Can international human rights law ever justify destroying drug shipments that can kill or addict Americans? (Maybe) – Sites@Duke Express

Report on Military Counter-Narcotics Operations and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

This report examines the recent use of U.S. military force against vessels allegedly trafficking illicit drugs. The analysis focuses on the implications of these operations for several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The report assesses the public health crisis fueled by drug trafficking, the efficacy and legality of current interdiction strategies, and the broader context of international law and cooperation.

The Illicit Drug Trade’s Impact on Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

The Public Health Crisis

The trafficking of illicit narcotics, particularly cocaine, presents a direct and severe threat to the achievement of SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all. The public health consequences in the United States are significant:

• In 2024, drug overdoses resulted in 80,391 deaths.
• Cocaine specifically was responsible for at least 22,174 of these fatalities.
• Over two million people in the U.S. suffer from cocaine addiction.

These statistics underscore the failure to protect populations from harmful substances and highlight the strain on public health systems, directly undermining SDG Target 3.5, which calls for strengthening the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.

Scale of the Health Threat

The potential for harm from a single trafficking operation is immense, further challenging public health objectives. The lethality of cocaine is high, with a fatal dose potentially as low as 30 mg. A standard 1-kilogram brick of cocaine contains enough of the substance to be lethal to over 800 individuals. Vessels commonly carry shipments of 1,000 kilograms or more, representing a potential threat to hundreds of thousands of lives and a significant impediment to ensuring public health and safety.

Challenges to Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

Ineffectiveness of Traditional Law Enforcement Institutions

The current law enforcement approach to maritime drug interdiction has proven insufficient, highlighting a critical challenge to SDG 16’s goal of building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions. The vastness of the operational area and resource limitations hinder success.

1. Vast Operational Area: The Maritime Transit Zone covers approximately 6 million square miles, an area twice the size of the continental United States.
2. Limited Assets: The U.S. Coast Guard has limited cutters and personnel to patrol this enormous region effectively.
3. Low Interdiction Rates: From fiscal years 2021 through 2023, the Coast Guard intercepted only 421.9 metric tons of cocaine, representing just over 5% of the estimated 7,924 metric tons in known maritime flow. This suggests that up to 95% of shipments may evade maritime law enforcement.

This institutional gap allows transnational organized crime to flourish, undermining the rule of law and national security, which are central tenets of SDG 16.

Legal Frameworks and the Use of Force

The debate over the legality of using military strikes against narco-vessels touches upon the core of SDG 16, which promotes the rule of law at national and international levels. Two primary legal regimes are being considered:

• International Human Rights Law (IHRL): This law enforcement framework permits the use of lethal force only when strictly unavoidable to protect life, such as in self-defense or to prevent a particularly serious crime involving a grave threat to life. The key legal standard is “objective reasonableness” under the circumstances.
• Law of Armed Conflict: This regime, typically applied in situations of armed conflict, provides a different set of rules for targeting and the use of force. The administration’s consideration of this framework suggests a view that the threat posed by drug trafficking organizations may exceed the capacity of traditional law enforcement.

The lack of public information regarding the legal rationale for recent strikes creates uncertainty about adherence to international legal standards, a key component of strong and just institutions.

The Role of International Cooperation in Achieving SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)

Historical Precedents for Multinational Action

Global partnerships, the focus of SDG 17, have historically been crucial in addressing transnational criminal threats at sea. Past international military cooperation provides a precedent for current counter-narcotics efforts.

• Barbary Pirates: In the early 19th century, the U.S. Navy conducted military operations against pirates engaged in trafficking and extortion.
• Somali Piracy: Beginning in 2008, the UN Security Council passed multiple resolutions authorizing international naval forces to use “all necessary means” to suppress piracy off the coast of Somalia. This multinational effort, supported by international law, successfully curtailed a major threat to global commerce and security.

These examples demonstrate that robust international partnerships can be effective in combating criminal enterprises that law enforcement alone cannot contain.

The Need for a Coordinated Global Response

The cocaine trade is a global problem requiring a coordinated response consistent with SDG 17. Trafficking routes are complex, with countries like Trinidad and Tobago serving as major transit points for narcotics destined for North America and Europe. Intelligence sharing and joint operations, such as the one conducted with the Dominican Republic that recovered 377 packages of cocaine after a U.S. strike, are essential. A failure to foster these partnerships allows criminal networks to exploit jurisdictional gaps and undermine global stability.

Assessment and Concluding Remarks

Intelligence and Institutional Capacity

The effectiveness of any strategy relies on accurate intelligence. Reports indicate that U.S. signals intelligence capabilities are being used to identify and confirm that targeted vessels are engaged in illicit smuggling. This capacity is crucial for making informed decisions, whether under a law enforcement or military framework. However, the decision to use lethal force, especially as a last resort when law enforcement assets are unavailable, raises profound questions about proportionality and the “last window of opportunity” to prevent significant harm.

