The Deceptive Gains of the War on Drugs

World Policy: Robert Valencia.
Recently, the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowske, shared what he considered great news: According to numbers from the White House, potential cocaine production in Colombia had dropped by 72 percent since 2001. This ranks the country third in production of the substance, behind neighbors Peru and Bolivia. During a conference in Washington DC on July 30, 2012, Kerlikowske explained that potential production of pure cocaine in Colombia was “down to 195 metric tons (in 2011) from 700 metrics tons in 2001,” the lowest production level since 1994. He underscored that since 1995, Colombia has been producing “less cocaine” than Peru and Bolivia. Read more.

U.S. Drug War Expands to Africa, a Newer Hub for Cartels

NY Times: Charlie Savage and Thom Shanker. Washington - In a significant expansion of the war on drugs, the United States has begun training an elite unit of counternarcotics police in Ghana and planning similar units in Nigeria and Kenya as part of an effort to combat the Latin American cartels that are increasingly using Africa to smuggle cocaine into Europe.

The growing American involvement in Africa follows an earlier escalation of antidrug efforts in Central America, according to documents, Congressional testimony and interviews with a range of officials at the State Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Pentagon. Read more.

U.S. Priority on Illegal Drugs Debated as Pill Abuse Rises

NY Times: MEXICO CITY — America’s drug problem is shifting from illicit substances like cocaine to abuse of prescription painkillers, a change that is forcing policy makers to re-examine the long and expensive strategy of trying to stop illegal drugs from entering the United States.

This rethinking extends beyond the United States, where policy makers are debating how to better reduce demand for painkillers. The effects would also be felt here and in Central America: With the drug wars in Mexico flaming violence, some argue that the money now used for interdiction could be better spent building up the institutions — especially courts and prosecutors’ offices — which would lead to long term stability in Mexico and elsewhere. Read more.

Drugs and Violence Underscore U.S. Influence in Honduras

Upside Down World: (IPS) - A rise in drug trafficking in Honduras has resulted in a sharp increase in violence, leading some to question the United States’ influence in the country.

Honduras, along with several other Central American countries, has become a transshipment point for U.S.-bound illegal drugs, predominantly cocaine. This has led to wide-scale drug intervention efforts, which has subsequently led to an increasingly bloody effort to stymie the trafficking.

Fueled by the violence surrounding the drug trade, and the failure of security forces in the country, the war on drugs in Honduras has been marred by a rapid increase in homicides. In 2005, there were 2,417 homicides. By 2010, the numbers of homicides jumped up 158 percent from 2005, to a total of 6,239 homicides. Read more.

Mexico seeks more international cooperation in war on drugs

Fox News Latino: Mexico wants to expand international cooperation in the war on drugs to create "new strategies and lines of action," Mexican Deputy Attorney General for Judicial and International Affairs Alejandro Ramos told Efe.

"Mexico's biggest concern is promoting international cooperation at a higher level of effectiveness," Ramos said Monday at the international anti-drug meeting in Lima.

Drug trafficking is a problem that affects all countries and Mexico is promoting a global approach because distinctions should not be made among consumers, producers and transit areas, Ramos said.

"What Mexico is pushing for in the hemisphere is to move from having meetings of a political nature to taking action to create a center to coordinate sensitive intelligence about criminal organizations that can be shared in a secure manner," the deputy AG said. Read more.

Man Is Killed by U.S. Agent in Drug Raid in Honduras

The U.S. becomes more involved in counternarcotics operations in Central America.  

NY Times: WASHINGTON — A United States Drug Enforcement Administration agent shot a man to death in Honduras during a raid on a smuggling operation early Saturday, a spokesman for the American Embassy in Honduras said Sunday. The man who was killed had been reaching for his weapon, the official said, and the agent fired in self-defense.

The shooting brought further attention to the growing American involvement in counternarcotics operations in Central America. Commando-style squads of D.E.A. agents have been working with local security forces in several countries and have been present at several firefights in Honduras in which people have died in the last 15 months.

The latest episode, however, is the first in which the United States government has said that an American agent, rather than a Honduran police officer, has killed a suspect. The shooting underscored the delicate issues of national sovereignty raised by the growing American participation in the operations. Read more. 

Drug Policy Debate: Americas Program Laura Carlsen, Drug Policy Alliance Ethan Nadelmann on Proposals in Latin America to legalize drugs

WBEZ: "The debate to legalize drugs has moved from the political fringes into more mainstream discussions. With the cartels’ grip on Mexico and drug violence spiking in Central America, many Latin American leaders are fed up and considering alternatives. At the end of the month, some of them will gather in Guatemala to discuss the recent proposal to legalize drugs put forth by Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina.

