The drug-crime relationship - Essay Example

The drug-crime relationship is a complex marriage between corruption and social inequity. Understanding the reasons why illicit drug use persists within our own borders is an important component in stopping the drug-crime relationship, yet legislation often falls short of helping the victims of the drugs (those who are addicted) and instead focuses efforts on drug traffickers. Arguable, law enforcement is an equal component in the effective curtailing of illicit drug use, and recent legislation has been effective. Throughout history there have been a number of legislative efforts aimed at stemming the flow of drugs and other substances deemed by the U.S. government to be illegal or immoral, but the 2004 Homeland Security Act has had the greatest impact on the drug-crime relationship. The act aimed at curtailing terrorism is also charged with stopping drug smugglers before they cross the borders. On January 9, 2005, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced the creation of new Border Enforcement and Security Task Forces, to increase control at the border. The groups will be nationally integrated teams with federal, state, and local representation specifically directed at cross-border criminal activity (DHS, 2005 http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic). Chertoff said: "These new task forces will take a comprehensive approach to dismantling criminal organizations that exploit our border. The task forces will be charged with sharing information, developing priority targets, and carrying out coordinated law enforcement operations that will enhance border security." ((DHS, 2005 http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic). However, prior to this recent development, The Homeland Security Act had already begun working to protect Americans. In the days following the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, Americans began questioning the security of our borders and the legislation in place aimed at keeping our country safe. In 20002, Congress passed the Homeland Security Act, a multi-layered approach to protecting Americans. The act did several things, but most importantly, it created a Department of Homeland Security with a mission "preventing terrorist attacks within the United States, reducing the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism at home, and minimizing the damage and assisting in the recovery from any attacks that may occur" (http://www.whitehouse.gov/deptofhomeland/analysis/title1.html#101, paragraph 1). The Department of Homeland Security was given five primary responsabilities: information analysis and infrastructure protection; chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and related countermeasures; border and transportation security; emergency preparedness and response; and coordination with other parts of the federal government (http://www.whitehouse.gov/deptofhomeland/analysis/title1.html#101, paragraph 1). It is under its border transportation and security mission that the act has impacted the drug-crime relationship. The Homeland Security Act consolidated many governmental departments under one Homeland Security Department heading. Among the departments effected were U.S. Customs and U.S. Border Patrol, two agencies charged with stemming the flow of drugs at the border. Although the two agencies had similar missions, they reported to different departments, and U.S. Border Patrol was an arm of the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration. Following the passage of the Homeland Security Act, the two departments were merged together under a new heading: U.S. Custom and Border Protection. From that, two new arms of the department were created, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Protection. The new department was given a new mission; "keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States - places CBP on the frontline of the war on terrorism. As the nation's unified border agency, CBP is strategically positioned at and between our ports of entry to prevent further terrorist attacks on our nation. This includes carrying out our traditional border-related responsibilities, such as stemming the tide of illegal drugs and illegal aliens, securing and facilitating legitimate global trade and travel, and protecting our food supply and agriculture industry from pests and disease." (http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/border_security, paragraph 1). Now armed with the same mission and the improved efficiency and communication that comes from reporting to the same leadership, the newly found department would immediately make its mark on the drug trade. Armed with new technology and more manpower (11,000 agents nationwide by the end of 2004), agents were now able to track drug smugglers in the evening, and by 2003, the new department was seeing record numbers of drug seizures (http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/fact_sheets/2004/09172004.xml, paragraph 5). New programs and initiatives were also put into play in an effort to "break the cycle of smuggling into the United States through the Tucson, Arizona corridor ((http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/fact_sheets/2004/09172004.xml, paragraph 9). Drugs are a problem in many communities throughout the world and reducing the supply and availability of illicit drugs is an important component curtailing its use. Concern for the illicit use of drugs has prompted organizations such as the United Nations to consider supply reduction projects also look at ways to broaden international cooperation between governments , strengthen border controls by providing modern equipment and develop training in "best practice" law enforcement procedures (UN Web site http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/drug_supply_reduction.html, paragraph 2). Although law enforcement efforts have had an important impact on the drug-crime relationship, other measures need to be taken worldwide. Efforts aimed at stopping the production, smuggling, sale and use of illicit drugs need to go arm-and-arm with law enforcement measures. Legislation making community development projects, mental health services and income-generating projects more available also need to be considered by lawmakers to ensure that the drug-crime relationship can be stopped once and for all. Web Resources United Nations, www.un.org The White House Policy Page www.whitehouse.gov U.S. Custom and Border Protection www.cbp.gov Read More