Drug Trafficking in Latin America

The U.S. Army has supported the war on drugs for more than two decades. Military intervention became possible when the legal restrictions against the use of military for law enforcement were relaxed by a series of acts of Congress during the Reagan administration. Since early 1980, military units have supported the federal, state and local authorities in operations to combat drugs. More support for military missions was given to the monitoring of air, sea, land and transit planning and training in military tactics, joint exercises, intelligence and logistical support. In 1989, the role of the military in law enforcement was expanded in office. The invasion of Panama in 1989 occurred in part because the military dictator, General Manuel Noriega, was indicted by two federal judges in Florida on drug trafficking. Panama was a major drug routes and the military mission is vital to capture Noriega and bring him to the police for prosecution. At that time, the invasion of Panama (Operation Just Cause), was the largest of its kind of military intervention since the war in Vietnam.

Over 27, 000 U.S. military participated in the conflict that has succumbed to an attack quickly, in less than ten days. After the resignation of the military, Noriega was arrested, processed and subsequently arrested in Florida. The use of the military to maintain a head of state to the drug trade is unprecedented, paving the way for greater military role in functions of the application of international law. Although the drug was not the only reason for the invasion of Panama, stop the flow of illegal drugs in the U.S. was the desired outcome of the Bush administration [Senior]. In other countries, the underlying relationship between drugs and conflict sets for different reasons. Illicit drug profits have financed armed conflict and terrorism around the world. In addition, the drug trade has brought misery to the lives of millions. Undermined the rule of law in the developed and developing countries and subversive operations and peace agreements in several regions. During the Cold War, the insurgent groups was based on the state sponsors to fund their operations.

With the fall of Communism, groups of more and more funding depends on the profits of its operations with drug trafficking. Cross-border trade has become even religious extremists who have overcome their historical aversion to drug trafficking. Terrorist groups, in particular, are drug trafficking as a way to overcome the low income of the sponsors, state prosecutors, charities, front companies and banks that had their assets frozen or seized at the national conventions international and internationally. Some Islamic leaders have gone so far as to issue fatwas or decrees to decriminalize drug distribution to non-Muslims. These religious leaders have been illegal drugs as a destructive weapon that can be used against Western society.

Organized crime, terrorism and conflict have a tendency to the intersection of major drug-producing regions of the world: South America's Andean region (Colombia, Peru and Bolivia), gold Cescente (Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran), and Golden Triangle (Burma, Laos and Thailand). Organized crime, corruption and violence are deeply rooted in these areas and medicines exported from these states threaten the national security. Colombia, Afghanistan and Myanmar are the three countries to illustrate graphically how the production and trafficking of illegal drugs can contribute to conflict and regional instability. Colombia, the world's largest producer of cocaine, is steeped in violence and conflict generated by the illicit drug trade. After decades of anti-drug programs Pastrana government fought for its survival against narco-trafficking "guerrillas, terrorists and organized criminal groups. These groups are terrorizing the civilian population and commit serious and violent crimes with impunity. At least 50 percent of Colombia's territory is under the control of insurrection or paramilitary organizations. About 40,000 Colombians were murdered in the last decade of internal conflict in the country and 1.7 million people were internally displaced.

Shelley notes that Colombia has been a stable democracy, but organized crime has become - is a key feature of the economy. The insidious effects of drugs and infighting led to a collapse of the rule of law and state sovereignty challenges. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Defence Forces of Colombia [better known by its Spanish acronym (AUC)] are the armed factions are responsible for much of the violence in the country. The three terrorists are contained in the foreign State Department. They have most of their revenues by taxing drug production, processing coca into cocaine, or charge to protect coca plantations, production facilities, routes and transshipment. Some armed groups may be as much as 70% of its funding from drug trafficking operation. Drug profits are used to buy weapons, recruit new members and the Fund for military and terrorist operations. In an effort to bring stability to the country, President Pastrana initiated peace talks with the FARC in 1998.

The FARC, the largest guerrilla movement with more than 17,000 fighters, was allowed to operate freely in an area the size of Switzerland as they were in discussions about peace. During the three years of the peace process, leftist rebels continued to generate income through extortion, drug trafficking and kidnapping. In February 2002, the peace process collapsed when the rebels hijacked a civilian airliner and a Colombian senator. "President Pastrana responded by announcing an end to peace negotiations and the dispatch of troops to establish control of the demilitarized zone. The original group of ideology as a peasant movement was long ago replaced by the immediate desire to maintain wealth and power through illicit drug trade. In addition to clashes with the Colombian military, FARC also deal with the AUC in Colombia - a coalition of right paramilitaries and death squads that began in the early 1960 by wealthy drug traffickers who were tired of being exploited by leftist guerrillas and the FARC. These groups have been enriched in the drug trade for drug dealers and corporate taxation.

As the paramilitaries have increased their participation in the drug trade, there was a corresponding increase its influence and its ability to attract the young unemployed. The paramilitary groups are already twice as big as they were in 1998 and are responsible for the vast majority of human rights atrocities, including mass killings, torture and murder. "The main armed factions in a permanent state of war with Colombia few interruptions. The U.S. is giving $ 1.3 billion in aid to the Colombian government to make drastic cuts in production and trafficking illicit drugs. Because drug trafficking and insurgency movements are so closely linked, any success in operations against drugs diminish the ability of the guerrillas and the paramilitaries to support military operations. A double counter narcotics and strategies to combat insurgency operations has articulated an integrated campaign management will? Alvaro Uribe Velez, the best opportunity to reduce the level of drugs and violence in Colombian society. In the long term, economic component of Plan Colombia, assumes greater importance.

Without reforms and viable options both social and economic, trade in illegal drugs, continues to attract the corrupt and violent criminal elements. Over the past six years, coca cultivation decreased by over 70 percent in Bolivia and Peru.