Department Of Defense Support For Drug Interdiction PDF Download

The Defense Authorization Act, September 1988, requires the DoD to take an active role in the nation's counternarcotics efforts. The Act tasked the DoD: to serve as the lead Federal agency for detecting and monitoring aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs into the United States; to integrate the dedicated command, control, communications, and intelligence assets into an effective communications network; and to provide for an enhanced role for the National Guard. In response to the Act, the Secretary of Defense directed that the Unified Commanders submit plans to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) for carrying out the counternarcotics mission in their respective area of responsibility (AOR). Five U.S. commands were tasked a counternarcotics mission by the JCS: the Atlantic Command, the Pacific Command, the Southern Command, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, and the Forces Command. As lead Federal agency for detecting and monitoring aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs into the United States, DoD provides intelligence and other support to its customers, the law enforcement community.