Drug Interdiction: Can We Stop the New Pancho Villa?

Abstract

This monograph examines the role which the United States Army can play in counter-drug operations. First, the current drug threat to the United States is analyzed for vulnerability to American action. Areas where drugs can be attacked are at the source, in transit, and at their destination. Each area is analyzed in terms of Army capabilities, domestic reaction, international reaction, and drug smuggler reactions. Interdiction at the borders of the United States is determined to be the most visible method for attacking drugs using the Army. Two historical examples are analyzed to determine the capability for using the Army at the borders. The examples are American Army operations designed to stop cross-border incursions during the time of the Mexican Revolution and East German frontier sealing operations. The monograph concludes that the United States Army, if augmented by modern technology could successfully conduct drug interdiction at the southwest border today.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 04, 1990
Accession Number
ADA234007

Entities

People

  • Mark L. Van Drie

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Sensors
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Criminal Justice System
  • Criminals
  • Department Of Defense
  • Drug Abuse
  • Drug Trafficking
  • Employment
  • Geography
  • Governments
  • Law
  • Law Enforcement
  • Military Operations
  • Military Science
  • Personnel Management
  • Street Drugs
  • United States
  • Warfare
  • Warning Systems

Readers

  • Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse Science in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Strategic Security Studies