drug trafficking and threats essay

Essay on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Students are often asked to write an essay on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Introduction.

Drug abuse and illicit trafficking are global problems. These issues affect society’s health, safety, and well-being. Drug abuse refers to the harmful use of drugs, while illicit trafficking involves illegal trade of drugs.

Effects of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse can lead to health problems, including mental disorders and physical illnesses. It can also cause social issues like unemployment, crime, and broken families.

Illicit Drug Trafficking

Illicit drug trafficking is a serious crime. It involves the manufacture, distribution, and sale of illegal drugs. This trade fuels crime, violence, and corruption.

To fight drug abuse and illicit trafficking, we need education, law enforcement, and treatment programs. It’s a fight that needs everyone’s participation.

250 Words Essay on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

The scourge of drug abuse.

Drug abuse is not confined to any demographic or socio-economic strata. It’s a pervasive issue that affects individuals, families, and communities. The repercussions extend beyond health problems, leading to broken families, lost potential, and increased crime rates. The abuse of prescription drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPS) has emerged as a significant concern, highlighting the evolving nature of drug abuse.

Illicit Trafficking: A Global Problem

Illicit drug trafficking fuels organized crime, destabilizes societies, and undermines economic growth. The clandestine nature of drug trafficking makes it a complex issue to tackle. It’s a lucrative business for criminal networks due to the high demand for drugs and the significant profits involved.

The Interplay and Impact

Drug abuse and illicit trafficking form a vicious cycle. Increased availability of drugs due to illicit trafficking leads to higher rates of drug abuse. Conversely, the demand created by drug abuse fuels illicit trafficking. This interplay exacerbates the social and economic issues associated with each problem.

Addressing drug abuse and illicit trafficking requires a holistic approach that includes education, prevention, treatment, and law enforcement efforts. It’s crucial to break the cycle of demand and supply to effectively combat these issues. By understanding the complexities and interconnectedness of drug abuse and illicit trafficking, we can develop more effective strategies to address these global problems.

500 Words Essay on Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Drug abuse and illicit trafficking are significant global issues that continue to pose a serious threat to public health, social stability, and economic development. They are intrinsically linked phenomena that reinforce each other, creating a vicious cycle that is challenging to break.

Illicit Drug Trafficking: A Global Concern

Illicit drug trafficking, on the other hand, is a global black market dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, and sale of drugs that are subject to drug prohibition laws. It’s a highly profitable, yet dangerous business, often associated with powerful transnational organized crime networks. Its impacts are far-reaching, undermining social and economic development, political stability, and public health.

The Interplay between Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

The relationship between drug abuse and illicit trafficking is symbiotic. The demand for drugs fuels the illicit trade, while the availability of drugs promotes abuse and addiction. This interplay creates a self-perpetuating cycle that exacerbates both problems.

Addressing the Issue

Addressing drug abuse and illicit trafficking requires a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach. This includes prevention efforts aimed at reducing the demand for drugs, harm reduction strategies to minimize the negative health impacts of drug use, and supply reduction measures to disrupt the illicit drug trade.

Education plays a crucial role in prevention. By raising awareness about the dangers of drug use and promoting healthy coping mechanisms, we can help individuals make informed decisions and reduce the likelihood of drug abuse.

In conclusion, drug abuse and illicit trafficking are interconnected global problems that require concerted efforts to address. By understanding their interplay and implementing comprehensive strategies, we can work towards a future free from the devastating impacts of these phenomena. The challenge is daunting, but with the right approach, it is surmountable.

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91 Drug Trafficking Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best drug trafficking topic ideas & essay examples, 🎓 good research topics about drug trafficking, 📌 simple & easy drug trafficking essay titles, ❓ research questions about drug trafficking.

• Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse Drug trafficking contributes to drug abuse in the society. Drug trafficking also contributes to increased criminal activities that affect the security of citizens.
• International Drug Trafficking: Critical Thinking Moreover, it is of concern that the power of drug traffickers is constantly growing and that they are influencing the economic and political affairs of cities.
• International Drug Trafficking: Analysis and Solution If an attempt is made to unify the process for all significant areas of drug trafficking, such a system will fail.
• Drug Cartels Problem Overview Drugs have been the major cause of the rise in the levels of corruption, disobedience to the law, and human rights abuses The selection highlights the key challenge of drug cartels in Latin America.
• Cocaine and Methamphetamine: Drug Threat in the United States This shortage of cocaine has been brought due to low production of cocaine In Mexico, and this was as a result of pressure from the United States government to DTOs, large seizure of cocaine consignment […]
• Policy Project: The Drug Trafficking The committee was also in making reports to the convention. Reforms in judicial systems should be advocated to the countries that are signatories of UN convention.
• Drug Trafficking in the UK This is the extent of the information available at the start of the research. The first element that has to be developed is the list of organizations that could potentially be involved with the smuggling […]
• Economics of Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking Three major conditions associated with the development and origins of mafias include the abdication of legitimate government power, excessive bureaucratic power, and the financial potential of illegal markets.
• Human and Drug Trafficking as Transnational Organised Crimes While a transnational crime implies illegal actions and the breaking of law across borders or between two or more countries, the UN Convention has not made an effort of listing the type of crimes for […]
• International Drug Trafficking and Its Legal Status The large-scale of the global drug trade has grown primarily due to the levels of financing and expansion that organized crime has invested in the industry.
• Drug Trafficking, National Security and Intelligence In most of the cases, these cartels used carrot-and-stick approach when it came to dealing with security agencies both in their home country and in the United States. The drug cartels in this country use […]
• What Can Law Enforcement Do About Drug Trafficking Therefore, there is a need for the creation and implementation of new federal and local laws that would ensure the appropriateness of police operations in the field of drug trafficking prevention.
• Drug Trafficking and Terrorism in Central Asia: Implications for the US The interests of the United States in the Central Asia Region increased significantly after the 9/11bomb attacks in the United States.
• Drug Traffickers Arrest: Intelligence Cycle The case study about the arrest of 7 drug traffickers by Drug Enforcement Agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Homeland Security Investigations agents is a perfect case that required collection of information, processing it to […]
• Illegal Drug Trafficking Rates This is one of the most thriving trades in the world markets owing to the fact that, although majority of nations have criminalized drug trafficking, due to effects of the economic crisis that affected most […]
• Mexican Drug Cartels and Human Trafficking Reports from Mexico says that due to the pressure exerted on the drug cartels by the government, they have resolved in other means of getting revenue and the major one has been human trafficking alongside […]
• The Mexican Drugs Cartels Apparently, Mexican drug cartels have dominated the illegal drug trading in the United States, as there is increased co-operation with the prisoners and street peddlers in the United States; moreover, drug trafficking has spread rapidly […]
• Colombian Drug Cartels: Government Response For instance, the Cali cartel participated a great deal in the downfall of the Medellin cartel as it was involved in the manhunt of the leaders of the Medellin cartel which saw the killing of […]
• Mexican Drug Cartels and the War on Drugs The examination of the current research on Mexican drug cartels and the War on Drugs helps to understand the causes of the outburst of violence, define the major tendencies of the Mexican War on Drugs […]
• Drug Trafficking in the US Kleiman argues that drug trafficking in the US has brought about harmful effects to families, children and the greater population of the young people.
• Pre-Colombia Era of Drug Trafficking in the Americas: Andean Cocaine, 1947-1973 This led to the period where cocaine was considered as an illicit drug in most parts of the world. The United States utilized its popularity to spread the word over the continents on the dangers […]
• Reducing Drug Trafficking in the United States For this to be effective, the US government has instituted a task force that specializes in the capturing of drug dealers and traffickers.
• US Proposed Plan for Reducing Security Threat by Mexican Drug Cartels Terrorism in the modern world has become a big threat to the security of the world and especially the US citizens which is the largest economy in the world.
• Achieving Wealth and Power: Drug Trafficking
• Border Patrol Enforcement Have Impact on Illegal Drug Trafficking
• The Battle Between Border Security and Drug Trafficking
• Can National Governments Prevent Illicit Drug Trafficking?
• Death Penalty for Drug Trafficking: Is It Required?
• Drug Smoking and Drug Trafficking in the World
• The Link Between Drug Trafficking and Gang Violence
• Drug Trafficking and Distribution of Drugs: Overview
• Linking Drug Trafficking and Illegal Immigration
• The Relationships Between Drug Trafficking and Insurgent Terrorists
• Drug Trafficking and Its Effects on America
• Link Between Drug Trafficking and the Financing of Terrorism
• Drug Trafficking and Its Effects on the American Civil War
• Relations Between Drug Trafficking, Organized Crime, and Terrorism Interactions
• Drug Trafficking and Its Effects on the Human Body
• Illicit Trade and Drug Trafficking Proving to Be a Major Problem
• Drug Trafficking and Its Effects on US Policy and Economy
• Joint Interagency Engagement and Drug Trafficking
• Drug Trafficking and Narco-Terrorism as Security Threats
• Mexican Drug War: Drug Trafficking and Its Effects on Mexico
• Drug Trafficking and the Criminal Justice System of America
• Reducing Drug Trafficking In the United States
• Drug Trafficking Between Mexico and The United States
• Terrorism and Drug Trafficking at the South American Borders
• Drug Trafficking: Consequences, and Accountability
• Overview of the Biggest Drug Trafficking Organization
• Drug Trafficking Has Caused the Coffee Industry
• The Economics Behind Drug Trafficking and Cartels in Mexico
• Drug Trafficking Organizations and Counter-Drug Strategies in the US-Mexican Context
• The Fight Against Drugs and Drug Trafficking in America
• The History, Effect, and Cost of Drug Trafficking on Society
• The Long Existed Business of Drug Trafficking in Latin Countries
• Punishments and Laws Associated With Drug Trafficking in the United States
• UN’s Efforts to Control Drug Trafficking in Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and Korea
• The United States’ Strategy for Combating Drug Trafficking
• War Against Drug Trafficking and the Drug Crisis in the USA
• Overview of Transnational Criminality and Illicit Drug Trafficking
• United States Drug Trafficking Problem Analysis
• Why Drug Trafficking Causes Gun Violence?
• Would Legalizing Drugs Discourage Drug Trafficking?
• How Can Drug Trafficking Be Controlled?
• Why Does Drug Trafficking Continue to Rise Despite the Risks Involved?
• How Does Drug Trafficking Affect the United States?
• What Is the Connection Between Drug Abuse and Drug Trafficking?
• How Does Drug Trafficking Impact the Economy and the World at Large?
• Why Is It Important to Stop Drug Trafficking?
• When Did Drug Trafficking Become a Problem?
• Is Human Trafficking Bigger Than Drug Trafficking?
• What Is the Difference Between Drug Trafficking and Drug Smuggling?
• How Can We Solve the Problem of Drug Trafficking?
• What Is the Golden Triangle in Drug Trafficking?
• Is Drug Trafficking and Smuggling the Same Thing?
• What Are the Effects of Drug Trafficking in the Country?
• Why Is Drug Trafficking a Threat to Any Nation?
• What Are the Root Causes of Drug Trafficking in Central America?
• How Do Drug Trafficking Organizations Work?
• What Is the Penalty for Drug Trafficking in the USA?
• Is Human Trafficking More Profitable Than Drug Trafficking?
• What Is the Biggest Drug Trafficking Organization in the World?
• Does the FBI Handle Drug Trafficking?
• What Is the Political Effect of Drug Trafficking?
• Did Latin America’s Drug Trafficking Thrive During COVID-19?
• Who Started Drug Trafficking in Colombia?
• How Is Drug Trafficking to Blame for Violence in Latin America?
• What Has the UN Done for Drug Trafficking?
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Drug trafficking is a major source of revenue for organised crime groups, many of whom are involved in other forms of serious crime such as firearms, modern slavery and immigration crime. Action against drug trafficking therefore has a much wider disruptive impact on organised criminal activity.

  document Click here for image text ( 11 KB )

The threat from drug trafficking.

Drug related deaths through misuse reported in the UK rose from 4,517 in 2020 to 4,564 in 2021. Scotland continues to have the highest number of drug related deaths through misuse, 245 deaths per million. In England and Wales, the North East continues to have the highest rates of deaths at 104.1 deaths per million people. Newer synthetic opioids – such as fentanyl - have contributed to this rise.

Opium production in Afghanistan and cocaine production in Colombia are at record levels. This increase in production has the added effect of a high level of drug purity at street level as the criminals have less need to use cutting agents, and this brings its own dangers. The chemicals necessary for amphetamine production continue to enter the country in volume, while street prices drop, again indicating rising availability. Evidence suggests crack cocaine use - a particular driver of violence -is rising in England and Wales, while demand for all common drug types remain high.

There is significant, and often deadly, competition between rival organised crime groups at all stages of class A drugs production and supply. There is also corruption at every stage of the drug supply chain, including through the use of corrupt port and airport officials. 

Organised crime groups involved in drug trafficking are typically also involved in a range of criminal activity, and the profits from illegal drugs are used to fund other forms of criminal operations, including buying illegal firearms and financing terrorism.

