Aviation Drug-Trafficking Control Act of 1984

United States statute imposing penalties for aircraft trafficking of controlled substances
Legislative history
  • Introduced in the Senate as S. 1146 by Lloyd Bentsen (D–TX) on April 26, 1983
  • Committee consideration by Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation, House Public Works and Transportation
  • Passed the Senate on September 27, 1983 (passed voice vote)
  • Passed the House on July 21, 1984 (393-1, in lieu of H.R. 1580)
  • Reported by the joint conference committee on September 26, 1984; agreed to by the Senate on October 2, 1984 (passed voice vote) and by the House on October 4, 1984 (passed voice vote)
  • Signed into law by President Ronald Reagan on October 19, 1984

Aviation Drug-Trafficking Control Act of 1984 is a United States Federal law amending the Federal Aviation Act of 1958. The statutory law authorized criminal penalties for the unlawful aerial transportation of controlled substances. The Act of Congress mandated the revocation of aircraft registrations and airman certificates by the Federal Aviation Administration whereas an aircraft aviator knowingly engages in the transit of illicitly used drugs. The Act established authority and a statute of limitations for the reissuance of airman certificates by the United States Secretary of Transportation.

The S. 1146 legislation was passed by the 98th U.S. Congressional session and enacted into law by the 40th President of the United States Ronald Reagan on October 19, 1984.[1][2]

History

In 1982, the United States created the Operation Bahamas, American, Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) initiative harmonizing an interdiction for the narcotic drug trafficking in the West Indies waters.[3][4] The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos initiative was a cooperative drug interdiction operation supported by an alliance of federal enforcement organizations as coordinated by;[5][6]

Official crest for OPBAT (Nassau, Bahamas)
Official crest for OPBAT (Nassau, Bahamas)
☆ Drug Enforcement Administration
☆ Law Enforcement Detachments
☆ Royal Bahamas Police Force
☆ Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force
☆ United States Atlantic Command
☆ United States Coast Guard
☆ United States Coast Guard Tactical Squadron
☆ United States Customs and Border Protection
☆ United States Southern Command


Federal Anti-Crime Task Force for Southern Florida

In January 1982, the Reagan Administration established the Federal Anti-Crime Task Force for Southern Florida standardizing a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement organization for confronting organized crime in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Southeastern United States.[7][8] The Florida Counter-drug Task Force developed and governed containment measures for the domestic and international enterprises sustaining illegal drug trade activities in the Lucayan Archipelago and Straits of Florida.[9][10]

In October 1982, United States President Ronald Reagan made a public announcement from the Great Hall of the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building.[11][12] The presidential public declaration addressed the federal initiatives related to the interdiction of drug trafficking and organized crime confronting the United States borders and continental maritime boundaries.[13]

National Narcotics Border Interdiction System

In March 1983, the Reagan Administration announced the formation of the National Narcotics Border Interdiction System (NNBIS).[14][15] The National Narcotics Border Interdiction established an air, land, and sea anti-smuggling engagement while supporting the federal controlled substance enforcement operations of the South Florida Task Force.[16][17][18]

See also

Cannabis & Controlled Substances Schedule I Illegal drug trade in Latin America
Capital punishment for drug trafficking Marihuana Tax Act of 1937
Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act of 1983 Mexican Drug War
Central American crisis Military Cooperation with Civilian Law Enforcement Agencies Act
Chemical Diversion and Trafficking Act Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force Training
Drug prohibition law Nicaraguan Revolution
Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act Salvadoran Civil War
Guatemalan Civil War Special Central American Assistance Act of 1979
Aviation Artifacts in Bahama Islands
◎ Bimini
◎ Norman's Cay
◎ Spanish Wells
◎ Staniel Cay

