The guns-for-drugs trade: implications for U.S. foreign policy

This thesis is a comprehensive study of the relationship between weapons and narcotics trafficking--a phenomenon referred to as the "guns-for-drugs-trade". It focuses on trafficking that occurs throughout the United States and Latin America. The thesis identifies the actors, motivating factors, types of weapons, methods of smuggling, system dynamics, implications and prevalent problems found in combatting the trade. Several options are offered for U.S. policy which include neglecting the problem altogether, increasing interdiction efforts, passing stricter laws and harsher penalties, increasing intergovernmental cooperation and bolstering cooperation among law enforcement agencies, both foreign and domestic. In conclusion, the thesis proposes that any solution should address both U.S. and Latin American concerns, emphasize cooperation and apply lessons learned during the drug wars..

Department dc:contributor.department

National Security Affairs (NSA)

Grantor dc:publisher

Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School

Year dc:date.issued

1991

Author dc:creator

• Uresti, Eradio E.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Tollefson, Scott D.

Statement dc:rights

• This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10945/28255

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/28255