Intro to the War on Drugs

This paper will focus on methods drug traffickers use to get drugs across borders, and different measures law enforcement can take to counter these strategies.

Drug trafficking in the United States is a problem that law enforcement faces on a daily basis. It is done

in such ways that even the keenest officer might not catch. This problem not only faces us domestically

but it is a major problem that we face at our borders as well. Drug traffickers will continue to be

innovative and creative with their methods and law enforcement must be willing and flexible to deal with

these methods. Some Law Enforcement anti-trafficking tactics are K-9 detection dogs, which are such a

valuable tool, random vehicle searches, person searches and intelligence. Law Enforcement intelligence

bulletins and intelligence sharing amongst different agencies is a key necessity to attack such a problem.

Human “mules” are probably one of; if not the most difficult tactics to detect. Mules carry narcotics in

their own bodies and only by x-ray or an accidental overdose by one of the containers breaking would

they be detected. Other means of smuggling include placing narcotics in other living animals, fence

posts, surfboards, and pretty much anything which is hollow or can be hollowed out. Our Law

Enforcement agencies must always strive to be “one up” on these traffickers. Just as the military

maintains flexibility in dealing with terrorists and their maneuvers, domestic law enforcement must use

very similar tactics.

In a DEA congressional testimony given by administrator Donnie R. Marshall in 2001, he described

examples of what types of drug were being smuggled into the United States and by which means,

specifically dealing with the southern U.S./Mexico border. He explained the modes of trafficking as

human mules, compartments in cars and trucks, hiring couriers to walk across the desert, throwing items

over the border fence, and...