Eradication and Interdiction

Eradication

The eradication (physical destruction) of illicit crops remains an important tool for decreasing the production of illegal drugs and preventing them from entering the United States or other drug markets. 

Lack of government authority in parts of certain countries makes it easier for farmers to grow illicit crops, and eradication can help pave the way for improved, long-term government presence which leads to increased security.  These actions reduce the influence of criminal organizations and encourage the growth of licit crops and businesses. 

INL provides training, equipment, aviation support, and technical assistance to foreign governments to support their own aerial and manual eradication programs and address related counternarcotics and law enforcement challenges. INL supports eradication programs in Colombia, Peru, and Guatemala. 

Interdiction

Drug interdiction (preventing illicit drugs from reaching their destination) is important in stemming the flow of illegal drugs and countering the negative effects of organized criminal groups.  INL supports interdiction efforts by partner nation law enforcement agencies through training, equipment, aviation support, and technical assistance.  Such efforts increase the capacity to detect, disrupt, seize, and investigate shipments of illicit drugs and the chemicals (known as precursors) needed to process and produce drugs. 

In the Western Hemisphere, INL supports host nation law enforcement interdiction efforts in Mexico under the Bicentennial Framework; in Central America through the Central America Regional Security Initiative (CARSI); in the Caribbean through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI); and in South America through individual bilateral programs.  Interdiction, both at the source (i.e., in Colombia and Peru) and in transit, plays an important role in INL programs and augments U.S. efforts to strengthen citizen security in the region. 

In South Asia, drug trafficking is rampant along Pakistan’s 1,500-mile, porous border with Afghanistan and contributes to corruption, crime, and addiction throughout the country.  INL collaborates with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Embassy’s Office of Defense Representative in Pakistan to improve the capabilities of Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies to stem the flow of narcotics.  INL provides training, equipment, and operational support to law enforcement agencies including Pakistani Customs and the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and supports capacity building of ANF’s Special Investigative Cell in partnership with DEA. 

In Africa and the Middle East, there are record levels of drug trafficking, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and synthetic opioids.  INL partners with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and INTERPOL on counternarcotics initiatives in East and West Africa, which include addressing maritime security and trafficking by sea and supporting foundational criminal justice programs that address porous borders and a limited capacity to investigate and prosecute trafficking offenses.  INL’s East Africa Transnational Organized Crime (TOC) Regional Program responds to increased trafficking of Afghan-produced heroin and methamphetamine trafficked through East and Southern Africa.  In the Middle East, INL coordinates with partner governments to promote bilateral and multilateral actions to disrupt, interdict, and dismantle the illicit narcotics (primarily Captagon) trade, and to encourage increased regional information sharing and cooperation among like-minded partners.