Crime associated with drug trafficking is very often violent, with direct links to the criminal use of firearms and gang feud knife attacks, and traffickers frequently exploit young and vulnerable people. Cannabis gangs in particular are notorious for the trafficking and exploitation of Vietnamese children and other vulnerable people to carry out live-in work in dangerous cannabis factories.

County Lines

Urban street gangs play a key – and rising - role in the distribution of class A drugs, particularly heroin and crack cocaine. By their nature,  County Line  drug networks tend to operate across police and local authority boundaries, although not exclusively.

County Lines are not defined by the distance between the point of control and the point of distribution, but rather the mechanism by which that method of supply is supported; namely the use of a mobile telephone line and the use of vulnerable adults and children to facilitate the distribution. Importing areas are reporting increased levels of violence and weapons-related crimes as a result of this trend.

Read more: pdf NCA Intelligence Assessment: County Lines, Gangs, and Safeguarding ( 146 KB )

Routes into the UK

Most forms of illegal drugs originate overseas and are trafficked into the UK via various routes, including:

• Container shipping
• Yachts and small boats
• Light aircraft
• Vehicle traffic from continental Europe
• Airline passengers
• The post and fast parcels

Trafficking methods frequentlyrely on the recruitment of vulnerable people as mules - often at great risk to their lives and welfare. They can also rely on enlisting the help of employees at ports and borders; this corruption weakens the integrity of border security and increases the risk of other forms of trafficking, including firearms and organised immigration crime.

Profits are high at all stages of drug trafficking, but particularly for those who can access the drugs in their source country. Criminals from the Balkans dominate the cocaine market, but British traffickers remain a significant threat.

Read more:   pdf National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2018 ( 3.48 MB ) .

Our response

Enforcement action against drug trafficking has a wider disruptive impact on organised crime. Crime groups involved in drug trafficking are typically involved in a range of criminal activity, so action against drug trafficking can simultaneously impact:

• Production of false documentation

Illegal drugs are a global threat.To combat organised crime groups operating across borders we cannot deal with the UK in isolation – we must work with partners around the world to coordinate action and prevent illegal drugs from reaching the UK in the first place.

International action

Our international network is a key asset in enabling us to tackle the threat before drugs reach the UK.

We work closely with authorities in source countries such as Colombia, Pakistan and Afghanistan to tackle production upstream. We provide intelligence, training, tactical guidance, equipment and other forms of support to help build capability and sharpen developing nations' response to the threat.

We also work with partners in transit countries from the Caribbean to West Africa, Turkey, Belgium and the Netherlands to intercept shipments and prevent them from reaching UK shores. We tackle the entire drug smuggling supply chain from source to street sale, so we are able to disrupt and dismantle networks at every stage of the drug trafficking process.

Working with partners such as Border Force , the Royal Navy , European and American authorities we have conducted several maritime operations to seize large quantities of drugs at sea.

Several of the fugitives on our Most Wanted list have been convicted or are suspected of being involved in drug trafficking. Where fugitives flee abroad we work with international law enforcement partners to locate, arrest and return them to the UK to face justice.

Within the UK

We lead our own investigations, provide intelligence to partners in the UK and around the world and coordinate multi-agency action. 

The NCA is taking a national leadership role in assessing the county lines threat, and prioritising the operational law enforcement response. 

Border Force is a key partner in securing our borders and preventing drugs from being successfully trafficked into the country. Police and regional organised crime units (ROCUs) are also vital partners in the fight against drug trafficking.

Because drug trafficking funds and enables other forms of crime our investigations often provide crucial intelligence into associated criminal operations. It can also help us to identify and safeguard victims of crimes such as modern slavery and child sexual exploitation and abuse. 

Reducing demand is another critical factor in reducing the supply of illegal drugs. Many people see recreational drug use as a victimless crime. The reality is that the production of illegal drugs for western markets has a devastating impact in source countries in terms of violence, exploitation of vulnerable and indigenous people and environmental destruction.

What you can do to help

You can help secure our borders against the trafficking of drugs and other criminal commodities.

If you see anything suspicious at the coast, on the waterways, at rural airfields or anywhere else please report it to your local police on 101 or to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Always call 999 in an emergency.

Chemical Suspicious Activity Reports

Chemical Suspicious Activity Reports (CSARs) are made by companies in the chemical or related industries and alert UK law enforcement to the potential purchase of chemicals to manufacture illegal drugs.

Related publications

• pdf National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2021 Popular
• pdf National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2020 Popular
• pdf National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2018 Popular
• pdf County Lines Violence, Exploitation & Drug Supply 2017 Popular
• pdf National Strategic Assessment of Serious and Organised Crime 2017 Popular
• pdf Chemical suspicious activity report form Popular
• pdf County Lines - Gang Violence Exploitation and Drug Supply 2016 Popular
• pdf Recent Deaths Possibly Linked to Fentanyl Popular

Latest news on this threat

Brits arrested in major international investigation into 1.5 tonne cocaine importation

Ten British nationals have been arrested as part of multi-agency investigation into drug trafficking from South America to Europe.

£1.2m cash and £350,000 assets seized as organised crime group dismantled

An organised crime group responsible for laundering millions in criminal cash, class A and B drug distribution and the attempted fraudulent acquisition of £1.5million of government grants has been dismantled following a two-year NCA investigation.

Man charged over attempted gun parts importation

A man from Birmingham has been charged as part of a National Crime Agency investigation into the attempted importation of firearms components.

Latest vacancies

There are currently no open vacancies related to this article. Click on the button below to view all vacancies.

Most wanted in connection with this threat

Alex Male is wanted for drugs trafficking, money laundering, conspiring to acquire a firearm.

Callum Michael Allan

Twelve alleged offences including possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.

Calvin Parris

Conspiracy to supply Class A drugs.

Asim Naveed

Allegedly had a leading role in a highly organised crime group that trafficked Class A drugs. 

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Make Your Note

Drug Trafficking and Threat to Security

• 20 Apr 2023
• 12 min read
• GS Paper - 3
• Linkages of Organized Crime with Terrorism

For Prelims: Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, NDPS Act , NCB , Golden Crescent and Golden Triangle, National Fund for Control of Drug Abuse, National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction

For Mains: Drug Menance: Threats, Challenges, Initiatives taken, challenges

Why in News?

The global drug trade is a major problem that has put security and law enforcement agencies on high alert worldwide , including in India.

• Traditionally India has been seen as sandwiched between the Death (Golden) Crescent and Death (Golden) Triangle and is being flooded with drugs, especially heroin and methamphetamine, from these two regions by drug lords indirectly supported by intelligence setups.

