Drug trafficking is a major aspect, especially in the United States. The most trafficked drugs include; cocaine, heroin, marijuana and MDMA. Most of the drug traffickers operating in the United States are Mexican and Asian DTOs. Colombian, Cuban, Dominican and Italian DTOs are also accountable for some of the drug trafficking in the country[1]. The influence of the Asian and Mexican traffickers to the drug market in the country has reached its greatest heights in the recent years.  Over the years, the influence of the drug market from Colombian and Dominican DTOs has been on the decline[2]. The distribution channels of the Cuban DTOs have been on the rise as they have been engaging in an indoor and outdoor cultivation of marijuana. The Italian criminal organizations have also upped their game where they smuggle and distribute drugs in bulk with the help of established trafficking networks. Each of the group has been developing new routes and methods to ensure that they can cope with the heightened law enforcement pressure[3].

As aforementioned, Mexican and Asian DTOs are the major drug traffickers in the United States. They have varied transportation routes and with the help of strong communication gadgets, the gangs have been able to carry out their business uninterrupted[4]. Most of the illicit drugs from foreign countries are smuggled in United States overland across borders[5]. A substantial amount is smuggled across the Mexican border and the rest through Canada. Most of the smuggling exercises are carried out overland, but the gangs constantly change routes to respond to law enforcing agencies and also inter-cartel conflicts.  It is, however, prudent noting that different drugs smuggled in America have different routes. The quantity produced, conflicts and heightened law enforcements are some of the factors considered in the overland smuggling. For instance, Marijuana and Methamphetamine are constantly smuggled through the southwest border an aspect explained by the increased production in this region.

Maritime smuggling is another route that drug traffickers have adopted to smuggle drugs to America.  Although this method is responsible for a smaller amount of drug market, its contribution to the drug market is substantial. For instance, about 3% of all drugs seized in 2009 were through commercial and non-commercial maritime conveyance. Just like is the case in overland smuggling, maritime smugglers always keep on changing routes and tactics as law enforcement changes[6]. Cocaine, marijuana, and heroin are some of the drugs smuggled through maritime conveyances. Colombian, Dominican and the Venezuelan DTOs are the traffickers involved in maritime trafficking. They usually use cruise ships, container ships, recreational vessels, fishing vessels and fast boats to conceal their illegal business[7].  They conceal these drugs by mingling them with other genuine products thus making it easy for them to negotiate their way in.

There has been a notable use of private maritime vessels to smuggle drugs in America especially through south Florida, south Texas, Puerto Rico, and southern California.   It is also prudent noting that Mexican DTOs have opted maritime smuggling to avoid law enforcing agencies in the southwest borders. Heroin, MDMA, and cocaine are easily smuggled through maritime especially from the Dominican Republic. Cocaine, heroin, and marijuana have also been smuggled from the Bahamas to South Florida[8].  It has however been noted that the amount of drugs smuggled through maritime vessels has been declining with time, and only a small portion of illicit supply is through this means.

Air smuggling is another method that drug traffickers have embraced to ensure that their merchandise gets to the required destinations. It is, however, essential understanding that the amount of drugs smuggled into the country by couriers and in cargo aboard commercial and private aircrafts is quite small compared to other means[9]. The amount seized of the five leading drugs in America in 2009 from air smuggling was far less as compared to other means. Heroin is the drug most smuggled through air amounting to 24% of the total amount seized. It is prudent noting that overland smuggling of heroin on the southwest border is on the rise as the air smuggle declines[10]. This is explained by the constant interdiction of the aircrafts in Colombian airports. As a result, most of the Colombian DTOs have opted to rely on Mexican DTOs to smuggle heroin overland to America instead of using their air courier for the operations.  Southwest border has been registering the greatest amount of heroin seized with a record high registered in2009. The change can also be explained by the decline in heroin production in South American as well as the shift of smuggling routes across the Southwest border. Most f these DTOs use high technology communication equipment that helps ensure that they carry out smooth operations. They have also continued strengthening their relationships with US-based street gangs who are of great importance in the facilitation process. This has enabled them to operate in smart moves that beat the heightened law enforcement agencies.

U.S. and international policies, strategies, and objectives

Drug trafficking is a real menace, and it exists in America. It is a consensus that this vice is a threat to individual health and also for security purpose of all the Americans. It is on this premise that the country has over the years been proactive in fighting this vice in the country. Both Bush and Reagan administration strived to ensure that they established the root source of this menace and stopped it from the start[11]. Though the country has been fighting drug trafficking over the years, the war is not yet won as a result of varied reasons. Both local and international community would want an America where drug trafficking is a thing of the past.

Despite drug trafficking being a thorn in the wound in America for so long, the united state did not begin focusing on this menace until late in the 1960s. This was quite late as by then drug trafficking and consumption in America had reached its peak. However, since 1960, the country has been proactive in the war against drug trafficking especially along the Mexican border. The U.S government has put relentless efforts to pursue the supply-side drug control strategy. It is also prudent understanding that the government also focused on the demand side drug program that has been receiving congressional funding between the 1960s and 1970s. Nevertheless, the supply-side continued getting more focus regarding funding as compared to the demand side[12]. The country’s policy over the years is to reduce the supply of drugs entering the country from other destinations. Americans believe that containing drug supply will be a major step towards reducing drug trafficking in the country.

