‘Project Synergy’ is one of the major cases that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DFA) in the United States have embarked on in the recent past in their endeavor to fight narcotic trading. The enforcement operations were conducted in a total of 35 states, in the United States by the DFA as well as its partners in the law enforcement department aimed at the upper class of drug trafficking organizations. In particular, the operation was targeted towards the upper class of dangerous designer synthetic drug cartels and organizations that acted with no regard for public safety and the law. These enforcement operations kicked off on the 25 June of the year 2013 and subsumed various classes of businesspeople including manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. In this paper, we conduct a review of the specific case of the Project Synergy and the operations involved therein. The paper also describes the law enforcement operations and enforcement strategies that have been engaged by the relevant agencies as well as the subsequent prosecution of the case, if any. In conclusion, the paper relates the projected impact of this case on reduction of drug supply business within the targeted jurisdiction.
It is critical to note from the onset that since the commencement of the Project Synergy on December 1, 2012, in excess of 227 arrests were made as well as 416 search warrants. These arrest and search warrants in the project have been done in 35 states, 49 cities and over 5 countries given the transnational nature of drug trafficking as a crime. Further, the Project Synergy has been characterized with the seizure of assets and cash totaling to over $51 million. Details also reveal that there was a total of 9,445 kilograms of individually packaged ready to sell synthetic drugs. There was also a seizure of 783 kilograms of treated plant material and 1,252 kilograms of cannabinoid drugs that are used to make herbal incense products. It is also important to note that the conduct of this project revealed the massive flow of drug-related proceeds back to countries in the Middle-East and other areas (DFA, 2012). Project Synergy was coordinated within the ambit of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DFA) Special Operations Division in collaboration with the Office of Diversion Control and included cases led by DEA,U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE), Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation and IRS. Other partners in the enforcement operations included those from Australian, Barbados, Canada and Panama and other local law enforcement members (Boaz & Lynch, 2004).
According to a DEA administrator Michael M. Leonhart, a key priority on the fight against drugs is the shutting down of businesses that engage in the trafficking of drug ad attacking their operations o a global scale. Some of the strategies that were used in the enforcement, in this project included the use of not only scientific but also legislative and investigative tools at the disposal of the DEA. The U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Drug Enforcement Administration do enjoy a tight working relationship that was enhanced through the collaboration of both the National Targeting Center and CBP officers at the field. This is likely at express consignment hubs during this operation to target, test and detain shipments of synthetic drugs. It is the case that persons involved in this drug business that are engaged in the importation, distribution and selling of drugs have little regard for human life in their pursuit of illicit profits (DFA, 2012). Some of the enforcement strategies as cited by the HIS Deputy Assistant Director of Investigative Programs where he stated that the message is clear is that they are well aware of how the criminal cartels operate and where they hide. The seizure of the synthetic drugs was described as terrific for the law enforcement agencies by the Australia Acting’s Ambassador to the United States Graham Fletcher.
Most of the synthetic designer drugs that are being marketed at the moment that were seized as part of Project Synergy are not specifically proscribed by a number of pieces of legislation such as the Controlled Substances Act(CSA) and the Controlled Substance Analogue Enforcement Act of the year1986. In addition, the DEA has made use of its emergency scheduling authority so as to fight both synthetic cathinone and synthetic cannabinoids, thereby placing several of the dangerous chemicals into the first schedule of the CSA. It is axiomatic that the DEA was able to target synthetic designer drugs during the time of the Project Synergy in the fight against the crime of drug trafficking. It is strange that the DEA chose to target the synthetic drugs without first addressing the cause of the problem namely the prohibition of drugs. This strategy of the DEA of targeting the synthetic drugs while failing to address the issue of drug prohibition is likely to enable the drug cartels to be more creative in the illegal industry and waste tax payers money in seeking to curb the efforts of the DEA (Anslinger & Oursler, 1961). We further submit that the strategy of the agency of creating a list of banned substances is likely to fail. This is with the benefit of hindsight when we examine the circumstances in the 1980s when the feds start targeting cocaine traffickers and making several arrests. At that time, there emerged a new product namely crack cocaine, which became popular and was more dangerous and addictive than the normal cocaine. Some examples of synthetic drugs such as synthetic cannabinoids are more dangerous than marijuana. Prohibiting the use of drugs does not necessarily serve the purpose of dissuading people from using such drugs. On the contrary, such prohibition at times encourages people to try more accessible substances that may be more dangerous (Epstein, 1997).
