The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP)
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has been in existence since 1988 in the US to encounter drug trafficking (Keck, Michelle, and Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera 47). ONDCP was established by the Congress and has been striving to reduce the use of illicit drugs, manufacture, and trafficking. Additionally, ONDCP ensures that crime, violence, and health-related complications due to medications are minimized. Drug trafficking rules have been undergoing progressive advancements (Keck, Michelle, and Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera 48). In 2015, ONDCP reviewed and developed new policies that would curb drug-related issues at the borders of the US and other states. The paper will vividly explore some of the modifications that have been made to improve the drug trafficking scrutiny at the frontiers.
Initiating a high-intensity drug trafficking areas
Initiating a high-intensity drug trafficking areas has been one of the programs for reducing border drug trafficking. For instance, Southwest Border of High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) operates five regional platforms in Arizona, California, New Mexico, South Texas, and West Texas. The areas have joint coordination, collaboration, and cooperation of local, state, and Federal agencies that are found at the borders of Southwest (Lachicotte et al. 433). The US government has been consistently funding Southwest Boarder HITDA with the aim of creating awareness on the risks associated with the nonmedical use of drugs. Other reasons for the state donations include the urge to counteract the heroin and methamphetamine by the drug trafficking organizations from Mexico, develop an elaborate course of action that would address the significant flow of heroin from Mexico to USA through the West Texas corridor (Lachicotte et al. 434).
National Heroin Coordination Group (NHCG)
Since heroin has been forming a significant part of drug trafficking mainly from Mexico, ONDCP has commissioned for the formation of National Heroin Coordination Group (NHCG) from 2015 (Pendleton et al. 17). Apparently, NHCG comprises a team of experts with multiple skills that are capable of giving the interagency efforts that would reduce the presence of Heroin that is passing through the border into the US. The NHCG are more vigilant and helpful in trapping the illegal suppliers of heroin from other countries (Pendleton et al. 19).
Mexican Cartels
Undoubtedly, the Mexican cartels form the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world (Lachicotte et al. 437). To reduce the influence of such culprits, the Congress empowered the state to collaborate with the Mexican government to control the drug trafficking activities of the Mexicans. For instance, the US has enabled its agents to disrupt and dismantle the drug cartels while providing training and other necessary assistance that is funded by the Congress under the Merida initiatives (Lachicotte et al. 438). On the other hand, the national drug control strategy has been reinforced in the push for US-Mexico's joint approach of curbing border drug trafficking (Rosen 34). Among the new terms entail the drive to intensify poppy eradication, increasing drug interdiction, permanent destruction of drugs like heroin, and methamphetamine laboratories. Other approaches incorporate the disturbance of narcotics and precursor chemical traffickers.
Border Coordination Initiatives (BCI) Policy
The frequent occurrence of drug trafficking and smuggling at the Southwest border prompted the US to indulge in the in-depth scrutiny of its boundaries (Pendleton et al. 25). As a result, the Border Coordination Initiatives (BCI) policy is calling for a joint approach and coordination between the customs service, immigration, and the Naturalization sector with the aim of increasing the level of cooperation with the federal agencies at the US borders. The association is aimed at improving the efficiency of drug interdiction, entry of illegal people, and other contraband (Pendleton et al. 27).
Border Coordination Initiatives Operating Policies
Border Coordination Initiatives Operates under specific policies including port management which calls for a joint approach, traffic control, and community partnership at all the 24 entry ports (Lachicotte et al. 440). The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been at the forefront to curb the drug traffickers. At the boundaries, it is a requirement that an automated system (technology) should be continually adapted and improved to fight the limits of the drug trade. On the other hand, a high level of intelligence is essential for collecting comprehensive info on drug interdiction. Moreover, an adequate means of communication should be put in place to be revamped and replaced the mutually supportive, secure, and wireless to advance the level of connectivity that would decline drug trafficking (Lachicotte et al. 441).
Maritime Interdiction
The establishment of maritime interdiction has heightened its efforts to prevent drug trafficking at the US borders (Rosen 37). The law empowers a collaboration of the Coastguards and custom services to eradicate the inflow of illegal drugs to the US. Therefore, the safeguards at the Coast deprives the smugglers the freedom of using both air and Maritime routes at the Transit areas including the Caribbean Gulf of Mexico and the Eastern Pacific. Moreover, the Coastguards have collaboration with the Federal agencies and the neighboring countries to deter the inflow and outflow of drugs (Rosen 39).
Air Interdiction Programs
Air Interdiction programs that have been supported by the US's Customs Service and the DEA have also been significant in combating drug trafficking (Pendleton et al. 30). With the inception of NAFTA and the increasing concern by America to intensify its effort in fighting drugs like cocaine, a sophisticated armada of sensor-equipped interceptor aircraft and helicopters have been developed (Pendleton et al. 31). As a result, it would be possible to capture the individuals who are attempting to smuggle narcotics across American borders. Upon detection, a suspect coming to the US through the airspace is intercepted, identified and finally followed to the delivery sites. Later the criminal proceedings are opened to the culprits after substantive evidence is captured including the videotaped documents by the aircrews (Pendleton et al. 33).
Southwest Border Strategy
The Southwest Border Strategy that began in 2013 has also helped adopt various ways that would reduce the rate of drug trafficking at the US boundaries as well as the associated instruments of violence (Lachicotte et al. 448). Notably, the approach is enabling the executives steering group to coordinate with the Federal interagency, state representatives, and law enforcement at the border. As a result, the joint effort to oversee the progress, challenges, and measures to counteract the shipping of illegal drugs like narcotics is reinforced (Lachicotte et al. 449).
Functions of Southwest Border Strategy
Southwest border strategy is commissioned and committed to performing various functions. For instance, increasing investigations and prosecutions that is aimed at disrupting and dismantling the drug trafficking (Pendleton et al. 40). Also, the tactic promotes the information sharing and criminal intelligence, capabilities, and process that would reinforce border security. Additionally, it is possible to interdict drugs and the proceeds, as well as the potential illicit activities that would either occur through the air or maritime (Pendleton et al. 42).
Conclusion
Overall, USA has been facing instances of border drug trafficking. As a result, the state through its congress continually makes advancements and provisions to curb such challenges. Towards the fight against drug trafficking, the law enforcement has made the following changes such as the formation of National Heroin Coordination Group being assisted by the ONDCP. As well, US have called for the establishment of High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), US partnership with Mexico, air and maritime interdiction. Other improvements entail Border Coordination Initiatives and the Southwest Border Strategy. Therefore, US should continually intensify the scrutiny at the boundaries to deter the individuals who may import the harmful drugs. With the help of Federal agencies, investigators, and customs authorities amongst others, a good outcome will be realized.
Work Cited
Keck, Michelle, and Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera. "US drug policy and supply-side strategies: Assessing effectiveness and results." Norteamérica 10.2 (2015): 47-67.
Lachicotte III, Major George P., U. S. Army, and White House. US-Mexican Border: Official US army strategy against transnational criminal organizations " the new presidential order: preventing criminal organizations, international trafficking " enhancing public safety in the interior of the United States. Madison " Adams Press, 2017.
Pendleton, John H., et al. Drug control: Additional performance information is needed to oversee the National Guard's State Counterdrug Program. No. GAO-16-133. Government Accountability Office Washington DC, 2015.
Rosen, Liana W. "International drug control policy: background and US responses." Congressional Research Service (2015): 31.