Today, Worldview spends the hour debating legalization and discussing the issues surrounding the massive drug problem in the Americas. Johanna Mendelson Forman, senior associate in the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, and Laura Carlsen, director of the Americas Program of the Center for International Policy in Mexico City."
pod cast

Drug Policy Debate: British Parliament committee supports decriminalization of drugs in Latin America

Milenio: "The British Parliament has sent a letter to the presidents of Mexico, Colombia and Central American countries to show their support for the initiative by Guatemala to begin an international dialogue on the decriminalization of drugs, reported the Guatemalan Embassy in London .

The letter, signed on 19 March by Baroness Molly Meacher, chairman of the committee on drug policy of the British Parliament, encourages participants in the summit of heads of state from Central America to discuss "a challenging problem" for their countries.

That meeting, to be held on March 24 in Antigua (Guatemala), aims to achieve a common position in the region regarding the initiative of Guatemalan President, Otto Perez Molina, to begin an international dialogue on the possible decriminalization of drugs .

After arriving at an agreement, the initiative would then be debated at the Summit of the Americas to be held in Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) April 14 to 15 and attended by 34 heads of state or government, including U.S. President Barack Obama.

Baroness Meacher, who has addressed to the presidents of Colombia, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, said "it would be very valuable to not waste this occasion. The initiative offers the opportunity to begin a process of debate." Meacher hopes that recipients agree to include this issue "of global importance" on the agenda of the meeting in Cartagena de Indias.

In addition, the committee offers, in the letter, to involve the world's leading experts in the preparation of policies and other preparatory work.

"Only through dialogue, a serious examination of different policies and a determination to reduce the terrible damage caused by the current law, can progrsss be made," the message said. The Baroness Meacher was speaking on behalf of 75 members of different parties that are part of the drug committee of Parliament." Spanish original

End the Drug War - By Fulton T. Armstrong

This reviews the facts that we all know, but it is from a Washington "insider" who has been in all the "inside" decision-making centers. Fulton T. Armstrong has worked on Mexico, Central America, and counternarcotics at the National Security Council, National Intelligence Council, CIA, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He is a senior fellow at American University's Center for Latin American and Latino Studies.


Foreign Policy: "All the evidence suggests that the efforts to crush Mexico's violent drug cartels have failed. Why won't the White House listen?

... we must launch a serious dialogue here on legalizing, or at least decriminalizing, the drugs. It's not a perfect solution, but it's better than no solution at all."

Central American Drug War: Government Negotiates Reduction in Homicides with Gangs

More details on the alleged deal between El Salvador's government and the Mara Salvatrucha gang. 

ElFaro.net: "Last week, between Thursday and Saturday, around 30 gang members, leaders of the Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18, were moved from El Salvador's maximum-security prison to less secure jails. Among them were"Viejo Lin", "Chino Tres Colas", "El Diablito" and "El Trece." The transfers were part of a pact between the gangs and the Salvadoran government." read more

Drug War - Central America: El Salvador Denies Negotiating with Gangs

InSightCrime: "El Salvador's government has denied reports that it made a deal to give imprisoned gang bosses better living conditions in exchange for a reduction in violence.

Last week, El Faro reported that, according to its sources, the transfer of 30 gang members from a maximum security prison to lower security facilities was part of a government deal to bring down rates of violence. The transfers took place between March 9 and 11. El Faro spoke to a gang member on the outside who received an order on March 10 to keep violence to a minimum, as their side of the bargain. He immediately called his men to cancel two murders that had been planned for later that day.

Some of El Faro's sources suggested that payments had also been made to the gang bosses. In the seven days following the transfer there were a total of 44 murders, averaging just over six a day. This constitutes a drop of 53 percent from the first 12 weeks of the year, according to El Faro.

Defense Minister David Munguia called a news conference on Friday to deny El Faro's allegations. "I want the following statement to be loud and clear ... the government of the republic is not at any time negotiating with any gang," he declared." read more

Drug War Militarization: Southcom Sets Sights on Central America

InSigth Crime: "The chief of the US Southern Command has suggested a growing interest in combating Central American criminal groups, though it’s not clear that greater involvement of the US military would have a positive impact on security in the region.

In his appearance before the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 13, Air Force General Douglas Fraser emphasized that the Southern Command (Southcom) has its eye on the crime-ridden nations of Central America. He told the panel that criminal groups operating in the region are “seriously impacting citizen safety in Central America, especially Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras,” adding that they “threaten to overwhelm law enforcement capacities.”" read more

Drug War: Head of Northern Command says it is too early to tell if drug war in Mexico is being won.

La Jornada: "The head of U.S. Northern Command said today it is "too early to estimate whether the drug war in Mexico is being won or lost," despite "the brave decision" to put the military in the streets.

