Pubdate: Sun, 03 Sep 2000 Source: New York Times (NY) Copyright: 2000 The New York Times Company Contact: 229 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036 Fax: (212) 556-3622 Website: http://www.nytimes.com/ Forum: http://www10.nytimes.com/comment/ Section: Letters Author: Ronald B. Brinn Note: Ronald B. Brinn, Great Neck, N.Y., Aug. 30, 2000 The writer is a nongovernmental representative at the United Nations. 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. - --- MAP posted-by: John Chase