Why is Drug Trafficking Dangerous?

• It is a social problem that harms youth and families and the money it generates is diverted for disruptive activities that have bearings on national security.
• Methamphetamine (meth) is an addictive drug and can cause considerable health adversities that can sometimes result in death.
• This drug can cause raw wounds on the user’s skin that can spread rapidly with repeated exposure.
• It starts with ulcers, hardens to dead skin called eschar, and if left untreated can result in amputation.
• Drug trafficking is often associated with other forms of crime, such as terrorism , money laundering or corruption.
• Trafficking routes can also be used by criminal networks to transport other illicit products.

What is the Status of Drug Addiction in India?

• In 2018, The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has conducted a “National Survey on Extent and Pattern of Substance Use in India” in collaboration with AIIMS, New Delhi. The survey’s findings are as follows:

• According to World Drug Report 2022 , India has the fourth largest quantity of opium seized in 2020 at 5.2 tons and the third-highest amount of morphine was also seized in the same year at 0.7 tons.

From where the Illegal Drugs are trafficked in India?

• Parts of Pakistan adjoining Afghanistan are also used by Pakistani drug traffickers to convert Afghan opium to heroin and then sent to India.
• The Shan and Kachin provinces of Myanmar bordering China also pose challenges.
• Illicit arms are manufactured here and supplied to underground groups active in India.
• According to the latest annual report by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) , drug trafficking through sea routes in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, estimated to account for around 70% of the total illegal drugs smuggled into India.

What are the Initiatives taken by India to curb the Drug Menace?

• The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, (NDPS) 1985: It prohibits a person from producing, possessing, selling, purchasing, transporting, storing, and/or consuming any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance.
• Preventive education
• Awareness generation
• Identification, counselling, treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependent persons
• Training and capacity building of service providers through collaborative efforts of government and NGOs.
• Combating illicit trafficking
• Controlling abuse of drugs and substances
• Identifying, treating and rehabilitating addicts
• Preventing drug abuse
• Educating public against drug abuse
• The supply curb by Narcotics Control Bureau
• Outreach and Awareness and Demand Reduction effort by Social Justice and Empowerment
• Treatment through Health Department.
• It seized 2,160 kgs of meth in two different instances recently near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• United Nations (UN) Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1961)
• UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971).
• UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988)
• UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) 2000

What are the Challenges in tackling Drug Trafficking in India?

• The success rate in catching traffickers using the darknet has been very low the world over.
• Transactions in Cryptocurrency: Cryptocurrency payments and doorstep deliveries, through courier services, have made darknet transactions attractive.
• Traffickers have become Creative and Tech Savvy: The traffickers have adopted to new age technologies such as supplying drug and guns through drones in Punjab which have posed new challenges before the security forces.
• In 2022, a person was arrested for doing the drugs business through making an e-commerce dummy website.
• In one more instance, few persons were arrested for selling drugs through e-commerce websites like amazon by listing fake products on the website.
• Nexus between Drugs Lords and NRIs: Recent investigations have revealed the connection of the drug cartels with NRIs based in Canada, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and several European countries along with local drug lords and gangsters in India, who have links with Khalistani terrorists and the ISI in Pakistan.
• Trafficking through Local Gangs: A new trend has emerged wherein organised gangs, which primarily used to carry out extortion activities in their local areas are being used for drug trafficking as they are ready-made logistics to carry out such activities.

Way Forward

• To stop drugs from entering the country, measures must be taken such as controlling cross-border trafficking and improving drug enforcement. However, to fully address the problem, India must also work on reducing the demand for drugs through measures such as imposing harsher punishments under NDPS Act, 1985.
• Awareness must be spread among the people to lower down the drug addiction through campaigns and NGOs. The stigma associated with drug taking needs to be reduced. Society needs to understand that drug-addicts are victims and not criminals.
• Certain crop drugs which have more than 50% alcohol and opioids need to be contained. Strict action is required from police officers and the excise and narcotics department to curb the problem of drug menace in the country.
• Education curriculum should include chapters on drug addiction, its impact and also on de-addiction. Proper Counselling is another alternative.
• Concerted and coordinated efforts of all the agencies will be required to tackle this growing threat.
• Creating more employment opportunities would solve the problem to some extent as Quick, and more, money attracts unemployed youth towards such activities.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Q. Consider the following statements:

• The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) has a ‘Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air’.
• The UNCAC is the ever-first legally binding global anti-corruption instrument.
• A highlight of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) is the inclusion of a specific chapter aimed at returning assets to their rightful owners from whom they had been taken illicitly.
• The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is mandated by its member States to assist in the implementation of both UNCAC and UNTOC.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2, 3 and 4 only (c) 2 and 4 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q. In one of the districts of a frontier state, narcotics menace has been rampant. This has resulted in money laundering, mushrooming of poppy farming, arms smuggling and near stalling of education. The system is on the verge of collapse. The situation has been further worsened by unconfirmed reports that local politicians as well assume senior police officers are providing surreptitious patronage to the drug mafia. At that point of time a woman police officer, known for her skills in handling such situations is appointed as Superintendent of Police to bring the situation to normalcy.

If you are the same police officer, identify the various dimensions of the crisis. Based on your understanding, suggest measures to deal with the crisis. (2019)

Science, evidence-based facts, key to help end scourge of drug abuse: UN chief

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The world’s drug problem remains an urgent challenge that threatens to exacerbate COVID-19 pandemic impacts and hinder a healthy and inclusive recovery, warned the UN Secretary General ahead of The International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

In a statement published on Friday, Antonio Guterres underscored that trusting science is the “hero and lesson of the pandemic”, and the same action based on evidence is crucial for the responses to drugs.

Worsening problem

The World Drug Report published this week by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime ( UNODC ) showed that drug related deaths have nearly doubled over the past decade. Moreover, 10% of HIV cases in 2019, were due to people injecting themselves with harmful substances.

The UN chief warned that although international cooperation has helped limit the proliferation of new psychoactive drugs, the problem is shifting to poorer regions where control systems are weaker.

Meanwhile, dark web drug sales continue to rise, and non-medical use of pharmaceuticals, including opioids, is expanding.

“ Drug trafficking and organized crime fuel and perpetuate cycles of violence and conflict. Armed groups and terrorists’ profit from the illicit drug trade, and the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic has left millions of people even more vulnerable to drug crime and illicit crop cultivation”, Mr. Guterres underscored.

Invest in prevention

The Secretary General pointed out that investing in balanced prevention as well as control of drug use and drug use disorders produces solid returns such as lives saved, healthier populations, improved workforce participation and productivity, and reduced criminal justice costs.

