Unlawful Drug Trafficking and the Global Effort to Combat It
Unlawful drug trafficking is a problem that has received worldwide attention. The war on drugs has spread beyond national borders, and whenever required, like-minded states have joined forces for a global effort to put an end to the illicit trade. President Bush declared war on drugs in 1989, and the strategy subsequently adopted a global perspective to educate other countries about the need to abstain from drugs. (Hawdon, 2001).
Research showing that drug trafficking encourages criminal activities like terrorism has had an impact on the decision to adopt a global viewpoint. (Caulkins et al., 2005). In states like Sierra Leone, trafficking of illicit narcotics has been linked to cross-border crimes, weak immigration laws and the emergence of strong non-state actors that dictate territorial integrity and sovereignty (Ellis, 2009).
The Importance of Joint Strategies and International Welfare
The US and its international allies should adopt a joint strategy for drug control that addresses not only national but also international welfare. Individual nations will also benefit from this program because of putting up the necessary infrastructure aimed at direct drug control. The joint effort to control the illicit narcotics trafficking should make the targeted nation aware that ally participation will be diminished with time and probably phased out. The nations being assisted in fighting illegal trafficking should also be made aware of the impacts that the cooperation might have on the bilateral exchange program. Failure to comply can trigger the application of negative sanctions as a form of soft power. It therefore becomes paramount for the international community to apply the ideas proposed by the allies and apply them as indicated (Caulkins et al., 2005).
The Successful Example of Peru
The joint strategy that often invited negative sanctions has been tested before in Peru. The US and its allies were actively involved in the fight against narcotics trafficking. The US should be holding back as individual nations take the lead in the fight to gain experience. After withdrawing the United States' support, Peruvian officials were able to run their operations smoothly, a model that promises to work well in other nations with the right attitude to tackle the global challenge. Such a collective effort will further scare the wealthy cartels that are in a position to influence the direction of policies made by the nations in order to guarantee their survival.
The Importance of Sufficient Funds and International Collaboration
The United States and its allies should further push for the allocation of sufficient funds in the budget to fight illicit narcotics trafficking going on in the world. Lacking personnel and material resources in leading this important international mission can hinder the realization of the set goals. However, it should be noted that the US can act as advisors and not the doers in the international war on drugs. The reduction of the trafficking business over the past years makes the credit go to the collective "Drug War" and desire to lead by example to avoid hypocrisy that promotes selfish interests. The World Health Organization has also been a significant tool used by the US and its allies in spreading the same message of the dangers of narcotics across the world, hence discouraging the trafficking business. A projection into the future reveals that the necessary steps, although not fully satisfactory, are being undertaken to win the international war on drugs.
References
Caulkins, J. P., Reuter, P. H., Iguchi, M. Y., & Chiesa, J. (2005). How Goes the "War on Drugs"?
Ellis, S. (2009). West Africa's international drug trade. African Affairs, 108(431), 171-196.
Hawdon, J. E. (2001). The role of presidential rhetoric in the creation of a moral panic: Reagan, Bush, and the war on drugs. Deviant Behavior, 22(5), 419-445.
