Intelligence forum

International Cooperation  

International cooperation is a critical component of counter-narcotics operations. Because most illicit drugs available in the United States are smuggled in from other areas, collaboration on an international level is essential for decreasing foreign drug production in and transportation from these areas to the United States. International cooperation consists of participating with international organizations that combat illicit drug trafficking and working with individual countries where illicit drugs are produced or trafficked.

 

 

International Organizations

 

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)

 

The United Nations U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is the primary component of the United Nations that deals with counter-narcotics issues. UNODC “is mandated to assist Member States in their struggle against illicit drugs, crime and terrorism” (UNODC). In the counter-narcotics arena, it provides technical assistance as well as analysis on the global illicit drug trade. UNODC has three program areas related to counter-narcotics:

·         Field-based technical cooperation projects to enhance the capacity of Member States to counteract illicit drugs, crime and terrorism

·         Research and analytical work to increase knowledge and understanding of drugs and crime issues and expand the evidence base for policy and operational decisions

·         Normative work to assist States in the ratification and implementation of the relevant international treaties, the development of domestic legislation on drugs, crime and terrorism, and the provision of secretariat and substantive services to the treaty-based and governing bodies (UNODC)

 

 

INTERPOL

 

INTERPOL is an international police organization that works with police agencies from member countries to combat counter-narcotics trafficking. The mission of INTERPOL is straightforward: “Preventing and fighting crime through enhanced international police cooperation” (INTERPOL). The organization operates 24 hours a day to provide information exchange and immediate response to security issues. The United States has a designated contact office in Washington, DC, that houses representatives from over U.S. 20 agencies; requests for INTERPOL assistance are made through this office (INTERPOL). 

 

 

Multilateral and Bilateral Cooperation

 

 

The United States engages in cooperative efforts with countries involved in illicit drug production and trafficking. These efforts range from diplomatic to foreign aid to law enforcement training to joint operations. U.S. counter-narcotics efforts include assistance to countries to improve the economic and political situations that facilitate drug trafficking. This includes improving the effectiveness judicial, legal, and law enforcement institutions as well as training for law enforcement on effectively carrying out counter-narcotics operations through intelligence collection and analysis strategies as well as technical methods. In countries with significant drug production, farming alternatives are developed to dissuade farmers from growing illicit crops.

 

Drug Majors Presidential Determination and Certification Process

 

The United States Drug Majors Determination and Certification Process is the baseline of national-level cooperative efforts. It provides an annual review of countries to which the United States provides counter-narcotics assistance. The Drug Majors are countries designated each year by the President to have significant counter-narcotics production or trafficking activity. The certification process entails an evaluation of the efforts of each of these countries to combat drug trafficking and cooperate with the United States on counter-narcotics efforts.  The President then designates the countries (if any) that have not put forth adequate efforts and thus “failed demonstrably during the previous 12 months to adhere to their obligations under international counternarcotics agreements” (INCSR 5). Countries that fail are considered for sanctions from U.S. counter-narcotics assistance. However, the President has the power to waive the sanctions in cases vital to the national interests of the United States. For instance, the 2012 Presidential Determination designated Bolivia, Burma, and Venezuela as countries that have failed demonstrably; the President deemed each vital to national interests and support programs will be continued (INCSR 5).

 

 

Major Joint Counter-Narcotics Efforts  

International Drug Enforcement Conference—Annual conference for sharing drug-related information and developing coordinating strategies to target drug traffickers.

 

Merida Initiative—An effort between the United States and Mexico to combat drug trafficking as well as other criminal activity occurring along the border between the countries and in Central America. Smuggling in van from Mexico

                          Source: FBI  

Plan Colombia—An effort to combat drug trafficking in Colombia as well as stop the armed conflict, and promote economic and social development.

 

Operation Martillo—Interdiction efforts in the transit zone of the waters along the Central American isthmus to stop illicit drugs before they reach the United States.

 

 

United States counter-narcotics cooperation with individual countries is varied. For some countries like Colombia and Mexico, the U.S. has established long-term programs covering numerous components of effective counter-narcotics efforts. For others, bilateral cooperation focuses on joint task forces. For example, DEA has established task forces of varying size in 11 countries through its Sensitive Investigative Unit “to conduct field operations and investigations within foreign theaters of operation where local members of the government or law enforcement may be corrupt and provide information to narcotics organizations” (DEA). For others, interaction is limited to mutual participation in international counter-narcotics organizations. 

 

Detailed information on each country is found in the State Department’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report. To gain an understanding of the varied cooperative efforts, skim through the country sections of this report. Then, read the sections on some of the countries of importance to the U.S. counter-narcotics efforts, particularly, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. We will read the country information on Afghanistan next week. The Latin America document in your readings gives a more comprehensive look at cooperative efforts between the United States and countries in Latin America.

 

 

Impediments to Cooperative Efforts

 

Cooperation requires resources and trust on the part of each participant. However, even with these, numerous impediments arise to complicate these efforts. It is difficult to mitigate these threats completely, so being aware of them is important.

 

Resources—Many countries have limited resources available for counter-narcotics efforts and rely on U.S. support to sustain efforts.

 

DTO influence—Drug traffickers often have considerable influence in their communities, either by providing economic benefits to the area or through intimidation and threats. Either way, citizens sometimes have greater allegiance to the DTOs than to the government.

 

Corruption—The economic (sizable bribes) and security benefits (cooperate or face deadly consequences) for counter-narcotics officers from helping drug traffickers often far outweighs the official obligations.    

 

Poverty—Crop substitution programs often have limited impact as farmers growing illicit drugs for the traffickers make far less growing legal commodities. 

 

 

References:

Department of State. International Narcotics Control Strategy Report. Washington, DC, March 2013.

 

Drug Enforcement Administration. Sensitive Investigative Unit. http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/DEA/a0719/chapter3.htm

 

INTERPOL. http://www.interpol.int/About-INTERPOL/Overview

 

U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime. http://www.unodc.org/