“ Many of the risk factors associated with crime and violent behaviour are also drivers of drug use, and targeted efforts focusing on these overlapping dynamics - including childhood maltreatment and lack of social support - can help to strengthen prevention”, he said.

More partnerships and data

Public-private partnerships - with tech companies, postal and courier services, and shipping companies - represent an essential frontline response in the new fight against drug traffickers, who “are increasingly exploiting the legal cargo trade and postal services to move their illicit product”, added Mr. Guterres, underscoring that better data is also useful to identify trends and enable real-time monitoring of the trafficking routes.

The Secretary General urged Member States to listen to the science and take action, building on agreed international frameworks and drawing on UN support for health and justice initiatives.

He also reminded that greater cooperation and support are needed to help low-income countries take advantage of cutting edge anti-drug enforcement techniques.

‘Share facts on drugs and save lives’

The head of UNODC, Ms. Ghada Waly, echoed the UN chief’s call for leveraging trustworthy, scientific information and the power of community in influencing health choices and addressing the world drug problem.

“Drugs are destroying health and stealing futures, with drug use alone killing almost half a million people in 2019. Awareness of the risks and access to evidence-based treatment and care can help prevent such tragedies”, she said.

In a statement, Ms. Waly explained the theme of this year’s International Day: Share facts on drugs. Save lives . “It highlights the need for evidence-based approaches to equip the public, as well as health and service providers, and decision makers with the tools to inform choices and effective services”, she emphasized.

The campaign highlights key statistics and data drawn from UNODC’s yearly World Drug Report. Thus, providing facts and practical solutions to the current world drug problem, to attain a vision of health for all, based on science.

Ms. Waly urged governments to expand evidence-based prevention and treatment programmes, as well as monitoring and early warning mechanisms to help lower-income countries detect and counter new substances and use trends.

About the day

Through resolution 42/112 of 7 December 1987, the General Assembly decided to observe 26 June as the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse.

Supported each year by individuals, communities, and various organizations all over the world, this global observance aims to raise awareness of the major problem that illicit drugs represent to society.

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2 Illegal Drugs as a National Security Threat: Securitization of Drugs in the U.S. Official Discourse

• Published: June 2015
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The chapter examines the process of securitizing drugs in the United States as a major national security threat. The work uses discourse analysis to examine the evolution of the perception of drugs as a national security threat. This chapter examines selected texts of governmental documents, official speeches, and press conferences in order to analyze the official position of the U.S. government regarding drugs.

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DRUG TRAFFICKING AND THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY IN GHANA

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West Africa region has seized to be the traditional warehouse and transit routes for illicit drugs from the Andeans stable to America and European drug markets. The influence of the culture of hard drugs has taken a more than a foothold in the region as production, manufacture/processing has passed the experimental stage and consumption is highly potent. The fear is that, the region may turn into theatre of conflict, crimes, violence and lawlessness which is even more favourable condition for the trade. Most scholars and extant literatures has focused on poor economies weak rule of law and corruption as the endogenous causative factors that has made the region vulnerability and flourishing of illicit drug trade, but importantly, deliberately overlooked the exogenous underpinnings such as high demand for drugs, and the vicious, desperate and determined traffickers to feed on this demand. The West and Europe comes to terms with reality, take responsibility, and develop a genuine and pragmatic approach to the issue of drug abuse without which the problem will persist for to eternity. One key area is refocusing on the current repressive drug control policy is imperative to a more humane approach is ideal. Caring for the needy and monitoring of children from onset and giving them proper training - the gap which has that led to the culture of drug abuse is important.

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Drug trafficking has reached unprecedented levels in West Africa causing major social, political and economic problems and undermining security in almost every country in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. The central cause of the increased drug trafficking is the change in drug trafficking routes from the traditional Trans-Caribbean route through West Africa. Countries in West Africa have been unable to develop and implement successful counter-narcotics policies due to resource constraints, corruption, and the lack of clear national and regional strategies. The Gambia for example has seen a sharp increase in the quantity of drugs transiting through the country in the past ten years. This paper analyzes this phenomenon and its consequences on the ECOWAS region and proposes some recommendations on how the region should deal with the problem. My main purpose is to bring to light the main reasons for West Africa's endemic security, political, security and economic problems–transnational organized crime (TOC) activities mainly drug trafficking—and the consequences for both the region and the international community. 2

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Abstract- West Africa region has seized to be the traditional warehouse and transit routes for illicit drugs from the Andeans stable to America and European drug markets. The influence of the culture of hard drugs has taken a more than a foothold in the region as production, manufacture/processing has passed the experimental stage and consumption is highly potent. The fear is that, the region may turn into theatre of conflict, crimes, violence and lawlessness which is even more favourable condition for the trade. Most scholars and extant literatures has focused on poor economies weak rule of law and corruption as the endogenous causative factors that has made the region vulnerability and flourishing of illicit drug trade, but importantly, deliberately overlooked the exogenous underpinnings such as high demand for drugs, and the vicious, desperate and determined traffickers to feed on this demand. The West and Europe comes to terms with reality, take responsibility, and develop a gen...

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THE GLOBAL DRUG TRAFFICKING

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Drug trafficking and substance abuse continue to take a significant toll on the American public.  In the twelve months between September 2020 and September 2021, more than 104,000 Americans died due to drug overdose.  The overwhelming majority of these deaths involved opioids.  The Department will address this harm in several ways.  The Department will combat transnational drug trafficking organizations.  These organizations are operating a $500 billion industry that fuels corruption, violence, and terrorism around the globe.

In addition, the Department will address the evolving nature of the illicit drug threat, on both the dark and clear webs.  While the dark web remains a threat, social media and e-commerce platforms on the clear web have emerged as new marketplaces to buy and sell counterfeit pills, opioids, and other drugs, as well as dangerous precursor chemicals and the equipment used to manufacture pills.  Many of the counterfeit pills sold online, which look exactly like actual pharmaceuticals, are marketed to kids, teens, and young adults, and are often mixed with synthetic fentanyl – the leading driver of the overdose epidemic.  Dismantling illicit online drug marketplaces and holding responsible corporations – including responsible executives – who enable these illicit drug marketplaces, are critical to preventing overdoses and stemming the flow of dangerous drugs into our communities.

The Justice Department will also continue to detect, limit, and deter fraud and illegal prescription, distribution, and diversion offenses that result in patient harm.  Finally, the Department will address the needs of individuals involved with the justice system who have substance use and mental health disorders to promote long-term recovery.

