Foreign Policy Brief %282%29.docx - Abigail Edgemon...

Abigail Edgemon
55011110
11 November 2020
INR2002.0M2
Pro. Jennifer Forshee
Policy Brief: US Drug Trafficking Policies
with Colombia
Executive Summary : Since the 1980’s, the United States has used fumigation to reduce the
number of coca crops. In 2015, Colombia suspended the United States policy of fumigation due
to making citizens sick and killing legal crops. Since the Colombia government suspended the
crop fumigation program, the United States has pursued crop substitution programs, security
training/ funding, and peace accords. These newly pursued programs helped eliminate the
production of coca for a very short period of time. Colombia’s coca production soon began to
rise, and more violence began to break out. To improve drug trafficking in Colombia, funding
security/military, easing regulatory burdens on the creation of small businesses and simplify the
procedures for registering private property, this would allow more jobs to be created and increase
the capacity for productivity. In doing this, they will experience much better results.

Introduction
Colombia has been battling a significant drug issue since the late 1970’s. More than half
of Colombia’s population is living in poverty (See Appendix, image 2). Because Colombia has
such a high poverty level, many people start going into the coca business because it is easy to
start and they are guaranteed good profits because so many others are wanting the product. Many
farmers in this country that grow legal crops do not make as much as someone who is growing
coca (“ Unintended Consequences of United States Policy in Colombia” ). The growth of coca
production in Colombia has affected many other countries such as Australia and the United
States. As coca production continues to rise, then the amount of deaths, overdose rates, and the
amount of counternotices being used the United States will continue to rise. Due to this, the
United States has continued to be persistent with Colombia in helping them with this drug issue.
Today the growth of coca production is still on the rise. It is important that this drug conflict in
Colombia is seeing major decreasing changes to slowly dissolve drug trafficking. Around the
world thousands are dying due to these drugs, whether that come from violence, or even the
people who are consuming these products. The United States is one of the top consumers of these
narcotics, and in helping Colombia they will be able to help combat the drug issue in other
countries and including theirs. Completely dissolving drug trafficking in Colombia is not an easy
task; however, decreasing production and profits will help not only Colombia but as well as the
United States fight the conflicts that come from these illegal drugs. In this paper, I will attempt to
discuss: the context of the drug trafficking issue, the policies used in the past, currently, and the
policies that can be implemented in the future.