NCJ Number
68738
Date Published
1980
Length
146 pages
Annotation
TESTIMONY BY POLICE OFFICIALS, NARCOTICS AGENTS, COAST GUARD OFFICIALS, AND TELEVISION REPORTERS DESCRIBES THE NARCOTICS ENFORCEMENT PROBLEMS PRESENTED BY LOUISIANA'S VAST COASTLINE AND THE LACK OF TRAINED MANPOWER.
Abstract
AS U.S. NARCOTICS OFFICIALS HAVE STEPPED UP THEIR EFFORTS AGAINST SMUGGLING ACTIVITIES IN FLORIDA, THE NARCOTICS TRAFFIC PROBLEM HAS MOVED WEST. LOUISIANA'S MANY BAYS AND INLETS, WHICH ARE SWAMPY AND SPARSELY POPULATED, ARE IDEAL TERRITORY FOR DOPE SMUGGLERS. IN ADDITION, THE PORT CITIES HAVE PROVIDED EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE SMUGGLING OF HARD DRUGS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES. A SECOND PROBLEM, AND ONE JUST AS SEVERE, HAS BEEN THE DIVERSION OF LEGITIMATE DRUGS TO STREET USE. LOUISIANA HAS SEEN A STEADY INCREASE IN DRUGUSE--FROM CHILDREN SMOKING MARIJUANA TO USERS OF COCAINE AND OTHER HARD DRUGS. THE COAST GUARD CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO PATROL THE VAST WATER AREAS SURROUNDING THIS STATE AND NARCOTICS OFFICIALS AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ARE HARD PUT TO STRETCH LIMITED MANPOWER TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. THOSE WORKING ON DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE WAYS TO SEARCH, BUT THOSE SMUGGLING ARE JUST AS INNOVATIVE AND THE PROBLEM IS A LONG WAY FROM SOLUTION. MUCH OF THE TESTIMONY CONTAINS STATISTICS AND DESCRIPTIONS OF ACTUAL DRUG INTERCEPTION STRATEGIES. NEARLY ALL OF THOSE APPEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE EMPHASIZE THAT THE MANPOWER AND EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE IS INSUFFICIENT TO HANDLE THE PROBLEM.