The author briefly examines the current problem of cross-border drug trafficking in the United States and Russia, and outlines the main components of the policy of the studied countries to counter drug trafficking. Having reviewed the main approaches to solving the problem, the author concludes that, despite the enormous efforts of law enforcement agencies in the United States, real success in combating the drug business has not been achieved, which is not possible for Russia, which has significantly fewer resources to combat drug traffic king. Thus, the key in the fight against drug trafficking should lie in rethinking the problem and finding new approaches, in the fight against poverty and the creation of stable institutions.