Strategy 1: Disrupt and Dismantle Drug Trafficking Organizations The Department will use all available resources to combat drug trafficking in the United States.  We will simultaneously target the trafficking organizations, their financial infrastructure, and their distribution networks.  We will share information across components and in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies.  We will employ enhanced intelligence analysis and scientific research to target, investigate, and prosecute traffickers participating in significant transnational, national, and regional drug trafficking organizations.  And we will target international sources of supply, money launderers, international and domestic transportation organizations, and regional and local distribution networks.

Strategy 2: Reduce Deaths and Addiction Driven by Drug Crime As part of our effort to address the opioid epidemic, we will focus our attention on the diversion of pharmaceutical controlled substances to illegitimate consumers.  The Department will continue to employ advanced data analytics to identify and investigate suspicious billing and prescription patterns.  We will also prosecute medical professionals and corporations – including responsible executives – involved in the illegal prescription, diversion, and distribution of opioids.  Finally, we will continue to evaluate drug prescription quotas and investigate and prosecute fraud and kickback schemes in the substance use treatment industry.

Strategy 3: Expand Access to Evidence-Based Prevention and Treatment In conjunction with other agencies, the Department will work to ensure that individuals with substance use disorders get the treatment and ongoing support they need.  The Department will support the expansion of evidence-based, opioid-use disorder treatment options, including for incarcerated individuals and those reentering the community.  For the public at large, the Department will work with other agencies to reform regulations to increase access to medication-assisted treatment and assist states and localities in implementing such programs.  The Department will also work with state, local, and Tribal partners to increase access to recovery support services and continuity of care across public safety and public health systems.  In addition, the Department will aggressively enforce the civil rights laws on behalf of people with substance use and mental health disorders. 

More broadly, the Department will also promote evidence-based crisis response deflection, diversion, and alternatives to incarceration, and will support education and training about substance use disorders for public safety professionals and others across the justice system.  To stop the cycle of substance use before it starts, we will invest in prevention efforts, particularly for youth, and combat the stigma associated with substance use disorders. 

Key Performance Indicators:

• Percent of disruptions or dismantlements of drug trafficking organizations focused on the highest priority targets
• Amount of diversion, nationally, of opioids and stimulants
• Percent of relevant-funded grantee programs that provide medication-assisted-treatment, which includes medication plus counseling, as part of their substance use disorder services

Contributing DOJ Components:  CIV, CRM, CRT, USAO, OCDETF, DEA, FBI, COPS, OJP, JMD 

Drug trafficking in India: emerging challenges – Explained, pointwise

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• 1 Introduction
• 2 About the status of Drug trafficking in India
• 3 What are the reasons behind Drug trafficking in India?
• 4 What are the various initiatives undertaken to regulate Drug trafficking in India?
• 5 What are the challenges in regulating Drug trafficking in India?   
• 6 What is should be done?

Introduction

Drug trafficking in India is a serious issue that poses challenges to the social, economic, and political fabric of the country. The illegal trade of drugs has been a persistent problem, and it continues to evolve and become more sophisticated with new technologies and methods.

The emergence of darknet markets and increased use of maritime routes has posed new challenges in the fight against drug trafficking in India. It is important to address these emerging challenges with innovative solutions to ensure the well-being and safety of society.  

About the status of Drug trafficking in India

According to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB)’s latest annual report, drug trafficking through sea routes in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal accounts for around 70% of the total illegal drugs smuggled into India. The use of maritime routes by international drug syndicates based in Pakistan and Afghanistan is expected to increase.   

The UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s World Drug Report 2022 revealed that India is one of the world’s largest opiate markets in terms of users and is vulnerable to increased supply from Afghanistan . Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are leading in India’s epidemic of opioid users, while Gujarat is now the third worst state in terms of drug overdose deaths.   

A survey report by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) in 2019 showed that drug consumption in India has increased compared to the survey report in 2004.   

Over 60% of the darknet is being used for illegal drug trade due to its anonymity and low risks. The use of cryptocurrency payments and courier services for doorstep delivery has made darknet transactions more appealing than traditional drug markets.  

What are the reasons behind Drug trafficking in India?

There are several reasons behind drug trafficking in India, some of which are:   

Geographical location: India’s location between the “Golden Crescent” and “Golden Triangle ” regions, which are major drug-producing areas, makes it vulnerable to drug trafficking.   

Example: Drugs like heroin, opium, and hashish are produced in the Golden Crescent, which includes Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan, and are smuggled into India through the northwest border.   

Porous borders: India shares borders with several countries that are known for drug production and trafficking, and these borders are often poorly guarded and easily penetrated by smugglers.   

For instance, the North-East States that share borders with Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar, China, and Bhutan are the hot-spots for drug smuggling.  

High demand: India has a large population, and there is a high demand for drugs, both for recreational and medicinal purposes.   

For example, drugs like marijuana and cocaine are in high demand in metropolitan cities like Mumbai and Delhi.  

Lack of awareness: There is a lack of awareness among people about the dangers of drug abuse, and many people do not know how to identify drug abuse or how to get help.   

Example: Young people who are not educated about the risks of drug abuse are particularly vulnerable to falling prey to drug traffickers.   

Corruption: Corruption among law enforcement agencies and government officials allows drug traffickers to operate with impunity.   

Example: Some drug traffickers are able to bribe officials at border crossings to allow them to smuggle drugs into the country without being caught.   

What are the various initiatives undertaken to regulate Drug trafficking in India?

Domestic initiatives :

National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) : It was introduced in 1985 to regulate drug trafficking and the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in India.   

Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB): It is the nodal agency for drug law enforcement in India. It was established in 1986 to coordinate drug law enforcement efforts across the country.   

National Narcotics Coordination Portal: The multiplicity of stakeholders in Drug Law Enforcement has necessitated coordination between various agencies on real time basis.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has constituted a four tier coordination mechanism for increasing coordination amongst the nationwide stakeholders from grass root level to apex level and effectively combating the menace of drugs. The Apex NCORD, Executive NCORD, State NCORD and District CORD are four pillars of mechanism.   

Integrated Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs): The MoSJE provides financial assistance to NGOs and voluntary organizations for the maintenance of Integrated Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs). These centers offer comprehensive rehabilitation services to individuals with substance abuse disorders.   

National Action Plan for Drug Demand Reduction (NAPDDR): The MoSJE launched the NAPDDR for 2018-2025. The Plan aims at reduction of adverse consequences of drug abuse through a multi-pronged strategy.

The activities under the NAPDDR, inter-alia, include awareness generation programmes in schools/colleges/ Universities, workshops/seminars/ with parents, community based peer led interactions intervention programmes for vulnerable adolescent and youth in the community, provisioning of treatment facilities and capacity building of service providers.  

Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan/Drugs-Free India Campaign : It was flagged off on 15th August 2020 (Independence Day) for 272 districts across 32 State/Union Territories that have been identified as the most vulnerable in terms of usage of drugs in the country. It is operational with the involvement of more than 500 voluntary organizations across the country, which are assisted financially under the NAPDDR scheme.   

International collaborations and treaties:  

Bilateral Agreements and Conventions: India has signed several bilateral agreements and conventions with other countries to regulate drug trafficking, including the UN Single Convention on Narcotics Drugs 1961, The Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 and The Convention on Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988.   

Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs): India has signed various MLATs with other countries to cooperate in the investigation, prosecution, and extradition of drug traffickers. These MLATs provide a legal framework for the sharing of information and evidence between the signatory countries.   

Participation in international organizations: India is a member of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), which work to coordinate international efforts to prevent drug trafficking.   

Joint Operations and Information Sharing : India cooperates with other countries through joint operations and sharing of intelligence to prevent drug trafficking.   

For example, The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), in conjunction with the intelligence agencies, has been making big seizures frequently. ICG has developed a good synergy not only with the security agencies but also with the coast guards of Sri Lanka, Maldives and Bangladesh.   

What are the challenges in regulating Drug trafficking in India?    

Technological Advancements: Drug traffickers are increasingly using technology to evade law enforcement agencies. For instance, they use the darknet to sell drugs, untraceable internet-based technology for drug-related communications, and drones to transport drugs from across the border.  

Insufficient Law Enforcement Apparatus : Despite efforts to improve law enforcement, there is a perceived lack of coordination among different agencies. This has led to the failure to effectively tackle drug trafficking and abuse.   

Lack of Social Awareness: Drug abuse and addiction are often stigmatized in Indian society, which hinders efforts to create awareness and promote prevention measures.   

Inadequate Rehabilitation Facilities: There is a need to develop more rehabilitation facilities for drug addicts in India. The available facilities are often insufficient to cater to the needs of the large number of people struggling with addiction.   

Political Interference: Political interference often hampers the work of law enforcement agencies and hinders their ability to tackle drug trafficking effectively.   

What is should be done?

Strengthening law enforcement: The government should take measures to strengthen the law enforcement agencies involved in drug control, including Customs, the Narcotics Control Bureau, and state police forces. This can include providing them with better training, technology, and resources.   

Creating public awareness: The government can create public awareness campaigns to educate people about the dangers of drug abuse and the importance of preventing drug trafficking.   

Tackling drug addiction: The government can provide more support for drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation, including setting up more treatment centres and providing more funding for existing ones.  

Increasing international cooperation: The government can work with other countries to increase international cooperation and sharing of information and intelligence on drug trafficking networks.   

Addressing socio-economic issues: Socio-economic factors like poverty, unemployment, and lack of education can contribute to drug abuse and trafficking. Therefore, the government can address these issues through poverty reduction measures, employment generation schemes, and increasing access to education.   

Strengthening laws and regulations: The government can strengthen laws and regulations related to drug trafficking and impose stricter penalties for offenders.   

Reducing demand: Reducing demand for drugs can be done through community-based prevention programs, education, and awareness campaigns.   

Improving border control: The government can improve border control by increasing surveillance, using advanced technology and equipment, and strengthening border security forces.   

By taking a multi-faceted approach, India can overcome the issue of drug trafficking and make progress towards a drug-free society.  

Sources : Indian Express ( Article 1 and Article 2 ), The Wire , The Hindu , AIR , Hindustan Times and The Hindu Businessline

Syllabus : GS – 3: Security Issues – linkages of organized crime with terrorism.

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White House awards law enforcement for combatting illicit drug trafficking

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) on Friday awarded law enforcement officials and agencies for their work in disrupting the flow of illicit drugs, like fentanyl, into the country.

The United States Interdiction Coordinator (USIC) Awards recognized work in areas including cyber investigations, domestic investigations, international investigations, emerging threats, highway interdictions and maritime interdictions.

“Since Day One, President Biden has taken historic action and made historic investments to support law enforcement and drug-related crime prevention as part of his whole-of-society effort to address the overdose epidemic,” ONDCP Director Rahul Gupta said in a statement.

“I’m proud to honor the heroic efforts of these law enforcement leaders today who are working tirelessly around the clock to prevent deadly drugs from reaching our communities and hurting vulnerable Americans,” he added. “The Biden-Harris Administration is grateful for their steadfast partnership, and will continue to support life-saving law enforcement efforts to reduce overdoses, deprive drug traffickers of their profits, and keep Americans safe.”

The entities recognized on Friday included the Los Angeles FBI Field Office, the Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, DEA Miami Counternarcotic Cyber Investigations Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Coast Guard.

These offices conducted investigations targeting darknet drug vendors, dismantled regional drug trafficking operations and disrupted complicit international money brokers picking up illicit funds.

“We’re luck to have you on our team. And the traffickers are really unlucky to be going up against you. And just like Apollo 11 prevailed, we will prevail,” Gupta said to the award recipients during the awards ceremony.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Drug Enforcement Administration: National Drug Threat Assessment 2024

The 2024 National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA) highlights the dangerous shift from plant-based drugs to synthetic drugs. This annual assessment provides law enforcement agencies, policy makers, and prevention and treatment specialists with essential intelligence to assist in establishing law enforcement priorities, formulating counterdrug policies, and allocating resources. The NDTA also serves as a critical tool for informing and educating the public about the current drug threats.

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Drugs Trade Linked To Narco-Terror A Threat To National Security: Amit Shah

Home minister amit shah noted that the drug trade is now associated with narco-terror, and poses a serious threat to the security of the nation.

Home Minister Amit Shah chairs the 7th Apex Level Meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre

Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday directed the agencies, police, and concerned departments under the Central and State governments to adopt "ruthless" approach towards the drug supply chain, emphasizing a commitment to prevent any drugs from entering the country and ensuring that India's borders are not used for drug trafficking.

Shah's directives came while chairing the 7th Apex Level Meeting of the Narco-Coordination Center (NCORD) here in the national capital in the presence of chiefs of various central and state agencies belonging to police, Narcotics Control Bureau, National Investigation Agency as well as Central Armed Police Forces.

Noting that the drug trade is now associated with narco-terror, posing a serious threat to the security of the nation, as well as this trade also strengthens the channels that weaken our economy, Shah said drug cartels get involved in hawala transactions and tax evasion, and this is a multi-layered crime which we need to deal with it harshly.

He said that agencies need to continue with "the top-to-bottom and bottom-to-top approach and focus on busting the drug network and not focus on nabbing the ones who are addicted."

