Running Header: DEA in the United States

DEA in the United States

Erick Aldama
The University of Texas at El Paso

DEA in the United States

Abstract
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is a federal agency that is tasked with
fighting to stop drug smuggling into the United States as well as drug usage within the country.
The DEA operates in the US as well as other countries that are connected with drug smuggling
into the US. Many Americans support the DEAs mission while others see the DEA as a pointless
federal organization that is too strict on drug classification.
DEA in the United States
El Paso is a city with a neighbor country right across its border. El Paso's neighbor is
Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. El Paso is known through the nation from the issues that arise from the
conflicts that happen between El Paso and Mexico. Through recent years a great amount of

DEA in the United States

violence rose in Mexico, and one of the main places which was affected the most was Juarez. El
Paso is known as the Pass of the North.
Luckers (2010) study found the following:
El Paso has had an increase in trading over the past years, and with its increase in trading
came an increase of illegal substances pass from south to north on their way to consumers
throughout the United States. About 10 years ago when authorities successfully blocked
the Caribbean routes used by the Colombian cartels, the Mexican border became the
preferred route for smuggling drugs into the US. NAFTA then eased drug trafficking by
reinforcing well-established routes between Mexico and Texas. Amado Carrillo Fuentes
of Juarez, who headed one of Mexicos most powerful cartels, took advantage of El Paso
and its access to Interstates 10 and 25.
The DEA in El Paso are tasked with its war against drugs which happens from drug smuggling
from Mexico. With drugs being illegal and the addition of them being illegal to sell it is hard for
smugglers to find creative ways to smuggle drugs over the border. To be one step ahead of DEA
officers theyre tasked with finding creative alternatives to hide drugs in common passable
objects.
An example is a recent incident where federal agents in El Paso arrested a Mexican
citizen on federal charges of drug and money laundering conspiracy, cocaine possession
and using a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking. Joel Joselin Ibarra Jr. was
selling quarter-kilos of cocaine packaged in the shape of a small soda bottle, which were
referred to as botellitas. The federal indictment stated that the cocaine was smuggled

DEA in the United States

across the U.S border by women couriers via the Paso Del Norte Bridge in Downtown El
Paso. The cocaine was then sold in Las Cruces, Sunland Park and other parts of Doa
Ana County (Borunda, 2016, p. 1).
As the investigation continued federal agents were able to intercept texts discussing drug
smuggling and the destinations on where to deliver the packages, in this case called botellitas.
The DEA has an El Paso Division which serves New Mexico and Western Texas. The
DEA is on a war against drugs. One of the drugs the agency fights with is marijuana. Marijuana
is an illegal drug which is known for its addictiveness. Negatives in marijuana is the chance of
the drug falling into childrens hands, stoned people driving in roads not in their full senses, and
multiple health problems. According to NYLN Youth Leader Blog Research has discovered a
link between marijuana use and mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and depression.
But even with multiple negatives the drug brings, a wide majority of people are in fact
against the DEA on the way it views certain drugs and the course of action they take. There are
certain types of drugs people believe should not be classified as illegal and dangerous and back
up arguments with facts but even though the law-enforcement agency has the final word on a
medical issue. In his article Carl Hart speaks on the recently passed Act.
Early August of 2016 the DEA rejected the possibility to reclassify marijuana under the
federal Controlled Substances Act. Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I drug,
meaning it is not accepted in medical use in treatment and thus is banned (Hart, 1998).
If the DEA had accepted to reclassify marijuana, it would had then been moved to Schedule II.
Under the new classification marijuana would had become available nationwide through medical

DEA in the United States

prescription. (Hart, 2016) stated Such change would have been good for patients and scientists,
and it would have represented a big step toward resolving the hypocritical mess that
characterizes current law.

[Political Cartoon reflecting the fact that the DEA has the final word and does not
consider accepting marijuana to be reclassified for medical research purposes.]
But even with the roadblock, multiple scientists are continuing researching on the negative and
positive effects caused by marijuana. Hart speaks on research he has done and that it shows
marijuana has many helpful uses. (Hart, 2016) For example, it stimulates appetite in HIVpositive patients, as well as helps in the treatment of neuropathic pain, chronic pain, and
spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis. Hart as well explains his point of view on the absurdness
of how federal law keeps marijuana as a Schedule I drug even though twenty-five states and the
District of Colombia already permit people to use marijuana in specific conditions.
Even agents working in the DEA have spoken their opinion on what they believe about
strict drug classification. In the video, former DEA agent Patrick Meon is interviewed on his

DEA in the United States

decision to leave his former job in the DEA and go on to work as a compliance director and
senior counsel at Privateer Holdings, a firm that grows marijuana. In the interview former DEA
agent explains that the firms goal he now works for is to provide them[customers] with safe,
clean access to a tested, safe product. In doing so well remove the black market and bring the
entire industry to light. Infobase. (2015, May 24). Former DEA agent on joining the marijuana
industry. Retrieved from http://0-fod.infobase.com.lib.utep.edu/PortalPlaylists.aspx?
wID=104347&xtid=81701. With the statement given Meon implies that by bringing the industry
to light is that many people currently buy marijuana through different sources, yet an untraceable
form or purchase is though the black market. But even with that the consumers are not entirely
sure what type of drug theyre taking and if its exactly what they paid for.
Conclusion
The United States has spent over 1 trillion dollars on its war against drugs, and has put over 1
million people behind bars over causal drug usage. The DEA is a federal agency with an
excellent purpose, but even though it might be a flawed mission they are taking on. Even though
marijuana has great negatives it has great positives in medical research as well. The DEA could
should reconsider reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule II drug and thus see the effects it can
have on medical research. And with its legalization the economy will have a great up rise as
many users will head out and buy it from government selling points. Just as how it worked in
Colorado.

DEA in the United States

DEA in the United States

References
William Lucker, (2010). Patterns and trends of drug abuse in El Paso, Texas. Texas Department
of State Health Services. Retrieved from
http://www.dshs.texas.gov/sa/research/currenttrends/1998/elpaso98.html
Colin St. John., (2015). Magic mushrooms are legal in New Mexico: How 'bout that?. Inverse.
Retrieved from https://www.inverse.com/article/7772-magic-mushrooms-are-legal-in- newmexico-how-bout-that
N/A. (June 12, 2015). 19 primary pros and cons of legalizing weed. NYLN Youth Leader Blog.
Retrieved from http://nyln.org/19-primary-pros-and-cons-of-legalizing-weed
Daniel Borunda. (October 3, 2016). DEA seeks man suspected of leading cocaine ring. Las
Cruces-Sun News. Retrieved from http://www.lcsunnews.com/story/news/crime/2016/10/03/dea-seeks-man-suspected-leading-cocainering/91511476/
Former DEA agent on joining the marijuana industry [Video file]. (2014). Retrieved October 24,
2016, from http://0- fod.infobase.com.lib.utep.edu/PortalPlaylists.aspx?
wID=104347&xtid=81701
Hart, C. (2016). Our Senseless Pot Laws. Scientific American, 315(4), 13. Retrieved from
http://encore.utep.edu:50080/ebsco-w-b/ehost/detail/detail?sid=0cb85bea-33fc-43fc-918ea9bdb0f58e1b%40sessionmgr103&vid=0&hid=101&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY2
9wZT1zaXRl#db=a9h&AN=118119110
Thompson, G. O. (2014). Slowly Learning the Hard Way: U.S. America's War on Drugs And
Implications for Mexico.Norteamrica: Revista Acadmica Del CISAN-UNAM, 9(2), 59- 83.