U.S. Kingpin Strategy: Targeting Drug Traffickers

22:20, October 25, 2012

In an ongoing five-part series, the Baker Institute of Public Policy at Rice University weighs the pros and cons of the United States Government’s Kingpin Strategy, a policy approach which tackles drug trafficking by targeting the criminals themselves, not the crimes.

The strategy initially targeted cocaine trafficking organizations operating out of Medellin and Cali, Colombia, with most of the focus placed on the Cali cartel, writes the Baker Institute’s drug fellow Gary Hale.  It was developed after reviewing the "drug trafficking business cycle" which Hale says closely resembles any other commercial enterprise. The DEA and other enforcement groups recognized that the common thread was the "command-and-control elements" that provided leadership, authority, management, and direction for criminal activities.  Read more... (303 words)

Armenian News