A Unique Qualitative Data Examination of the Effectiveness of Sporadic International Counter-drug Interdictions

• In Event: Police Response to Drugs

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present and analyze unique qualitative data consisting of interviews with 23 high-level U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration confidential sources and sources of information in the context of rational choice theory. Specifically, the qualitative insights provided will be analyzed in relation to organizational rational choices made in response to sporadic international counter-drug interdiction efforts. Additionally, possible crime displacement effects of organizational responses to such operations will also be examined. The methodology encompasses a review and an analysis of answers to a set of 85 standardized questions. This study provides a unique qualitative insight into the organizational rational choices made by international drug trafficking groups.

Author

• Alexander George Toth, University of South Florida