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Latin American drug trade requires varied approach

26 May 2016

Expert

Author:

Dr. Joseph S. Tulchin

Region:

Central & South America

A Colombian anti-narcotics policeman holds up part of a coca plant — An anti-narcotics policeman shows an illegal coca plant in Tolima, Colombia (source: dpa)

Focus on attacking production, rather than consumption, has had disastrous results
Violence and corruption have escalated in countries along the transit route for illegal drugs to the United States
New policy approaches will be needed from both the U.S and Latin America

Over the past two decades, the production, trafficking and consumption of illegal drugs has spread throughout North and South America, as well as Europe, with devastating consequences. Latin America has suffered the most from the international community’s insistence on dysfunctional drug policies.

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