The government now characterizes drug trafficking as a full-fledged «national crisis» that justifies the mobilization of all government agencies. This shift reflects a genuine awareness of the scale of the problem, but it raises several questions.
First, the rhetoric being used increasingly resembles that of the war on terror : a threat to sovereignty, a general mobilization, and enhanced coordination. Yet experience shows that declared «wars» on drugs rarely produce the desired results. The United States, Mexico, and Colombia have devoted considerable resources to law enforcement without succeeding in eradicating drug trafficking.
Furthermore, drug trafficking thrives primarily on economic and social vulnerabilities. Unemployment, dropping out of school, poverty, and a lack of prospects provide criminal networks with a constant source of recruits. The government talks about prevention, but its response remains primarily focused on security.
This reality is particularly evident in the overseas territories. In Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana, drug trafficking cannot be separated from the structural challenges facing these territories. The risk is that we will address the consequences without tackling the root causes.
Finally, the increasing centralization of policy coordination at Matignon could improve coordination, but it will never replace the expertise of those on the ground, local governments, educators, and nonprofit organizations.
The fight against drug trafficking is necessary. But the real shift in scale will not come solely from increasing police resources. It will depend above all on the government’s ability to reduce the inequalities and social divides that sustain the drug economy over the long term.
Gérard Dorwling-Carter
