Drug Interdiction

Traditionally, the U.S. military has not been involved in the enforcement of civil law, but the major exception is in the instance of drug interdiction. Drug interdiction, or the intercepting of illegal drugs before they are sold, became a major federal issue in the 1970s, with the announcement of the War on Drugs, and continues to this day, both domestically and internationally. Military participation in drug interdiction rose dramatically in the 1980s and continues to this day, particularly with regard to intercepting drug smugglers. However, the legality of [Page 500]using the military in the enforcement of the War on Drugs, as well as questions surrounding the nature of U.S. drug policy and enforcement in general, keep drug interdiction a controversial issue. This entry discusses the ...