. Secretary Napolitano (Homeland Security,
2009), stated:
The plan calls for tougher inspections, more
enforcement personnel and close coordination with our partners in Mexico as we
work across Federal, State and local governments to achieve safety and security
in our communities. Together, we will continue to reduce the flow of illegal
drugs across the Southwest border and ensure that those who ignore our laws are
prosecuted. (para. 4)
Southwest
Border Initiative
The SWBI attacks organizations by targeting the
communication systems of their command and control centers. Working in concert,
the DEA, the FBI, U.S. Customs Service, and U.S. Attorneys offices around the
country conduct wiretaps that ultimately identify all levels of the Mexico- or
Colombia-based organizations. This strategy allows the DEA to track the
seamless continuum of drug traffic as it gradually flows from Colombia or
Mexico to the streets of the United States where it is distributed. (para. 2)
The
governments continue to work with agencies to be successful in their tactics.
The SWBI has been successful. Three operations known as, Operation Zorro II,
Operation Reciprocity, and Operation Limelight have been very successful.
Statistics showed that because of these operations, “…resulted in the arrest of
156 individuals and the seizure of over 22,000 kilos of illegal drugs and $35
million” (Drug Enforcement Administration, para. 4).
Drug
Trafficking Organizations and Criminal Gangs
Drug trafficking
is a source of corruption and it endangers and affects the quality of life of
many in the general population. It is important for the United States and
Mexico to work together in order to try to reduce the problem. Drug trafficking
brings about violence, increase in weapons, and drug abuse in the United
States. It is an everyday occurrence and it is important the United States
continues to find ways to reduce drug trafficking.
References
Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.).
Domestic cannabis eradication/suppression
program.
Executive Office,
Office of National Drug Policy. (1999). 1999
national drug control strategy
Homeland Security.
(2009). Obama administration announces
national strategy to reduce drug
trafficking and flow of bulk cash and
weapons across southwest border Retrieved from
NIDA infofacts: Methamphetamine. (2010,
March). Retrieved February 21, 2010, from National
Institute of Drug Abuse website: http://www.nida.nih.gov/pdf/infofacts/Methamphetamine
U.S. Department of
Justice. (1997). Drugs of abuse.
Washington, DC.
U.S. Department of
Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency. (2010). National
drug threat assessment
(Product No. 2010-Q0317-001). Jonestown, PA:
Retrieved from
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