Federal Drug Enforcement and Supply Control Efforts

A review of the gains made to reduce the adverse impact of illegal drugs indicates that the gains are fragile requiring constant vigilance. For example, as one source of heroin is halted temporarily, another source emerges as the principal supplier. Additionally, as heroin becomes increasingly difficult to obtain, the usage of other dangerous drugs increases. Thus the diversion of legal drugs becomes a major problem. All branches of the Government need to take action to strengthen the Nation's supply reduction efforts. Previous Federal efforts to reduce drug trafficking by immobilizing major violators have fallen short of expections. Incarcerating major traffickers for long periods and seizing their financial resources has not been accomplished to a sufficient extent. Thus the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) must improve its capabilities in this area. This can be accomplished by training DEA agents in financial conspiracy techniques, by hiring financial specialists to assist in investigations, and by exercising direct regulatory authority over retail-level practitioners. Additionally, the Attorney General should establish a clear, realistic policy on what can reasonably be expected from State and local governments and what the Federal Government should do to elicit their support. This policy should include a determination of the role of DEA in cooperating with and assisting State and local drug enforcement efforts. This role should provide for such things as training, exchanging intelligence, and furnishing technical equipment, but should discourage Federal involvement in actions against low-level violators. The policy should also take into consideration the adverse effects of financial and political realities that have hindered cooperation among agencies. While international cooperation cannot be fully realized at this time, efforts to obtain greater support must be continual and stressed at the highest levels of Government and in international forums.