The crime of illicit narcotics trafficking is a transnational crime and is included in an extraordinary crime, therefore its handling requires an extraordinary criminal policy. This research method is normative juridical with literature study and using qualitative analysis. The legal approach to illicit narcotics trafficking differs between Indonesia and the United States. Indonesia prioritizes penal efforts by taking action against perpetrators, while the United States prioritizes non-penal efforts by making efforts to prevent the occurrence of illicit narcotics trafficking, including closing access to trade routes from outside their country. The advantages of law enforcement on narcotics trade which are carried out with a penal law approach are able to eradicate illicit narcotics trafficking by arresting perpetrators and destroying illegal narcotics, while the weakness is that illegal narcotics still occur, especially those from other countries. Non-penal legal efforts that prioritize prevention are able to reduce the occurrence of illicit narcotics trafficking, but the weakness of prevention is that it requires cooperation between many countries and requires greater costs.