Some of the other enforcement strategies adopted by various security agencies in eliminating the threats faced by drug trafficking include taking initiatives to disrupt the leadership, transportation, intelligence gathering and the financial infrastructure of drug cartel networks. Another strategy has been to target the communication and travel aspects of these cartels so as to not only monitor but also gather intelligence necessary for the identification of the full scope of such illicit networks. There is also the increased collaboration between domestic law enforcement agencies and their foreign counterparts so as to strengthen their ability to coordinate investigations and share intelligence to fight drug trafficking (Anslinger & Oursler, 1961).
The projected impact of the case of the Project Synergy is likely to be positive in terms of reducing drug supply in a targeted jurisdiction. The bare-knuckled manner in which the DEA took upon itself to dismantle businesses and groups that were involved in drug trafficking is sure to cause the prominent activities to take a low profile. The DEA went on a spree of attacking operations and closing down businesses that involved themselves in drug trafficking. Such a move may cause a reduction in the supply of the drug in the target area though the same is not foolproof. It is critical that the DEA and the other relevant agencies take other appropriate measures to further reduce or eliminate drug trafficking (Boaz & Lynch, 2004).
References
Anslinger, H. J., & Oursler, W. (1961). The Murderers: The story of the Narcotics gangs, New York: Farrar, Straus and Cudahy. New York: Palgrave-Macmillan.
The book covers the events attending the activities of narcotic gangs who killed persons that stood in the way of execution of their duties. The narcotic gang which was majorly based in New York but with networks across other major cities such as Los Angeles and the nation of Mexico, were considered a dangerous movement that eliminated persons that proved difficult or as stumbling blocks to the execution of their duties. The book traces the activities with the benefit of insider information in a captivating and compelling style.
Boaz — D., & Lynch — T. (2004). The war on drugs. Cato Handbook on Policy. , 253-260.
The paper castigates the drug prohibition policy and suggests ways of confronting the problem. The author offers the view that Congress ought to repeal the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, the federal minimum sentence and mandatory sentencing guidelines as well as shut down the Drug Enforcement Administration for its failure to meet its obligations. The paper also suggests that Congress directs the administration not to interfere with the implementation of initiatives by the state that allow for the use of medical marijuana.
DFA. (2012, September 12). DEA Fact Sheet. Retrieved February 23, 2014, from Drug Enforcement Administration www.dea.gov: http://www.justice.gov/dea/docs/1207_fact-sheet.pdf
Anslinger, H. J., & Oursler, W. (1961). The Murderers: The story of the Narcotics gangs, New York: Farrar, Straus and Cudahy. New York: Palgrave-Macmillan.
The book covers the events attending the activities of narcotic gangs who killed persons that stood in the way of execution of their duties. The narcotic gang which was majorly based in New York but with networks across other major cities such as Los Angeles and the nation of Mexico, were considered a dangerous movement that eliminated persons that proved difficult or as stumbling blocks to the execution of their duties. The book traces the activities with the benefit of insider information in a captivating and compelling style.
Dean, W., Derouin, L., Fogel, M., Kania, E., & Keefe, T. (2012). The War on Mexican Cartel: Options for U.S. and Mexican Policy Makers. Cambridge: Institute of Politics, Harvard University.
A report by the Institute of Politics offers the high level of involvement in drug businesses the various international cartels have perpetrated the system. The book further argues that the cartels, mostly of Mexican origin pose a threat to international peace and stability and ate a big headache for p0liocy makers not only in the United States but also Mexico. The book then offers compelling alternative options for both American and Mexican policymakers in the fight against the drug cartels.
DFA. (2012, September 12). DEA Fact Sheet. Retrieved February 23, 2014, from Drug Enforcement Administration www.dea.gov: http://www.justice.gov/dea/docs/1207_fact-sheet.pdf
The document that is available in the website of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DFA) documents the statistical data on the various cases of drug trafficking and crimes for the year 2012 and offers ways in which the same can be avoided or eliminated altogether. It simply states the facts as they occurred within that period so as to act as a guide for policy making.
Epstein, E. J. (1997). Agency of Fear:Opiates and Political Power in America. New York: Putnam.
The book examines the extent to which the drug cartels have pervaded into the nation of America. It explores the level to which the political elites and political powers have been bought by the drug cartels to ensure its continued existence. The book in particular lays emphasis on the rot in the public service system and how the drug business is branded as one of fear, hence the agency of fear.
