This weeks forum examines the numerous challenges of combatting

This weeks forum examines the numerous challenges of combatting the narcotics threat. From it, you will understand the difficulty in carrying out operations against drug traffickers. Respond to the following question:Compare the intelligence function and effectiveness of the U.S. counter-narcotics agencies with that of the narcotics traffickers.I look forward to your thoughts!Instructions: Your initial post should be at least 250 words.Lesson
U.S. counter-narcotics efforts have had great successes thanks to effective policies and laws, efficient agency resources and capabilities, increasing cooperation among agencies and countries, and evolving intelligence collection and analysis methods and proficiency. However, these efforts are impeded by the determination of drug traffickers to continue and expand their operations.A primary impediment to successful counter-narcotics efforts is economics. Drug trafficking is profitable very profitable. Drug traffickers from international DTOs to retail distributors on the street will do what they need to continue operations. When law enforcement finds a successful method of combating traffickers, the DTOs just change their operations (new route or smuggling method, use different chemicals to produce a drug such as meth, change communication methods).DTos have considerable influence in their communities that often enables them to carry out their illicit activities with little obstruction from citizens and often law enforcement.DTOs frequently change their methods of operation to avoid counter-narcotics efforts. This in turn forces law enforcement to continually change their operational methods, stretching the time and monetary resources available.Several challenges exist within and among the agencies engaged in counter-narcotics efforts.Looking back at our first week lesson, we re-consider the threat of drug trafficking to national security. The threat has many componentsthe violence of DTOs, the health of users, the dangers of production, the economic consequences, the current and potential links to other crimes, the safety of communities. Globally, drug trafficking threatens the legitimacy of the financial system, impedes progress in developing countries, and facilities transnational criminal activity. According to the United Nations, marked growth in the number of illicit drug users can be expected in the developing countries. This suggests that a relative shift of the burden of the global drug problem from the developed countries to the currently developing countries will continue over the coming decades (UN WDR 98). This will further stress resources of not only these countries but also the main players in the international counter-narcotics efforts such as the United States.Drug trafficking is a threat that is difficult if not impossible to mitigate completely. DTOs resources and influence enable them to continually improve trafficking operations and thus, to continually challenge counter-narcotics agencies.As such, counter-narcotics agencies will continue to use intelligence methods and operations to lesson this risk.Executive Office of the President of the United States,. Washington, DC, 2013.United Nation Office of Drugs and Crime,. Vienna, Austria, 2012.