I'm amazed at some of the cocaine contraband seizure statistics that you've cited in the past year, Jack. Like Coast Guard interdiction of 173 metric tons of cocaine over the previous 12 months. 173 million grams.
Even at the peak of fad popularity of cocaine back in the 1980s, the DEA was only giving estimates of annual US demand of around 70 metric tons (70 million grams.) How much of the recently confiscated cocaine was intended for a different destination than the US?
Also, in historical terms even the most optimistic estimates of the success of confiscation in lowering the supply have topped out at around 20%. Confiscations inside the US border might account for another 5% of what made it past the border.
That still leaves over 1.2 billion grams available to the retail market every year. A shockingly high amount, even as an estimate of total global demand. Who the hell could possibly be buying that much cocaine? Extraterrestrials?
I doubt that the Coast Guard is making things up. I'm honestly bewildered.
Given that these seizures have occurred at sea, these drug loads could have been bound for anywhere else in the world. Granted, a lot of these drugs are likely headed for the US, but - especially in the Atlantic & Caribbean, some of those drugs are also bound for the islands that Americans like to take cruise ships to, while other drug loads are bound for Europe. This Wikipedia article breaks it down pretty well: https://tinyurl.com/5evdad6m
Until we see a dramatic reduction in seaborne smuggling from the East Coasts of South America, we won't know whether this strategy discourages it, but I am watching to see if that occurs. Thanks for taking the time to comment & thank you for reading US Border News!
I'm amazed at some of the cocaine contraband seizure statistics that you've cited in the past year, Jack. Like Coast Guard interdiction of 173 metric tons of cocaine over the previous 12 months. 173 million grams.
Even at the peak of fad popularity of cocaine back in the 1980s, the DEA was only giving estimates of annual US demand of around 70 metric tons (70 million grams.) How much of the recently confiscated cocaine was intended for a different destination than the US?
Also, in historical terms even the most optimistic estimates of the success of confiscation in lowering the supply have topped out at around 20%. Confiscations inside the US border might account for another 5% of what made it past the border.
That still leaves over 1.2 billion grams available to the retail market every year. A shockingly high amount, even as an estimate of total global demand. Who the hell could possibly be buying that much cocaine? Extraterrestrials?
I doubt that the Coast Guard is making things up. I'm honestly bewildered.
Given that these seizures have occurred at sea, these drug loads could have been bound for anywhere else in the world. Granted, a lot of these drugs are likely headed for the US, but - especially in the Atlantic & Caribbean, some of those drugs are also bound for the islands that Americans like to take cruise ships to, while other drug loads are bound for Europe. This Wikipedia article breaks it down pretty well: https://tinyurl.com/5evdad6m
Killing smugglers ensures they don't do it again.
Plus it's a warning of what can happen if you smuggle drugs.
That would put the cartels with a problem of trying to find mules.
Good advertising for anti-drugs.
Until we see a dramatic reduction in seaborne smuggling from the East Coasts of South America, we won't know whether this strategy discourages it, but I am watching to see if that occurs. Thanks for taking the time to comment & thank you for reading US Border News!
what if a targeted boat isn't smuggling anything? why are only Venezuelans being targeted?
smugglers got cocaine into the US for decades without a coastal leg using cargo skiffs. they can do it again.
cargo skiffs carrying tons of cocaine is an indication of a fully matured transport industry, by the way.
All good points - thanks for taking the time to comment and for reading US Border News!