Drug War near Colombian Border

For all the readers out there that think drugs are just imported and exported without consequences, you should think again. Drug trafficking is an ongoing issue, not just in the U.S., but other countries as well. Colombia’s neighbor, Venezuela, is doing all they can to stop Colombians from producing and exporting cocaine, opium, and marijuana. Processing labs and crops have begun to be destroyed by Venezuelan soldiers and the battle is still going on. Venezuela’s military has set up a campaign to seek and destroy crops along the border with Colombia. Officials said that they have obtained satellite images showing possible sites for drug production. Troops have already destroyed 520 acres of opium poppies, coca plants, and marijuana. Soldiers burned crops in the Sierra de Perija Mountains and they’ve also detained approximately 45 Colombians around the planted areas. They were later deported. Colombian President Alvaro Uribe promised to wipe out cocaine production and it was reported by the United Nations that the Fumigation Campaign has cut cocoa cultivation in the country by 1/3 in the past seven months. Justice Minister Jesse Chacon stated that Venezuela hopes to work with Spain and France to fight drug trafficking, however the U.S is not in agreement with Chavez who suspended cooperation with the U.S Drug Enforcement Administration three months ago, accusing its agents of spying. At that time, the U.S. removed Venezuela from a list of cooperating nations trying to fight drug trafficking. If destroying crops helps stop drug trafficking, then I agree with the Venezuelan government. But who is to say that these tactics will work in other countries. If crops are destroyed in one area, what will prevent drug lords from finding other remote areas to cultivate crops? Can they really find all the crops along the border and destroy them?