CURBING DRUG TRADE: A PROVEN APPROACH

To the Editor:
Re "Colombia Says Key to Drug Fight Is for U.S. to Tame Demand Here"
(front page, Aug. 30):

Colombia's president, Andres Pastrana, is nearly right when he calls
international drug trafficking the "most lucrative business in the
world." Actually, the world arms trade is larger, but both are
intertwined in the spread of drug addiction and AIDS through terrorism
and guerrilla warfare. Efforts to reduce demand are essential to
curtail drug use, but money is the big driver in the global drug trade.

America's forfeiture laws are an effective way to curtail the arms and
drug trades. These should be globalized to stabilize the political and
economic system in Colombia, making the rule of law stronger and
building a source of strength for the Colombian people.

Achieving this would take political will and United States membership
in the International Criminal Court.

Ronald B. Brinn, Great Neck, N.Y., Aug. 30, 2000 The writer is a
nongovernmental representative at the United Nations.