Drug Trafficking Phenomenon, the US-Colombia Counter-narcotics Efforts - Assignment Example

Drug trafficking Introduction The traditional definition of national insecurity was based on military and state’s threats to its citizens or failure to ensure quality security to its sovereignty. However, the current connections between international organized crimes and narcotic trade have led to increased threat of narcotic trade to national security. Crimes such as terrorism and drug trafficking problem are currently posing an enormous threat towards the national security of the modern world. While these two phenomena remain to be at the forefront of every country’s security agenda, the degree in which they currently exist has ruined national security in the entire globe. Threats to national security The drug trafficking phenomenon, especially plays an essential part in every country’s politics due to the current advancement in communication and international transportation1. According to a review of the history of drug trafficking and its vast economic latent, it is clearly depicted that drug trafficking could and will continue to foster organized crimes as well as terrorist organizations2. Despite the fact that there are groups founded to fight drug trafficking, most of these allies taking part in “war on terrorism” are currently using heroin and opium for funding. For instance, in Afghanistan, production of opiates still takes place in areas, which are under control of the United Front and in regions controlled by local commanders. The support of these agencies to fight al-Qaida and Taliban seem to have dimmed. In addition, some of the US official allies “war on terrorism” are also engaging in or benefiting drug trafficking economy3. Narcotics trafficking, due to its connection with transnational organized crimes, especially terrorism has turned out to be a major challenge to national security. This national security challenge requires continued collaboration of the Department of Defense and international partners and its inter-agency in order to enable it fight drug trafficking. According to the statement of William F. Wechsler (assistant deputy secretary of global threats and counter-narcotics defense), in order to defeat drug trafficking, a network of oppositions is required4. Despite the local and global efforts, drug trafficking and use are still continuing to invade today’s life. According to a report released by the United States in 1990s, an approximately 180 million individuals were consuming drugs globally5. America is the leading consumer of illicit drugs globally with a large population of its citizens engaging in the drug trade through production, trafficking, and distribution of illicit drugs. These activities have negatively affected the national security of the United States since most of the transnational organized crimes such as terrorism are being funded by drug traffickers6. This has led to narco-terrorism, which has highly affected the stability of national security. Narco-terrorism is among growing threats to national security that has been given increased attention for a couple of years. DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) of the United States defines narco-terrorism as the engagement of groups or individuals in providing security for, taxing, or abetting endeavors of drug trafficking in order to fund terrorist activities. For instance, according to the events that took place on 9/11, it is clearly evident that the connection of drug trafficking and terrorism has negatively affected national security7. At first, narco-terrorism was known to be a threat to Latin Americans, but now it has wreaked chaos around the globe. From IRA of Ireland, FARC of Colombia, and PKK of Turkey, narco-terrorism methods are used by numerous terrorist groups as well as drug cartels. Since globalization has led to world markets interconnectivity, this has resulted in illicit trade in global markets. As a result this has allowed interaction between world criminal groups whereby drug trafficking funds the activities of these crime groups and terrorist organizations. The threats that are caused by the narco - terrorism result in a multitude of national security issues. By examining connectivity of drug trafficking and criminal groups like the IRA, FARC, and PKK, there is clear evidence that much needs to be carried out to counter these emerging threats8. Fortunately for these criminal groups, drug trafficking provides resources and means of accomplishing large growth in numbers and strength. For instance, in order to accomplish their criminal mission, FARC used drug trafficking to fund their attacks against the government of Colombia as well as innocent civilians. These terrorism groups also use ancient military tactics and strategies to target the policemen and government symbols thus causing total insecurity to citizens. Another example of national insecurity caused by narco-terrorism is Tijuana’s situation. The Tijuana’s situation highlights the importance of countering crimes and sustaining security in conflict regions. After a review of Ciudad Juarez occupation by military for two years, officials summed up that deployment of hundreds of soldiers to fight against drug trafficking was unable to control the crime and violence9. Violation of human rights is not the key concern here. Communities and innocent civilians that are besieged by terrorist attacks are under the siege, they face from mundane criminals and street gangs. Conclusion The national security threats caused by connection of drug trafficking and terrorism is felt by every nation across the world. This is because narco-terrorism threats affect not only affects the countries in which these groups exist but also many other nations. Globalization has provided a network for drug traffickers and terrorist groups to coordinate and share resources. These terrorism groups get economical support from drug trafficking trade to fund their operations and purchase weapons. Unluckily, the implemented policies have proved to be slow to end terrorism and drug trafficking. In order to address this situation, there is a need for international government agencies to work