Statement of Rudolph Guiliani Before the House Subcommittee on Crime on December 10, 1981, Concerning Narcotics Enforcement

• NCJ Number: 80585
• Author(s): R Guiliani
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 22 pages
• Corporate Author: US Attorney General
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The Reagan Administration's strategy for drug law enforcement is presented before the House Subcommittee on Crime on December 10, 1981.

Abstract

The Reagan Administration will attack drug trafficking in three distinct areas: (1) in the source countries, where illicit narcotic crops flourish; (2) at United States borders and on the high seas, where stepped-up drug interdiction efforts are essential; and (3) domestically, where drug law enforcement and other relevant laws must be made more effective. International initiatives will include eradication of crops that yield heroin, cocaine, and marihuana and treaties with other countries for valuable assistance in obtaining evidence from abroad and in extraditing those who traffic in drugs and violation of U.S. laws. Ad hoc agreements with other nations also permit vessels registered under their flags to be boarded and searched when the vessel is suspected of transporting drugs destined for the United States. An important step in improving interdiction efforts on the high seas and at U.S. borders is the recent enactment of Public Law 97-86, which amended the Posse Comitatus Act. This legislation removes limitations on military assistance in drug enforcement. Chief among efforts to improve domestic drug law enforcement is the ongoing effort to achieve a more active drug enforcement role for the FBI and better coordination between the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The countering of heroin trafficking is the highest drug enforcement priority. Legislative proposals include bail reform, which will make it more difficult for drug traffickers to avoid trial by posting unlimited sums for bail to be forfeited; criminal forfeitures, which will undermine the economic power of drug traffickers; tax reform which will enable the Internal Revenue Service to render appropriate assistance to drug enforcement; and the modification or abolition of the exclusionary rule, which has undermined a substantial number of drug cases.