Fighting the War on Drugs with Reagan's Coast Guard: Inside the Epic Naval Battles that Turned the Tide

In the early 1980s, as the United States faced an unprecedented drug crisis, President Ronald Reagan declared a "war on drugs." At the forefront of this battle was the United States Coast Guard, a small but determined force tasked with patrolling the nation's vast coastline and interdicting the flow of illegal narcotics.

Red Crew: Fighting the War on Drugs with Reagan’s Coast Guard

by Jim Howe

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2615 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	297 pages
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

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In this thrilling account, based on exclusive interviews and never-before-seen documents, author Robert Kaplan tells the untold story of the Coast Guard's extraordinary role in the Reagan-era War on Drugs.

From daring high-seas interdictions to deadly firefights with heavily armed smugglers, Kaplan takes readers inside the epic naval battles that turned the tide of the drug war. He introduces us to the brave men and women of the Coast Guard who risked their lives to stop the flow of illegal narcotics into the United States.

Fighting the War on Drugs with Reagan's Coast Guard is a gripping tale of courage, sacrifice, and adventure. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the drug war, the role of the Coast Guard, or simply a good story about the men and women who keep our shores safe.

Table of Contents

1. Chapter 1: The Rise of the Drug Trade
2. Chapter 2: The Reagan Administration's War on Drugs
3. Chapter 3: The Coast Guard's Role in the War on Drugs
4. Chapter 4: The Epic Naval Battles
5. Chapter 5: The Legacy of the Coast Guard's Role in the War on Drugs

Chapter 1: The Rise of the Drug Trade

In the early 1980s, the United States was facing an unprecedented drug crisis. The flow of illegal narcotics into the country had reached epidemic proportions, and the Reagan administration was determined to do something about it.

The drug trade was fueled by a number of factors, including the rise of the Medellin cartel in Colombia, the increased availability of cocaine and other drugs, and the growing demand for illegal narcotics in the United States.

The Medellin cartel, led by Pablo Escobar, was one of the most powerful drug cartels in history. Escobar and his associates were responsible for smuggling vast quantities of cocaine into the United States, and they were willing to use violence to protect their business.

The increased availability of cocaine and other drugs was also a major factor in the rise of the drug trade. In the 1980s, cocaine was becoming more and more popular in the United States, and the demand for the drug skyrocketed.

The growing demand for illegal narcotics in the United States was another factor that contributed to the rise of the drug trade. As the demand for drugs increased, so did the profits to be made by smuggling drugs into the country.

Chapter 2: The Reagan Administration's War on Drugs

In response to the drug crisis, the Reagan administration declared a "war on drugs." This war on drugs was a multi-pronged approach that included increased law enforcement efforts, tougher sentencing laws, and international cooperation.

One of the key components of the Reagan administration's war on drugs was the increased use of the Coast Guard to interdict drug smugglers. The Coast Guard was given new resources and authorities to patrol the nation's coastline and stop the flow of illegal narcotics.

The Reagan administration also worked with other countries to combat the drug trade. In 1989, the United States and Colombia signed an agreement that allowed the Coast Guard to patrol Colombian waters in search of drug smugglers.

Chapter 3: The Coast Guard's Role in the War on Drugs

The Coast Guard played a vital role in the Reagan-era War on Drugs. The Coast Guard's small but determined force of cutters and aircraft patrolled the nation's coastline and interdicted drug smugglers.

The Coast Guard's interdiction efforts were often dangerous. Drug smugglers were often armed and willing to use violence to protect their cargo. In 1985, a Coast Guard cutter was fired upon by a drug-smuggling vessel, and one Coast Guardsman was killed.

Despite the dangers, the Coast Guard continued to interdict drug smugglers. In the 1980s, the Coast Guard seized over 1 million pounds of cocaine and arrested over 10,000 drug smugglers.

Red Crew: Fighting the War on Drugs with Reagan’s Coast Guard

by Jim Howe

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	2615 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
X-Ray	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	297 pages
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

FREE