together, starting in the US since it is the leading in drug trafficking and is able to come up with international policies that can realize the connection between drug trafficking and terrorism. Qsn.2: U.S. and international coordination US-Colombia counter-narcotics efforts Since 1990s, Colombia has been leading the world in the cultivation of coca bush and remains the core cocaine producer. Although U.N. and U.S. indicates that the role of Colombia in illicit production and cultivation is declining, there is still ongoing consumption of Colombian’s cocaine in the United States. According to the estimates of the U.S., more than 95% of the cocaine and approximately 55% of heroin used in the U.S. come from Colombia and Andean10. Many of the current counternarcotics efforts established in Colombia were implemented by the strategies of 1999 Colombian government for the purpose of addressing development and security issues, known as Plan Colombia11. This plan was intended to cover six years, ending in the year 200512. This plan was meant to end Colombia’s years-long earned violence, stopping drug trafficking, and promoting social and economic development. The aim of this plan was to curb drug trafficking activities and reduce cultivation of coca over the six years. The U.S government used more than $9 billion in development and security assistance between 2000 and 2011 to support Plan Colombia as well as its follow-on programs, to include military and civilian counterdrug sustain efforts. The U.S. funded efforts are one of development initiatives after the plan and the Colombian government have decided to nationalize them, including equipping, training, and supporting the country’s military programs. The U.S. government coordinates its efforts for counternarcotics in Colombia through the country’s Strategic Development Initiative13. The continued support that Colombia receives from United States occurs as a result of U. S. -CSDI (Colombia Strategic Development Initiative)14. This incorporates ancient counter-narcotics support for interdiction, eradication, development, and building governmental institutions such as military, justice, and police institutions. United States also supports Colombia by funding other social and economic development programs to end drug trafficking. US-Bolivia counter-narcotics efforts On the other hand, the U.S. has been trying to support Bolivia to end drug trafficking trade, but its efforts are facing some challenges. The relationship between the United States and Bolivia started during the era of the Bush administration. The countries decided to expel their ambassadors from the other country, while Washington brought some trade preferences. This forced Bolivia’s government to order the Drug Enforcement Agency from U.S. to withdraw its support. On September of 2013, Bolivia was identified by President Obama was among the leading drug producing countries that had “demonstrably failed” to implement significant strategies to engage in international counter-narcotics treaties for six years consecutively. The determinations of the United States were reached, although Bolivia reported the eradication of over 10,000 hectares in coca cultivation in the year 2012 and the estimates of the U.S. showed decrease of 3% and 19% in the years 2011 and 2012 respectively. Since 1980s to 2000s, the relationship between the United States and Bolivia was mainly meant to control production of both coca paste and coca leaf, whereby much of this production was exported to Colombia for manufacturing of cocaine. United States provided significant alternative development and interdiction assistance in support of counter-narcotics efforts of Bolivia. The government of the United States decided to forgive all the debts that Bolivia had owed them for food assistance and development projects. Many had viewed Bolivia as one of the counternarcotics successful countries due to its victorious eradication efforts, interdiction operations, and several effective development projects. Others viewed the forced policies that U.S. antidrug campaign was emphasizing as a political and social disaster that worsened the country’s instability as well as contributing to a violation of human rights15. U. S. -Bolivia counternarcotics relation worsened during the year 2008 when Bolivia’s president accused U.S. Ambassador of bearing up with opposition forces and ordered him to pack his bags. The U.S. responded to this action by expelling Bolivia’s ambassador from their country. Bush ranked Bolivia as a state that was unable to meet its international narcotics agreements16. This was followed by deferral of Bolivia’s trade inclinations due to its failure in counternarcotics cooperation. In conclusion, the U.S. efforts to end drug trafficking in the two countries have caused both positive and negative impacts. The above discussion clearly depicts that the U.S. spent a lot while trying to fund anti-drug programs in the two countries thus causing economical impacts to the country. Also U.S.-Bolivia counter-narcotics efforts faced many challenges leading to expel of respective ambassadors and withdrawal of Bolivia’s trade preferences. Despite these negative impacts, U.S. efforts of the two countries reduced exportation of coca to U.S. for cocaine production, thus reducing drug trafficking trade and organized crimes in the United States. Bibliography Davis, Douglas J., and Oded Lowenheim. "Narco-Terrorism: A Unified Strategy to Fight a Growing Terrorist Menace." International Journal 57, no. 3 (2002): 483. Singh, Ningthoujam Koiremba, and William Nunes. "Drug Trafficking and Narco-terrorism as Security Threats: A Study of India’s North-east." India quarterly: a journal of international affairs 69, no. 1 (2013): 65-82. Amar Singh. “Narco-Terrorism: A Case Study of Afghanistan.” Scholar’s Voice, A New Way of Thinking 2, no. 1 (2011): 75-88. John Holmberg. “Narcoterrorism” 50, no. 2 (2009): 1-30. John P. Sullivan and Adam Elkus. “ Cartel v. Cartel: Mexico’s Criminal Insurgerncy.” Small wars journal 56, no. 2 (2009): 1-11. Knowles, Gordon James. "Threat Analysis: Organized Crime and Narco-Terrorism in Northern Mexico." Military Review 88, no. 1 (2008): 73. Read More