Narcoterrorism

Narcoterrorism is a term coined by former President Fernando Belaúnde Terry of Peru in 1983 when describing terrorist-type attacks against his nation's anti-narcotics police. In its original context, narcoterrorism is understood to mean the attempts of narcotics traffickers to influence the policies of a government or a society through violence and intimidation, and to hinder the enforcement of anti-drug laws by the systematic threat or use of such violence. Pablo Escobar's violence in his dealings with the Colombian government is probably one of the best known and best documented examples of narcoterrorism.

The term has become a subject of controversy, largely due to its use in discussing violent opposition to the US Government's War on Drugs.

The term is being increasingly used for known terrorist organizations that engage in drug trafficking activity to fund their operations and gain recruits and expertise. Such organizations include FARC, ELN, AUC in Colombia, PCP-SL in Peru, Hamas and the Taliban.^[1][2][3][4]

In 2000 the U.S. began funding, continued under the U.S. Bush administration, of Plan Colombia, intending to eradicate drug crops and to act against drug lords accused of engaging in narcoterrorism, including among them the leaders of the marxist FARC and the AUC paramilitary forces. The U.S. government is funding large-scale drug eradication campaigns and supporting Colombian military operations, seeking the extradition of commanders.

Although Al Qaeda is often said to finance its activities through drug trafficking, the 9/11 Commission Report notes that "while the drug trade was a source of income for the Taliban, it did not serve the same purpose for al Qaeda, and there is no reliable evidence that bin Laden was involved in or made his money through drug trafficking." The organization gains most of its finances through donations, particularly those by "wealthy Saudi individuals".

Critics of the prohibition of drugs say that it is this prohibition itself which funds terrorism.^[5]

Examples

Areas or countries that have active or historical narcoterrorism or narco-war include:

• Afghanistan, to fund operations with sales of opium and heroin in the Afghanistan War
• Colombia and Peru, which have influential right-wing paramilitary "narco-terrorists" and left-wing revolutionary guerrillas.
• Pakistan, especially in Waziristan and adjacent regions, related to the war to the west and tribal problems, farmers farm opium
• Kosovo, during the civil war in 1999. Kosovo liberation Army (KLA) was using "Narcoterrorism" for financing its operations.^[6]

See also

• Anti-Narcotics Force
• Drug cartel
• Illegal drug trade

References

1. DEA Digging Into Al Qaeda Drug Links, By Robert Hendin, July 18, 2008. CBS News.
2. A GLOBAL OVERVIEW OF NARCOTICS-FUNDED TERRORIST AND OTHER EXTREMIST GROUPS, May 2002, Library of Congress – Federal Research Division
3. Testimony of Victor Comras to the US House Subcommittee on Financial Oversight and Investigations, hearings on Current and Evolving Trends in Terrorism Financing. September 28, 2010.
4. Hezbollah, Hamas Raise Money for ‘Terrorist Activities’ From Drug Trade in South America, Congressional Research Service Says, By Edwin Mora, June 08, 2010. CNS News.
5. "The Drug War and Terrorism". Narcoterror.org. 2009-07-16. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
6. Narco-terrorism: international drug trafficking and terrorism, a dangerous mix : hearing before the Committee on the Judiciary, One Hundred Eighth Congress, first session. United States Senate U.S. G.P.O. May 20, 2003. p. 111. Retrieved 25 January 2016.

External links

• The Drug War in Mexico: By Any Other Name it's Terrorism, by Barnard R. Thompson (MexiData.info)
• Mali and the Narco-Terrorist, by Sergei Boeke (International Centre for Counter-Terrorism - The Hague)
• The Narco-terror Trap, by Ginger Thompson (ProPublica)