Gen. Charles Jacoby, head of Northern Command (Northcom), responsible for U.S. military affairs in North America (U.S., Canada and Mexico), appeared today (Tuesday) before the Armed Services Committee of the Senate and was asked to assess the security situation in Mexico.

He said, "the violence increased again in 2011. It began to decline at the end of the year, but I don't think there is any conclusions that might be drawn from that. Therefore, Mexicans are struggling hard with a brutal and adaptable enemy, and in my opinion, they have not faltered. They are taking the fight to transnational criminal organizations, but there is still much work to do, and we look forward to continuing to provide the support they request in that fight."

Senator John McCain had asked the general--given that almost 50 thousand Mexican citizens have been killed since 2006, almost 13,000 in 2011, and the U.S. government has issued warnings to travelers regarding areas in northern Mexico--if this "indicates that we are winning or losing, or it is a stalemate."

Jacoby, pressed to give an assessment of whether the Mexican government's efforts on this area are a success or failure, said "the violence has grown. It was not a huge leap this year, but those numbers are unacceptable, adding that the travel warnings, like the one issued to Nuevo Laredo, are indicative of the safety issue along the border.

At the same time, he felt that the strategy of decapitation of the cartels has been "successful", given that 22 of the 37 most wanted drug traffickers have been "removed from the board." However, he said, "this has not had a significant, positive effect. So I agree that there are other things that need to be done. The Mexican military is working on trying to establish security, to reduce violence in communities, especially in the northeast, and I think that is the right strategy to follow."

Asked about his assessment of the security situation on the border with Mexico, the General, a veteran of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, said that everything bad that is attributed to transnational criminal organizations is evident on the border. "We know from our experiences in Afghanistan and Iraq on the border, weak institutions are exploited by malicious, illegal activity and this, the heart and soul, the economic engine of transnational criminal organizations, is expressed at the border ... smuggling of weapons, cash and drugs. "

The general told the audience that "we are constantly improving our security cooperation with our good friends in Mexico ... a step determined by mutual agreement and consistent respect for national sovereignty."

At the same hearing, General Douglas Fraser, head of Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), responsible for military relations and security issues in Central and South America and the Caribbean, also appeared.

Asked about the recent declaration of the second state of military siege by the authorities in Guatemala--arising from the growing violence from Mexican drug cartels operating in that country, General Fraser said: "By Mexico increasing the pressure, we see that the networks, particularly the Zetas and the Sinaloa cartel, are moving into Central America. Guatemala is obviously the first place, but we see their footprints all over Central America.."" read more

Drug War Debate: US "willing to listen to 'legitimate' debate on drugs" at Summit of the Americas

Milenio/EFE: "The U.S. government said today that it is willing to listen to the views of all countries in the  "legitimate" debate about the war on drugs at the Summit of the Americas, but insisted that, for the administration of President Barack Obama, legalization "is not the solution."

"We are ready to have a good dialogue between all countries to hear their views," said John Feely, coordinator for the Summit of the Americas for the U.S. State Department, in a conference at the Center for Analysis for Inter-American Dialogue in Washington.

"The United States recognizes that the debate on new policies for the war on drugs" is legitimate," but "for us, frankly, legalization is not the solution," said Feely. For the U.S., which admits its "responsibility" in relation to drug use, "legalization" is not on the table," he reaffirmed.

The Colombian president, Juan Manuel Santos, who will host the summit to be held in Cartagena on April14 and 15, has said that one of the topics to be discussed is the problem of drug trafficking and the measures taken to combat it in recent decades, without the expected results for the continent.

The president of Guatemala, Otto Perez, advocates the decriminalization of drugs and will meet with his Central American counterparts on March 24 to discuss their proposal prior to the Summit of the Americas.

The coordinator for the Summit of the Americas from the Foreign Ministry of Colombia, Jaime Giron, said, at the same conference, that to initiate a discussion about drugs at Cartagena "is a good start," even though no consensus is reached. read more

Drug Policy Debate: Legalization Debate Takes Off in Latin America

Huffington Post: "Something incredible is happening right now in Latin America. After decades of being brutalized by the U.S. government's failed prohibitionist drug policies, Latin American leaders, including not just distinguished former presidents but also current presidents, are saying "enough is enough." They're demanding that the range of policy options be expanded to include alternatives that help reduce the crime, violence and corruption in their own countries -- and insisting that decriminalization and legal regulation of currently illicit drug markets be considered." read more

Drug War Debate: US agrees to discuss drug legalization at regional summit

Hum? How will this be a discussion if the U.S. will only state its opposition to drug legalization and not listen to another point of view?

Colombia Reports: "The United States will discuss drug legalization in a multilateral setting for the first time at the upcoming Summit of the Americas in Colombia, reported newspaper El Tiempo Friday.

