| DEA Statement |
Response |
| For the first time in American history, we have to look beyond our own
borders for those responsible for the violence on our streets. |
If the DEA was familiar with the history of these issues, they would know
that the same accusation was made in the 1950s against the Communists. |
| The drug-related crime and violence that plagues American communities can
be traced to the crime syndicates headquartered in foreign countries. |
The DEA fails to note that the vast majority of drug-related violence is
caused by an entirely American product - aclohol. The drug related violence connected
with illegal drugs is primarily "money-related" violence, caused by competition
over the extraordinarily high profits in the drug trade. This is a direct result of
prohibition, just as the St. Valentine's Day Massacre was caused by alcohol prohibition.
See Psychoactive Substances and Violence,
by the US Department of Justice. |
| Other countries are involved in cultivation and manufacture of illicit
substances, the sale of precursor chemicals necessary to make the illicit drugs, the
transportation of these drugs into the United States, and the laundering of the profits
made from the sale of these drugs. Still other countries are used as transshipment points. |
This is true because the huge market in the US, coupled with the high
profits guaranteed by the DEA's actions, has made it the most profitable thing the people
in these countries can do. |
| Recognizing the international nature of drug trafficking, the DEA
maintains offices in 44 countries; often located in American Embassies. The DEA Office of
International Operations oversees all international drug investigations and operations via
four regional geographic sections; each of which presents unique challenges to drug law
enforcement. |
"Unique challenges" is the DEA's way of saying that it would be
flatly impossible to make a major dent in thesupply of drugs in any of these regions. |
| Mexico/Central America: The DEA monitors and reviews operations
primarily concerned with the cultivation, production, and movement of cocaine, heroin, and
marijuana into the United States from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean region.
Identification and seizure of drug-related assets are also major concerns in this region. |
The DEA fails to note that corruption is so rampant in Mexico that they
recently arrested Mexico's own Drug Czar. In view of the fact that the drug trade is
Mexico's largest source of income, this should not surprise anyone. |
| Latin America: The DEA monitors and reviews operations primarily
concerned with the cultivation, production, and movement of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana
into the United States from South America. |
|
| Europe/Mid-East/Africa: The DEA monitors and reviews operations
primarily concerned with the cultivation of opium and the distribution of heroin from
Southwest Asia to Europe and the United States. The breakup of the former Soviet Union has
led to a problem in source and transshipment points for drugs in the newly independent
states. Of further concern is heroin trafficking from Nigeria, as well as cocaine
transiting through South Africa to Europe and the United States. |
|
| Far East: The DEA monitors and reviews operations primarily
concerned with heroin trafficking opium cultivation, and the production and movement of
Southeast Asian heroin (and marijuana) from the cultivation areas in the Golden Triangle
through transshipment points to the United States. |
|
| The DEA's primary goal in overseas operations is to improve the
effectiveness of host nation law enforcement organizations to the point that they become
self-sufficient in combating the production and transportation of illicit drugs, and to
conduct investigations against significant drug traffickers. To this end, DEA provides
advisory training, intelligence, communications, and material support to foreign
countries. |
|
| The International Visitor Program
This program was created to accommodate the great number of international visitors that
receive briefings at DEA headquarters. This program is responsible for the development,
planning, and coordination of visits to DEA Headquarters and field offices by foreign
officials and U.S. diplomats. The goal of the program is to educate visitors about DEA's
operations, and to develop support and cooperation from the participating foreign
governments for the DEA's drug law enforcement mission. In addition, DEA officials brief
U.S. diplomats, prior to their overseas assignment, regarding drug trafficking trends and
counternarcotics activities in their host countries. |
|
DRCNet Response to the 
