Corruption of Public Officials: An Inevitable Consequence of International Drug Traffic

• NCJ Number: 106061
• Journal: Police Studies Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring 1986) Pages: 34-41
• Author(s): J H Langer
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of the Offender, 1985, Milan

Annotation

Police officers, customs officials, and others with law enforcement responsibilities are sometimes found to have ignored drug law violations, abetted drug traffickers, actively participated in drug-related crime, or kept seized money or drugs.

Abstract

They may be influenced by favors or bribes, public acceptance of drug-related activities, negative public attitudes toward police, and problems in drug law enforcement within the criminal justice system. In drug-producing and transit countries, the economic incentives for corruption are great. In such areas, police misconduct is a part of a larger problem of social, economic, and political corruption. If communities in drug trafficking areas wish to be law-abiding and prevent police misconduct, there must be sufficient public support to overcome the opposition and inertia of the political bureaucracy. The integrity of investigators must be beyond question, and they must have sufficient staff and authority. Political influence and control must be eliminated, and there must be judicial support of investigation, arrest, and prosecution of corrupt officials.