The tunnel found in Nogalas along with the 840 pounds of cocaine demonstrates how many dollars are at stake for the trafficker's of these drugs. (Ibarra) This article emphasizes the severity of the drug problem in our country and the world. Anthony P. Maingot, a sociologist who researched the worldwide drug economy estimated that proceeds of the world drug trade were $1 trillion in 1999. With such enormous amounts of profit at stake, effective enforcement is next to impossible. (D.E.A.NNICC)

Drug tunnels aren't the method of choice for most smugglers, but they pose a very big threat because they can move hundreds of thousands of pounds of drugs virt

Some, like New Mexico's Governor Gary Johnson have come to believe that the only solution is the legalization of some narcotics, particularly marijuana. Marijuana has been proven to be helpful for medical reasons. It has been known to lower blood pressure, relieve glaucoma, and help terminally ill patients develop an appetite. Governor Johnson admits that that he doesn't support the use but if you were to legalize it then the government could "control it, tax it, regulate it, and take the business away from the black market". (Wagner-Flannery) Marijuana is the most popular drug in the country, if it was legal, we would be taking all the business away from the dealers and smugglers. It has been proven that a vast majority of marijuana users are honest, hardworking, and otherwise law-abiding citizens. Currently, two states allow the use of marijuana for medical reasons, Alaska and California. Four states are working on legislation to allow for "medical marijuana", Arizona, Oregon, Arkansas, Nevada and New Mexico. (Callahan)

"The term "War on Drugs" has gotten us into a lot of trouble", said retired General Barry McCaffery. "If we were fighting a war, we would be trying to achieve a total victory through violence and deception, I've seen war, and this ain't no war". "If they're going to call it a war, than why don't they fight one?" (Callahan)

Dennis Wagner and Scott Flannery of the Arizona Star said, "If America's and the world's drug war is not already lost, it's clearly unwinnable". So what should the United States do about the drug problem? The United States spent $17.7 billion in 1999 trying to fight the drug problem, but with the results showing that record amounts of drugs made it into our country, different tactics are being considered. "I believe that the way to cut drugs is to stop the consumer with treatment and intervention, it will be much cheaper and is much more cost effective." (Wagner-Flannery)

ually undetected. (Ibarra) Another drug tunnel discovered in Douglas, Arizona in 1990 is still the most sophisticated tunnel that has ever been found. It was a cement-lined tunnel thirty feet underground that linked a townhouse in Mexico to a warehouse nearly 300 feet apart in America. The shaft leading down to the tunnel was concealed by a pool table with a hydraulic lift on the Mexican side and a private locked room on the American side. The wooden walls of the tunnel were so old that agents believed the tunnel to be in use for more than thirty years. (Ibarra)

People are starting to get sick of the drugs coming into the United States and onto our streets. Those that oppose treatment or intervention tactics and want very strict enforcement support a strict militarization of the border and cutting off aid to all drug-producing nations. A military controlled border would virtually eliminate the possibility of any drugs entering the country from Mexico. This operation would require billions in government aid and lots of manpower. Also, good diplomatic relations between Mexico and The United States require an open free border for so called legitimate trade. (Ibarra)

Operation Casablanca was an undercover money laundering investigation that was st

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2159
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)