References

  1. ^ Reagan, Ronald (October 19, 1984). "Statement on Signing the Aviation Drug-Trafficking Control Act". The American Presidency Project ~ John Woolley and Gerhard Peters. University of California, Santa Barbara.
  2. ^ Reagan, Ronald W. (October 19, 1984). "Statement on Signing the Aviation Drug-Trafficking Control Act - October 19, 1984". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. p. 1579.
  3. ^ "1982 – OPBAT ~ Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos; a Cooperative Drug Interdiction Operation Initiated". Coast Guard Aviation History. Coast Guard Aviation Association.
  4. ^ "OPBAT ~ Operation - Bahamas, American, Turks & Caicos" [Operation “Raccoon”]. Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD). Organization of American States.
  5. ^ "1980-1985 - Drug Enforcement Administration History" (PDF). U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. p. 53.
  6. ^ "Interagency Agreements: Customs-Coast Guard Agreement for U.S.-Bahamas Drug Task Force Was Proper" [GAO/AFMD 87-69 Report]. U.S. GAO Reports & Testimonies. U.S. Government Accountability Office. August 31, 1987.
  7. ^ Reagan, Ronald (January 28, 1982). "Statement Announcing the Establishment of a Federal Anticrime Task Force for Southern Florida". The American Presidency Project ~ John Woolley and Gerhard Peters. University of California, Santa Barbara.
  8. ^ Reagan, Ronald W. (January 28, 1982). "Statement Announcing Establishment of a Federal Anti-Crime Task Force for Southern Florida - January 28, 1982". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. p. 86.
  9. ^ "Changes Needed To Strengthen Federal Efforts To Combat Narcotics Trafficking" [GAO 112128 Report]. U.S. GAO Reports & Testimonies. U.S. Government Accountability Office. April 22, 1980.
  10. ^ "Drug Control: Anti-Drug Efforts in the Bahamas" [GAO/GGD 90-42 Report]. U.S. GAO Reports & Testimonies. U.S. Government Accountability Office. March 8, 1990.
  11. ^ Reagan, Ronald (October 14, 1982). "Remarks Announcing Federal Initiatives Against Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime". The American Presidency Project ~ John Woolley and Gerhard Peters. University of California, Santa Barbara.
  12. ^ Reagan, Ronald W. (October 14, 1982). "Remarks Announcing Federal Initiatives Against Drug Trafficking and Organized Crime - October 14, 1982". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. pp. 1313–1317.
  13. ^ "Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces: Status and Observations" [GAO/GGD 84-35 Report]. U.S. GAO Reports & Testimonies. U.S. Government Accountability Office. December 9, 1983.
  14. ^ Reagan, Ronald (March 23, 1983). "Announcement of the Establishment of the National Narcotics Border Interdiction System". The American Presidency Project ~ John Woolley and Gerhard Peters. University of California, Santa Barbara.
  15. ^ Reagan, Ronald W. (March 23, 1983). "Announcement of the Establishment of the National Narcotics Border Interdiction System - March 23, 1983". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. p. 436.
  16. ^ "Federal Drug Interdiction Efforts Need Strong Central Oversight" [GAO/GGD 83-52 Report]. U.S. GAO:Office of Public Affairs. U.S. Government Accountability Office. June 13, 1983.
  17. ^ "The Role of the National Narcotics Border Interdiction System in Coordinating Federal Drug Interdiction Efforts" [GAO 123698 Report]. U.S. GAO Reports & Testimonies. U.S. Government Accountability Office. March 21, 1984.
  18. ^ "Coordination of Federal Drug Interdiction Efforts" [GAO/GGD 85-67 Report]. U.S. GAO:Office of Public Affairs. U.S. Government Accountability Office. July 15, 1985.

In Popular Culture

The Cinema of the United States developed motion pictures depicting covert activities of drug trafficking traversing America’s boundaries by aviation and ground payload during the last quarter of the 20th century.

Depictions of Drug Trafficking and International Boundary Passage
★ Air America (1990) ★ Mr. Nice (2010)
★ American Gangster (2007) ★ Narcos (2015)
★ American Made (2017) ★ Queen of the South (2016)
★ Blow (2001) ★ Traffic (2000)

Periodical Bibliography

  • Brinkley, Joel (May 13, 1984). "Director of Federal Drug Agency Calls Reagan Program 'Liability'". The New York Times.
  • Volsky, George (August 8, 1985). "U.S. SAYS SMUGGLERS BRING RECORD COCAINE FLOW". The New York Times.
  • Gruson, Lindsey (August 9, 1986). "12 ARE CHARGED WITH SMUGGLING TONS OF COCAINE". The New York Times.
  • Brinkley, Joel (September 4, 1986). "4-YEAR FIGHT IN FLORIDA 'JUST CAN'T STOP DRUGS'". The New York Times.
  • Gruson, Lindsey (November 20, 1986). "COCAINE SMUGGLER'S STORY SHOWS U.S. NET WITH 'MORE HOLES THAN CHEESE'". The New York Times.

External links

  • "Justice and Law Enforcement: Federal Drug Law Enforcement Programs" (PDF). U.S. GAO:Office of Public Affairs. U.S. Government Accountability Office. November 16, 1977. OCLC 4769358741.
  • "Justice and Law Enforcement: Gains Made in Controlling Illegal Drugs, Yet the Drug Trade Flourishes" (PDF). U.S. GAO:Office of Public Affairs. U.S. Government Accountability Office. October 25, 1979. OCLC 5747138.
  • Reagan, Ronald W. (September 10, 1984). "1984 National Strategy for Prevention of Drug Abuse and Drug Trafficking". HathiTrust Digital Library. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
  • Reagan, Ronald W. (September 21, 1984). "Remarks on Signing the National Drug Abuse Education and Prevention Week Proclamation - September 21, 1984". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. pp. 1346–1347.
  • Reagan, Ronald W. (September 27, 1984). "Message to the Congress Transmitting a Report on a National Strategy for the Prevention of Drug Abuse and Drug Trafficking - September 27, 1984". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. pp. 1386–1387.
  • "Justice and Law Enforcement: Coordination of Federal Drug Interdiction Efforts" (PDF). U.S. GAO:Office of Public Affairs. U.S. Government Accountability Office. July 15, 1985. OCLC 12319841.
  • "International Affairs: U.S.-Mexico Opium Poppy and Marijuana Aerial Eradication Program" (PDF). U.S. GAO:Office of Public Affairs. U.S. Government Accountability Office. August 5, 1987. OCLC 16898500.
  • "Drug Control: U.S.-Mexico Opium Poppy and Marijuana Aerial Eradication Program" (PDF). U.S. GAO:Office of Public Affairs. U.S. Government Accountability Office. January 11, 1988. OCLC 17597792.
  • "Florida Drug Threat Assessment" [National Drug Intelligence Center Document ID: 2003-S0381FL-001]. United States Department of Justice. July 2003.
  • "United States Drug Trafficking Reports". USSC Subject Topic. United States Sentencing Commission.
  • "Cocainenomics ~ The Ever-Changing Logistics of Drug Smuggling". The Wall Street Journal.
  • "South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area". SFHIDTA.org. United States Office of National Drug Control Policy.
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