Drug Trafficking & Interdiction

The commercial exchange of illegal drugs including the equipment and substances involved in producing, manufacturing and using these drugs is known as drug trafficking. Interdiction, or prohibition by court order, is then established by governments to enforce, deter and eradicate the exchange of such illegal goods.

Interdiction efforts directed at drug trafficking vary across the globe although, the international nature of drug trafficking prevents any country from combating the trade alone. Organizations such as the United Nations Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention are working to maintain and assist international interdiction activities and encourage countries to join international drug control efforts. The US government has officially called for a 'War Against Drugs' and consequently, the nation plays a leading role in the push for aggressive counter-drug tactics across the globe. Their activities focus on interdiction and eradication operations in drug transit zones and source countries, and also urge other countries to adopt 'drug war' policies.

Despite these efforts, it is estimated by the United Nations that only 10-15 per cent of heroin and 30 per cent of cocaine is intercepted worldwide. At least 70 per cent of international drug shipments need to be intercepted to substantially reduce the industry. Reports suggest that there has been an increase in successful interceptions however, the drug market continues to produce the same, or even higher, quantities of illicit drugs. Developed efforts of drug control authorities in some countries have merely moved drug trafficking operations to weaker jurisdictions and forced greater organizational sophistication. Economists call this the balloon effect since squeezing by law enforcement in one area only leads to a rise elsewhere.

This balloon effect is commonly seen in South and Central Asia, and Latin America, where the majority of illicit drugs is produced and trafficked and where international interdiction efforts are focused. Drug trafficking continues to expand, with networks including cross-border cooperation and international connections. This growth and increased organization results not only from an expanding consumer market, but from poverty. The war against drugs increases the cost of drugs, making drug production and sale more profitable and therefore more attractive - particularly to those living in poverty. Drug trafficking across the world exists as a $400 billion (US) trade - drug traffickers earn gross profit margins of 300 per cent.

In recent times some nations have shifted their drug policy focus away from law enforcement and interdiction towards harm-reduction based on the idea that reducing consumption will help to stem profitability and therefore the flow and production of controlled drugs. Harm reduction moves government resources currently devoted to punitive approaches and interdiction efforts towards a focus on drug education and affirmative alternatives to drug abuse and incarceration. This would reduce the use of drugs, and the reduction of drug trafficking (and therefore the need for interdiction) would follow.