Drug Trafficking - Research Paper Example

?Running Head: DRUG TRAFFICKING Drug Trafficking Drug Trafficking is commonly known as drug trade.Drugs like Narcotics and other illegal drugs are manufactured, carried and sold in an illegal process. The paper concentrates on drug trafficking background, aspects and examples related to narcotics traffickers and cases. Drug trafficking involves most of the people at several stages. This illegal business is spread throughout the world specifically in the developing countries. The usage of drug is extreme in the developed countries like United States and Europe. Drug is transported from the developing countries to the developed countries. This trade is secretly done in the black market, but if any person is caught dealing or consuming illegal drug he will have to face long tenure in jail. Drug trafficking is the most profitable trade in the world which involves very powerful people, who are well funded had possess heavy arms to defend themselves (Sherman, 2010, pp. 7-9). Drug trafficking is an international issue. The violence that culminates through drug trafficking is a problem in United States because each group traffics drug in their own specific area and very often they get involved in a fight with each other and also with the police. History and Examples The origin of drug trafficking in United States varied from state to state. In Mexico, the drug trafficking trade began during the 1990s (Hamnett, 2006, p.7). In Latin America and Mexico the drug trafficking trade began during the 1980s. The drug trafficking in Cuba started from 1920. During the year 1980, the economic condition of Latin America was crucial. Due to the major increase in unemployment and public debt, it was discovered that smuggling of drugs will be more profitable which will help to develop the financial condition of the state. Smuggling of drugs especially cocaine lead to an increase in criminal activity which eventually formed an epidemic in the United States. Then President Ronald Reagan affirmed a war against drug trafficking in the 1982. Lot of policies was made to abolish the practice of drug trafficking in Latin America but it failed badly. More loss in economy drew the peasants especially the poverty stricken people to reap coca leaves. These leaves were formed into a paste and were transported to Columbia for final processing. Drug trafficking in Columbia facilitated employment to thousands of citizens and acquired large amount of profit. Most of the profit remained in United States and Europe. Speedy growth of unofficial economic sector took place in Latin America due to the increase in drug trafficking. Massive trade in illegal narcotics started. Large amount of people are employed to work in this illegal business. Latin America remained a largest producer of narcotics into United States (La Rosa and Mejia, 2006, p. 140). The Action of Law in Drug Trafficking Cases Gradually narcotic trafficker violence became a problem that could not be ignored by the Columbian government. US adopted an anti-drug policy to control this situation. In the year 1986, the President formed a National Security Decision Directive (NSDD) that involved military power to combat against narcotic situation. Huge financial resources were spent to prevent the use of drugs. Drug supply was reduced in the country and became very expensive for consumption. The products were seized from the drug smugglers. U.S Congress started emphasizing on the source of supply of the narcotic drug and addiction problem in the country. Legal codes and law was changed in Columbia. With the help of military force Columbia was successful in capturing drugs. Farmers were incited to cultivate coffee rather than coca leaves. Traffickers became a danger to the country because they caused mortal threats. Public strongly protested against the traffickers. Government took a constructive action against the traffickers (Menzel, 2000, pp. 40-66). Views on Drug Trafficking According to The President’s Commission on Organized Crime, drug trafficking is the most profitable organized illegal activity in the nation. Drug has given birth to lot of criminal activities mostly in Latin America (Kash and Cross, 1987, p. 10). Griffith also says that United States especially South America is the biggest market for drug trafficking where an island of Caribbean forms a bridge connecting both of them (Rover, 2008, p. 12). George Bush, the former President of America said that drug is the biggest threat in the United States. He held the people who sell, use and ignore this drug problem responsible for this crime and also warned that people will be prosecuted if they are caught using drugs (Friesendorf, 2007, p.84) The work Threat to U.S. trade and finance from Drug Trafficking and International Organized Crime edited by Grassley (1996) suggests that laundering of money or earning illegal profits could be a cue to track the drug traffickers who might detach themselves form any operations in public venues, but they would not be able to avoid the illicit earnings which they will need to transform into legal earnings. However carrying this process would require close vigilance and timely action. Conclusion This paper therefore, has discussed the origin of drug trafficking in different parts of United States and how the entire country was in the grip of drugs. Drug trafficking was a big trade which ruled the country for many decades. Many people got addicted to drugs which weakened the social and economic condition of United States. Latin America and Mexico both produced huge amount of narcotics and transported to the United States. Many eminent people gave their views regarding this illegal trade and considered it as a crime which eventually forced the government to take measures against drug trafficking. References Friesendorf, C (2007). US foreign policy and the war on drugs, Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis Grassley, C.E. (1996) Threat to U.S. Trade and Finance From Drug Trafficking And International Organized Crime, Diane Publishing Hamnett, B (2006). A concise history of Mexico, England: Cambridge University Press Kash, D. and G. Cross, (1987), The Border War on Drugs, Pennsylvania: Diane Publishing La Rosa, M.J. and G. Mejia. (2006). An Atlas and Survey of Latin American History, New York: M.E. Sharpe Menzel, S. (2000). Cocaine Quagmire, Maryland: University Press of America Rover, E. (2008).The Cuban Connection, Carolina: UNC Press Books Sherman, J (2010). Drug Trafficking, Minnesota: ABDO. Read More