A Holistic Approach for Sustainable Development

While interdiction efforts are a component of the response, they do not address the root causes of the drug crisis. Achieving sustainable progress requires a holistic approach that aligns with the broader 2030 Agenda. This includes:

• Strengthening Health Systems (SDG 3): Expanding access to substance abuse treatment and prevention programs to reduce demand.
• Promoting Justice and Rule of Law (SDG 16): Enhancing the capacity of law enforcement and judicial systems to dismantle criminal organizations.
• Fostering Global Partnerships (SDG 17): Improving international cooperation on intelligence, interdiction, and addressing the socioeconomic drivers of drug production and trafficking.

Ultimately, reliance on military interdiction alone is insufficient. A comprehensive strategy that integrates public health, justice, and international cooperation is necessary to effectively combat the global drug trade and advance the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

This goal is central to the article, which frames the issue of drug trafficking as a major public health crisis.

• Explanation: The article repeatedly highlights the devastating health impacts of illicit drugs, particularly cocaine. It provides specific statistics on deaths and addiction, directly linking the anti-drug operations to the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being. The text states that the flow of illicit drugs “killed 80,391 Americans in 2024, and caused ‘drug use disorders’ (addiction) in millions more.” This establishes a clear connection to public health outcomes.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

This goal is addressed through the article’s extensive discussion of law enforcement, legal frameworks, international cooperation, and the fight against organized crime.

• Explanation: The article analyzes the effectiveness and legality of institutions like the U.S. Coast Guard and military in combating drug trafficking. It delves into the complexities of using force, the rule of law on the high seas (e.g., Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act), and the challenges posed by organized crime. The text notes that law enforcement measures “weren’t working effectively enough,” prompting a shift in strategy. This highlights the focus on institutional effectiveness and justice in addressing transnational crime.

SDG 14: Life Below Water

This goal is relevant as the conflict and illegal activities discussed occur within the maritime domain, affecting the governance and security of oceans.

• Explanation: The article describes the challenges of policing the “Maritime Transit Zone—a 6 million square mile region.” The discussion revolves around enforcing national and international laws on the high seas to stop illicit activities (drug smuggling). While not focused on conservation, it addresses the critical aspect of combating crime in marine environments, which is essential for effective ocean governance and the implementation of international maritime law.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Targets under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

1. Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.
   • Explanation: The article directly addresses this target by quantifying premature mortality from drug overdoses. It states, “In the U.S. alone, the drug killed at least 22,174 people in 2024,” and notes the overall figure of “80,391 drug overdose deaths in 2024.” These deaths are a form of premature mortality that the anti-drug operations aim to prevent.
2. Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
   • Explanation: The entire article is premised on the problem of narcotic drug abuse. It specifies that “Over two million people in the U.S. suffer from cocaine addiction.” The military and law enforcement actions discussed are a direct, albeit controversial, attempt to prevent narcotics from reaching users, thereby addressing the substance abuse problem at the supply level. The article concludes by noting that “A holistic approach that includes treatment is the only one that will ultimately work.”

Targets under SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • Explanation: The article discusses violence from two perspectives: the deaths caused by the drug trade (“80,391 drug overdose deaths”) and the lethal force used by the state to combat it (“U.S. military strikes on boats… typically killing everyone on board”). Both represent forms of violence and related death rates that are central to the issue.
2. Target 16.4: By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime.
   • Explanation: The focus on intercepting drug boats is a direct effort to combat organized crime (drug cartels) and reduce illicit flows (cocaine smuggling). The article highlights the scale of this flow, noting that the Coast Guard intercepted only a fraction of the “7,924 metric tons of the ‘total known non-commercial maritime cocaine flow from fiscal years 2021 through 2023.'”
3. Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, to build capacity at all levels… to prevent violence and combat… crime.
   • Explanation: The article is a critique and analysis of the capacity of national institutions (Coast Guard, Navy, DEA) to combat drug trafficking. It points out their limitations, such as the Coast Guard not having “cutters available to perform the counterdrug mission.” It also mentions international cooperation, such as the joint operation with the Dominican Republic that “recovered 377 packages of cocaine from the boat.”

Indicators for Measuring Progress

Indicators for SDG 3 Targets

• Mortality rate due to drug overdose (Implied): The article provides precise data that can serve as an indicator. It states there were “80,391 drug overdose deaths in 2024” and “22,174 people in 2024” killed by cocaine. Tracking these numbers would measure progress toward Target 3.4.
• Prevalence of substance use disorders (Implied): The article mentions that “Over two million people in the U.S. suffer from cocaine addiction.” This figure is a direct measure of the scale of substance abuse, relevant to Target 3.5.

Indicators for SDG 16 Targets

• Volume of illicit drugs seized (Mentioned): The article provides specific figures on seizures, which can be used as an indicator for combating illicit flows (Target 16.4). Examples include “421.9 metric tons of cocaine” interdicted by the Coast Guard from 2021-2023 and the DEA seizing “more than 201,500 pounds of cocaine” in the first half of 2025.
• Interdiction success rate (Implied): The article implies an indicator of institutional effectiveness by calculating the failure rate of interdiction efforts. It states that law enforcement intercepts “a little more than 5% of the total known non-commercial maritime cocaine flow,” meaning approximately 95% gets through. This percentage serves as a powerful indicator of the challenge faced by institutions (Target 16.a).

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: sites.duke.edu