The country has been increasing budgetary allocations to sustain the supply side control. It is believed that the war on drugs will only be won if the drugs are destroyed from their source. The country views the drug producing nations as the cause of their woes[13]. Americans have embraced interdiction, eradication, lab destruction and law enforcements efforts in their war against drug trafficking.  There is little emphasis on the demand side and thus less congressional funding for treatment and prevention of drug abuse.

Americans have taken the war on drug trafficking a notch higher. By 1980s, the country introduced laws that would include the military in the counterdrug role. The military was given a green light to offer law enforcement activities through searching, seizure and arresting drug traffickers. Drug trafficking has over the years been considered as a threat to national security and hence military operations are deemed necessary in this practice[14]. It is, however, prudent noting that military action is set to fail to take into consideration the large amounts of drugs smuggled, and the well organize trafficking techniques employed by these traffickers.

Drug trafficking is also considered an international menace. As a result, the international community has set out robust multilateral commitments to combat this vice. The United States have also shown interest in upholding stringent anti-drug trafficking rules that intend to help other governments to deal with illicit drug smuggling[15]. The U.S believes that by helping other foreign governments against drug trafficking, the Americans will also enjoy the same. This is a continuation of the American policy of fighting the drugs from the supply side. The country emphasizes the importance of reducing and eradicating international flow of illegal drugs through international cooperation to disrupt the illegal trade[16].

Americans have also constantly received criticisms from different quarters as some states have legalized the use of marijuana. The United States is a signatory to some international drug control treaties aimed at reduction and control of drug and substance abuse.  For instance, the 1961 Single Convention and its Progeny is an international drug control rule that has been in place since 1961[17]. The conventions emphasize the importance of using cannabis, opiates and cocaine only for medicinal purposes and never for recreation. It is also at this convention that the International Narcotics Control Board is established and is mandated with ensuring there is compliance among the signatory nations and America is a member. There have also been other conventions in 1971 and 1988 with the latter being United Nations Conventions Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substance[18]. This provides more restrictive measures where purchase, possession or cultivation of drugs for personal consumption was to be classified as an offense.

Although the Americans view the UN as a far away identity that is of no concern to life in the States, the treaties have a great impact on the policies and laws of the country. The UN has an overriding concern with the home affairs of the member countries including the United States. The United States have the obligation of following the provisions of these treaties to ensure that they deal with this menace adequately[19]. To comply with the provisions of these conventions, the United States enacted the Federal Controlled Substance Act of 1970. It is, however, prudent noting that American administration has been criticized by the international community for legalizing the use of certain substances such as marijuana for recreational purpose. To sum it up, drug trafficking is a war that must be won with all means and cooperation among different countries will be essential.

Bibliography

The International Drug Control Treaties: How Important Are They to US Drug Reform? (2015).

The primary traffickers and routes for each of the 5 major illicit drugs available in the United States (2015).

Kilmer, Beau, Jonathan P Caulkins, Brittany M Bond, and Peter Reuter. Reducing Drug Trafficking Revenues And Violence In Mexico. Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2010.

[1] Kilmer, Beau, Jonathan P Caulkins, Brittany M Bond, and Peter Reuter. Reducing Drug Trafficking Revenues And Violence In Mexico. Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2010.

[2] The International Drug Control Treaties: How Important Are They to US Drug Reform? (2015).

[3] The primary traffickers and routes for each of the 5 major illicit drugs available in the United States (2015).

[4] Kilmer, Beau, Jonathan P Caulkins, Brittany M Bond, and Peter Reuter. Reducing Drug Trafficking Revenues And Violence In Mexico. Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2010.

[5] The International Drug Control Treaties: How Important Are They to US Drug Reform? (2015).

[6] The primary traffickers and routes for each of the 5 major illicit drugs available in the United States (2015).

[7] The International Drug Control Treaties: How Important Are They to US Drug Reform? (2015).

[8] Kilmer, Beau, Jonathan P Caulkins, Brittany M Bond, and Peter Reuter. Reducing Drug Trafficking Revenues And Violence In Mexico. Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2010.

[9] The primary traffickers and routes for each of the 5 major illicit drugs available in the United States (2015).

[10] Kilmer, Beau, Jonathan P Caulkins, Brittany M Bond, and Peter Reuter. Reducing Drug Trafficking Revenues And Violence In Mexico. Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2010.

[11] The International Drug Control Treaties: How Important Are They to US Drug Reform? (2015).

[12] The International Drug Control Treaties: How Important Are They to US Drug Reform? (2015).

[13] Kilmer, Beau, Jonathan P Caulkins, Brittany M Bond, and Peter Reuter. Reducing Drug Trafficking Revenues And Violence In Mexico. Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2010.

[14]The primary traffickers and routes for each of the 5 major illicit drugs available in the United States (2015).

[15] The International Drug Control Treaties: How Important Are They to US Drug Reform? (2015).

[16] Kilmer, Beau, Jonathan P Caulkins, Brittany M Bond, and Peter Reuter. Reducing Drug Trafficking Revenues And Violence In Mexico. Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2010.

[17] The International Drug Control Treaties: How Important Are They to US Drug Reform? (2015).

The International Drug Control Treaties: How Important Are They to US Drug Reform? (2015).

[18] Kilmer, Beau, Jonathan P Caulkins, Brittany M Bond, and Peter Reuter. Reducing Drug Trafficking Revenues And Violence In Mexico. Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2010.

[19] The International Drug Control Treaties: How Important Are They to US Drug Reform? (2015).

 
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