Résumé
This research presents important manifestations of the impact of the NAFTA on the RCMP in the control of the international illegal drug trade. The aim of the study is to reveal and to understand the impact of the NAFTA on the RCMP and to see whether the agreement enables or constrains the organization in its role in international drug trade policy. A qualitative approach is used and a triangulation methodology, including government documentation, unstructured interviews, and participant observation in conferences was utilized to gather the data, to complement each other, and to enhance the validity and reliability of the findings.The findings indicate that the NAFTA is an enabling factor which enhanced the capacity and scope of the exchange of information between the three countries involved, particularly between Canada and the United States law enforcement agencies. The exchange of information and the cooperation, collaboration, and coordination of efforts by the NAFTA countries are also depicted by the IMLC organizers, as well as by the interviewees, as the most effective approach to fight international illegal drug trade. As well, as mentioned in the findings, the NAFTA induces a pressure for harmonization which impairs the efficacy of the RCMP drug sections in their investigations.