Combined Efforts

                                                                                       

Drug Smugglers

When an epidemic breaks out in another country, measures are taken by countries such as the United States in order to prevent epidemics from spreading onto the American soil, as was the case with the Swine Flu. Being that the border is the gate way from Mexico into the U.S., it is essential that it be monitored in order to keep drugs from being transported onto American soil. Not only is preventing drugs from entering American soil critical, but essential in order to prevent drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) from thriving. By disrupting drug trafficking routes and apprehending smugglers and their leaders, DTOs will begin to malfunction; thus resulting in a decrease in drug smuggling.  

 Supply and demand of drugs are responsible for DTOs existence and success. Demand for illegal drugs will attract organizations that are willing to risk their lives, money, and freedom in order to be in the drug business. The amount of drugs being transported in to the U.S. by DTOs  primarily enters the U.S. through the nearly 2,000 mile Southwest Border (SWB) (Placido and Perkins, 2010). In addition, Placido and Perkins state that the length of the border creates  remoteness and makes detection of smugglers more difficult. The methods that DTOs use to smuggle include: aircraft, backpackers, couriers, horses and mules, maritime vessels, rail, tunnels, and vehicles (Placido and Perkins, 2010). DTOs methods of transporting drugs onto U.S. soil and willingness to risk their freedom and lives makes detection and apprehension difficult due to the remoteness of the SWB as well as its length; and allows the passage of the various drugs that DTOs profit from.

The demand for particular drugs drives   DTOs to produce what their customers demand. The drugs being smuggled onto U.S. soil include: Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Heroin, and Cocaine, which are either produced in Mexico, or are brought into Mexico from other countries, primarily Colombia and then make their way onto U.S. soil (Placido and Perkins, 2010). Furthermore, it is estimated that the drug trade business is responsible for an estimated 18-39 billion dollars annually, leaving U.S. soil, to be distributed among Mexican and Colombian DTOs (Placido and Perkins, 2010). The aforementioned types of drugs being smuggled into the U.S. are those that are in demand in the U.S., which is clearly indicated by the amount of money leaving the U.S. bound for Colombian and Mexican DTOs. As evident by the following chart, the number one drug being smuggled into American soil is Marijuana, which has increased its  potency since the 1970s (Kershaw and Cathcart, 2009). In addition, cocaine comes in second (17,085), methamphetamine (3,478), and lastly Heroin (642) according to the National Seizure System (2009). The success of DTOs is measured by the amount of drugs that are successfully smuggled into the U.S., which is why cooperation on both sides of the border is critical.          

Table 1. Drug Seizures Along the Southwest, in Kilograms, 2005-2009*

            2005    2006    2007    2008    2009

Cocaine

Southwest Border        22,653 28,284 22,656 16,755 17,085

                                                           

                                                           

Heroin

Southwest Border        228      489      404      556      642

                                                           

                                                           

Marijuana

Southwest Border        1,034,102        1,146,687        1,472,536        1,253,054        1,489,673

                                                           

                                                           

Methamphetamine

Southwest Border        2,918   2,798   1,860   2,201   3,478

In order to impact DTOs successfully cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico is critical. President Felipe Calderon has impacted the DTOs the most, when he took office three years ago, by deploying military troops to aid  state and local law enforcement in territories DTOs called their own (Placido and Perkins, 20010). A more aggressive approach against DTOs has impacted them tremendously because they are no longer able to roam as they once did. Cooperation with the U.S. has lead to the creation of programs such as Southwest Intelligence Group, El Paso Intelligence Center, and The National Border Corruption Taskforce, to name a few (Placido and Perkins, 2010). The aforementioned programs and President Calderon’s pressure on DTOs are a clear example of steps being taken  to combat a problem that exist on both sides of SWB.

The smuggling tactics and remoteness of the SWB have benefitted DTOs, which has enabled them to thrive. However, measures being taken by the Mexican government to combat DTOs in zones  they had once ruled, has pressured them to move, as well as lead to the capture of leaders and members of DTOs alike. The creation of programs along the SWB and in Mexico, have shown to be effective, for leaders and members of DTOs have been captured. Cooperation amongst both governments will aid in combating drug smuggling on both sides of the border.      

References
Source: National Seizure System.
*Data as of December 1, 2009; totals are rounded to the nearest kilogram.
KERSHAW, S., & CATHCART, R. (2010-2011). Marijuana Is Gateway Drug for Two Debates. Annual Editions, Drugs, Society, and Behavior.
Placido and Perkins. (2010). Drug Trafficking Violence in Mexico: Implications for the United States” Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, United States Senate.
*Picture courtesy of Google images.