Publication

This policy brief discusses the national and international dimensions of criminal violence in Latin America, which is expanding rapidly due to the growth of transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) engaged in illicit drug trafficking. The author argues that while current US policy still heavily focuses on military assistance and a “supply-side” approach to curbing the flow of drugs and other illicit goods, the idea of an alternative agenda is also gaining support both nationally and regionally. This includes measures to decriminalize the production and possession of soft drugs, bolster police and judicial reform, and focus on treatment and finding alternative livelihoods for growers.