Despite their decision to join talks, there is no indication the U.S. position firmly against legalization has changed. "We are ready to discuss the issue to express our opinion on why it is not the way to address the problem," said Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Mike Hammer." read more

Drug Policy Debate: U.S. Faces Challenge to "Drug War" as Latin American Countries Mull Decriminalization, Legalization

DemocracyNow: "As Vice President Joe Biden wraps up a trip to Central America insisting the drug war must continue, a growing number of Latin American leaders are calling for the decriminalization or legalization of drugs. "This debate now is no longer going to be suppressed," says Ethan Nadelmann, founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance." Once U.S. officials are obliged to participate in the discussion and to do it in a real way, the smartest among them know there’s no way to defend the current U.S. strategy."" see video

Drug Policy Debate: Central American presidents to discuss options in combating drug trafficking

Vice President Biden apparently thinks the U.S. has Central America in its pocket on the drug war. But apparently local leaders have other possibilities in mind. 

La Jornada: "President Porfirio Lobo of Honduras said Friday that his counterparts in Colombia, Jose Manuel Santos, and Mexico, Felipe Calderón, will join their Central American peers on March 24 in Guatemala to discuss alternatives combating drug trafficking, including decriminalization.

However, in Mexico City, sources from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and president's office reported that, to date, the attendance of the Mexican president has not been contemplated, because on March 24, Pope Benedict XVI will visit the country.

Lobo said that the Central American presidents entrusted to him to invite Santos and Calderon to Guatemala and that they have responded positively to the invitation.

Last Tuesday in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, the presidents of Central American Security Initiative (CASI) met with the U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, to address issues relating to regional security. Subsequently, the regional leaders held a separate meeting to hear Guatemalan Otto Perez' proposal to convene a meeting to discuss alternative strategies to combat drug trafficking, which is generating growing violence in Central America.

Lobo said , "Yesterday (Thursday) I contacted President Santos. He told me that he has been working on this issue and (...) he was seekiing an agreement with the president of Mexico to bring some position to Guatemala on March 24." The president of Honduras said that Central Americans "are paying with many lives for the problem of drug trafficking and we have to find some alternatives to lower the levels of violence in the region."

Central America is considered the most violent region in the world, especially the north, including Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The latter country has a rate of 85 homicides per 100 000 inhabitants, one of the highest in the world." Spanish original

Drug Trade: US State Department Report Paints Grim Picture of Central American Drug Trade

The Pan-American Post: "The US State Department 2012 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report was released Wednesday...

It warns that the security situation will likely continue to deteriorate in Belize, which the White House added to its list of major drug producing and transit countries in 2011.... The outlook is similarly grim for countries in the Northern Triangle. 79 percent of all cocaine smuggling flights from South America now pass through Honduras.... Meanwhile, 15 percent of the total cocaine exports which enter the US first pass through Guatemala. El Salvador, which along with Belize was named a major drug transit country for the first time last year, is also described as facing serious security challenges. 


... On drug trafficking and Mexico, the report finds that drug-related murders rose 20 percent between 2010 and 2011, and that much of the fight over drug trafficking routes involves “multiple fractured organizations.” The domestic market for drugs in Mexico is growing, especially in the northern border states, where drugs are used as payment for smugglers. 


Other trafficking trends include the increased presence of Mexican smugglers in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. Rather than maritime or air routes, land corridors through Mexico and Central America are now the most important smuggling routes for cocaine headed to the US, the report says. ... Mexico’s major drug trafficking organizations may be fracturing, but “significant challenges” still remain, the report concludes." read more"

Drug Policy Debate: We are not close to winning the war against the narcos: Head of OAS

La Jornada: "The secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, said that "we need to try something else" in the fight against drugs that is being let loose on the continent, because "we are not close to winning" this war: "How many more things have to happen for this to end, how many more prisoners, what quantity of drugs should be confiscated?" he asked.

He said it is necessary to seek other strategies that place greater emphasis on demand in the drug-consuming countries and on the attack on bank secrecy and hidden money flows.

At the conference, "The Inter-American Order Faces the Challenges of Globalization: old and new actors in the world order," held at the Autonomous Metropolitan University of Xochimilco, Insulza pointed out: "We have many prisoners in the Americas resulting from the war against organized crime and we have also confiscated much wealth, but for some reason it doesn't appear that we may be having much success." He said that the drug war grabbed hold of President Nixon at the beginning of the decade of the 70's." And he asked if, after more than 40 years of this struggle, the outcome is a failure.

"To use the word failure properly, one has to understand that in 2010, according to estimates by international agencies, nearly half the cocaine shipments in the world were seized, and of the 3,600,000 people throughout the Americans (outside the U.S.) who are in prison, one third is for drugs. "That is, more than 1,200,000 people in (Latin) America are locked up because of drugs...." Spanish original