Expanding global drug trafficking through Prohibition

Surprisingly, Prohibition developed into one of the central driving forces that significantly promoted global drug trafficking. Over the late twentieth century, international anti-drug campaigns, mainly supported by the United Nations and the United States, intensified the problem rather than solving it. The measures taken led toBoth the production and consumption of illegal substances continued to increase.

International Drug Control Agreements and their Consequences

After World War II, the United Nations took on the role of the former League of Nations and negotiated a number of international drug control agreements. These agreements led to a growing number of banned substances and ensured that behavior and substances were being criminalized more and more. The drug convention of the early 1960s established a new oneInspectorate, which should limit drug production to medically and scientifically necessary quantities.

Extension of drug control measures

In the decades that followed, further agreements were concluded that focused on psychotropic substances, the restriction of opium production, international police cooperation against smuggling and money laundering and the fight against cross-border crime. In the course of a special session of the United Nations General Assembly towards the end of the twentieth centuryan international agreement against organized crime was adopted. This enabled the member states to collect illegally acquired profits from the drug trade and to withdraw the perpetrators’ freedom of movement.

holistic control of drug trafficking

Through these diverse conventions, the states created a wide range of coercive means to combat the entire chain of illegal drug trafficking – from cultivation to trade to consumption. The aim was to completely prevent international drug trafficking and to effectively control all involved players.

America’s early drug policy after World War II

In the years after the Second World War, the United States pursued the goal of preventing the inflow of drugs from the regions of origin. The US government increasingly shifted its drug control to the international level. Since the 1920s, internal problems and corruption scandals in law enforcement authorities had the success of the AmericanDrug policy is always difficult.

The role of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics

After the collapse of the first state anti-drug authority of the Treasury, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics was founded, which for decades was largely headed by Harry Anslinger. Even after alcohol prohibition ended, this authority remained active and continued its drug campaign. Anslinger acted with great assertiveness and built up a network thatalso became internationally active in the Second World War.

Interdependence of drug control and secret services

However, Anslinger’s close ties to intelligence services repeatedly affected the work of the authorities and led to a mixing of drug-fighting and secret service interests. During the war, Anslinger deployed personnel to set up the American intelligence service abroad, creating a close interlocking that worked long after the war ended.

Political influences and entanglements

Political considerations led to certain states not being put under pressure despite obvious involvement in drug trafficking, while others were accused without clear evidence. This approach meant that the American authority for a long time in the dark about the conditions in Asia was groping in the dark and did not know any important drug trafficking players at all.

Restructuring and new strategies in the 1970s

In the 1960s, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics lost its importance, was restructured and eventually replaced by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This organization was more professional and built a global network of employees. Nevertheless, the drug fighting remained closely linked to the interests of the American secret services, which in certain regionscarried out hidden operations and thus actually created legally free rooms for drug dealers.

Conflicts and conflicting politics in Asia

In Asia, American drug fighters’ opportunities remained limited, while intelligence agencies pacted with local drug lords. This contradictory policy made it much more difficult to effectively combat international drug trafficking.

The 1970s drug war

In the 1970s, the American government launched a comprehensive fight against drugs, which initially targeted heroin trade in Asia. Over time, the focus shifted to other regions, especially in the 1980s, to combat coca production in South America.

Priorities and Budgets

The majority of the financial resources went into enforcement of prohibitions and prosecution, while measures to treat addicts and for prevention only made up a small part of the budget. In the 1990s, the US government intensified this course again by providing massive financial and personnel support for programs in other countriesprovided, which were directed against drug cultivation.

Moral reasons and failure of strategy

In public statements, the fight against drugs was presented as a moral obligation to protect basic social values. Despite all these efforts, however, the various American drug wars did not lead to a sustainable solution to the problem. The supply of illegal drugs continued to increase and the production of opium and coca was constantly reaching newhighs.

The increase in US detention

At the same time, the number of detainees in the United States increased sharply due to ever stricter laws and minimum penalties for drug offences. The system incessantly produced new prisoners without actually solving the basic problem.

The 21st Century Battle

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the US continued its global drug warfare, which both drives the detention rate in one’s own country at record highs and has a direct impact on other regions. Many growing areas in Asia and South America are affected by large-scale defoliation programs. At the same time, international law enforcement is being further expanded.

Contradictions and Challenges

However, the international fight against drugs remains characterized by contradictions. On the one hand, the strict persecution and extermination of illegal substances is being relied on, on the other hand, political and secret service interests are always a brake on sustainable solutions. The balance of decades of prohibition policy shows that these approaches have not yet become a permanentcontainment of drug trafficking, but have often created new problems and intensified existing challenges.