Drug trafficking is a criminal activity that has no frontiers and can only be controlled by a combined effort of all countries involved.
In United States:
Joint Columbia-United States Statement on Drug Abuse and Trafficking April 4, 1985
Public Papers of Ronald Reagan states as follows:
* The financial power resulting from the enormous profits of illicit narcotics trade poses a terrible threat to democracy in the Americas.
* Mutual dedication to the anti-narcotics struggle is an integral part of the close relations that exist between Columbia and United States.
* Both countries understand that the gravity of the problem is a consequence of both illegal production and distribution of drugs as well as growing demand.
* Both countries also understand these factors are closely related and all efforts to suppress one without at the same time taking equally vigorous actions against the other will be fruitless.
* Consequently, each government is prepared to assume its responsibilities, eliminating both illegal production and drug abuse.
* The United States recognizes the effort, the commitment of resources and the sacrifices that Colombia has made in destroying crops and laboratories, seizing shipments and bringing suspected drug traffickers to justice, including the extradition of traffickers accused of narcotics crimes in the United States.
* For the United States' part, enforcement activities are increasing and prevention and education programs are having positive results in reducing drug abuse.
* Colombia has destroyed crops and laboratories, seizing shipments and bringing suspected drug traffickers to justice, including the extradition of traffickers accused of narcotics crimes in the United States.
* For the United States' part, enforcement activities are increasing and prevention and education programs are having positive results in reducing drug abuse.
* The cost of success in the past has been high. It has included the life of a Colombian Cabinet Minister, Rodrigo Lara Bonilla, and law enforcement officers from United States and Columbia.
* Both countries agree that they cannot allow such sacrifices to have been in vain.
* Both countries pledge to each other to revitalize and intensify our efforts to destroy the trafficking network.
In Nigeria, Africa:
* Foreign women make up 18% of the female prison population and about 60% are held on drug offenses. Includes swallowing or stuffing cocaine or other drugs.
* Most of these women from foreign countries are smuggling drugs for financial gain. They are promised from guys that they will get money to send their children to school because they do not have enough job experience to work.
* The women are called "mules" and can receive up to a 14 year sentence for trafficking.
In United Kingdom:
* A cocaine-smuggling gang has been sentenced to a total of 141 years after trying to import cocaine into Britain.
* Gang leader, Julia Paterson known as "Cocaine Queen" for involvement was sentenced to 24 years, the longest sentence for a female trafficker.
* She and her lover Michael Tyrell spent months putting together the big trans-atlantic operation. Michael himself was sentenced to 26 years.
* Patterson with her sailing skills trained crew for operations in which she and her lover were under heavy surveillance traveling in and out of the UK.
* October of 2000 their operation failed and each gang member was arrested and given a total of 141 years amongst them.