He said that every small amount of drug seized should be traced back to its origin and every big consignment should be investigated to trace the possible peddlers.

"Synthetic drugs are a big problem. Many illegal labs have been busted. I appeal to the agencies to find out more such labs in their states. We also need to determine that neither a gram of drugs enters Bharat nor a gram of drugs is sent to other countries through Bharat. We are a part of the world and cannot win this battle in isolation," Shah said.

Within the nation, the Home Minister said we need to continue with our integrated battle and to make the NCORD meetings the forums for decisions and reviews.

The Minister suggested the officials that every district needs to fix its goals and review its achievements. "They need to keep track of how many youths have been sent to rehabilitation centres and how many cases of connivance in drug trade and economic offences have been unearthed. They need to make these meetings outcome-based and result-oriented and need to frame their strategies according to local needs."

"Regarding the sharing of information, our agencies adopted the policy of need-to-know, but now it should be changed to duty to share. Bharat is an independent nation. We should trust our system. We need to continue with a ruthless approach to bust the drug supply chain, a strategic approach to demand reduction, and a human approach to harm reduction," directed the Home Minister to the officials took part in the meeting.

In the last five years, the Minister said we carried out this battle through structural, institutional and informational reforms and proceeded through the whole of government approach.

"The outcome of this approach is very encouraging. From 2004 to 2013, the amount of drugs seized was 1.52 lakh kgs which increased to 5.43 lakh kgs during the period 2014 to 2024. The value of drugs increased from Rs.5933 crore to more than Rs.22,000 crore during this period," said Shah.

Speaking in the meeting, Shah congratulated all the agencies for the success achieved in the battle against drugs in the last five years. However, he said that the achievements made till now amount to only 10 per cent of the tasks that should be done.

At the event, Shah also launched MANAS (Madak Padarth Nisedh Asuchna Kendra) portal, inaugurated Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Office at Srinagar, released NCB 'Annual Report 2023' and Compendium on 'Nasha Mukt Bharat'.

Shah said MANAS has been launched aimed at capacity building for the centre of excellence for narcotics control.

"I appeal to form Joint Coordination Committees at the state level and strict review of financial investigations at the state level and to inform them in the central agencies of the finance ministry. I also appeal to the central agencies to file suo moto cases.

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"The states need to spend a chunk of their budgets on narcotic forensics. Forensic Science University is working on a swadeshi, a cheap forensic narcotics testing kit that will help agencies file cases of drugs. Secretaries need to issue orders to enhance the awareness about the Manas portal and also its use," Shah said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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United Nations

Office on drugs and crime, drug trafficking, introduction.

Drug trafficking is a global illicit trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of substances which are subject to drug prohibition laws. UNODC is continuously monitoring and researching global illicit drug markets in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their dynamics. Drug trafficking is a key part of this research. Further information can be found in the yearly World Drug Report .

At current levels, world heroin consumption (340 tons) and seizures represent an annual flow of 430-450 tons of heroin into the global heroin market. Of that total, opium from Myanmar and the Lao People's Democratic Republic yields some 50 tons, while the rest, some 380 tons of heroin and morphine, is produced exclusively from Afghan opium. While approximately 5 tons are consumed and seized in Afghanistan, the remaining bulk of 375 tons is trafficked worldwide via routes flowing into and through the countries neighbouring Afghanistan.

The Balkan and northern routes are the main heroin trafficking corridors linking Afghanistan to the huge markets of the Russian Federation and Western Europe. The Balkan route traverses the Islamic Republic of Iran (often via Pakistan), Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria across South-East Europe to the Western European market, with an annual market value of some $20 billion. The northern route runs mainly through Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan (or Uzbekistan or Turkmenistan) to Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation. The size of that market is estimated to total $13 billion per year.

Global heroin flows from Asian points of origin

Source: UNODC World Drug Report 2010

In 2008, global heroin seizures reached a record level of 73.7 metric tons. Most of the heroin was seized in the Near and Middle East and South-West Asia (39 per cent of the global total), South-East Europe (24 per cent) and Western and Central Europe (10 per cent). The global increase in heroin seizures over the period 2006-2008 was driven mainly by continued burgeoning seizures in the Islamic Republic of Iran and Turkey. In 2008, those two countries accounted for more than half of global heroin seizures and registered, for the third consecutive year, the highest and second highest seizures worldwide, respectively.

In 2007 and 2008, cocaine was used by some 16 to 17 million people worldwide, similar to the number of global opiate users. North America accounted for more than 40 per cent of global cocaine consumption (the total was estimated at around 470 tons), while the 27 European Union and four European Free Trade Association countries accounted for more than a quarter of total consumption. These two regions account for more than 80 per cent of the total value of the global cocaine market, which was estimated at $88 billion in 2008.

For the North American market, cocaine is typically transported from Colombia to Mexico or Central America by sea and then onwards by land to the United States and Canada. Cocaine is trafficked to Europe mostly by sea, often in container shipments. Colombia remains the main source of the cocaine found in Europe, but direct shipments from Peru and the Plurinational State of Bolivia are far more common than in the United States market.

Main global cocaine flows, 2008

Following a significant increase over the period 2002-2005, global cocaine seizure totals have recently followed a stable trend, amounting to 712 tons in 2007 and 711 tons in 2008. Seizures continued to be concentrated in the Americas and Europe. However, the transition from 2007 to 2008 brought about a geographical shift in seizures towards the source countries for cocaine. Seizures in South America accounted for 59 per cent of the global total for 2008, compared with 45 per cent in 2007.

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Ecuador Fishermen Surrender To Drug Trafficking Under Threats

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In front of an idyllic coastal landscape surrounded by luxurious buildings, the seaside resort of Salinas in southwestern Ecuador hides a war that is hidden from tourists. Many fishermen are caught in a perverse dilemma: transport cocaine in exchange for large sums of money, or die for refusing to do so.

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Is Trumpism a threat to Jamaica?

It has been said that when the United States of Am erica sneezes, countries like Jamaica in the Caribbean catch a cold.

This week all eyes have been on the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, USA, where former President Donald J Trump will accept the nomination to run as the Republican Party’s (GOP) candidate in the November presidential election, destined to be one of the most pivotal in the history of that country, which has prided itself as being the bastion of democracy in the modern world.

Ironically, Trump’s highly predicted victory is being viewed by many as a possible end to that nation’s highly touted democratic way of life as espoused by the Founding Fathers after the British monarchy was dispensed with after the American War of Independence, which ultimately resulted in the promulgation of the much-revered American Constitution, positing, among other things, that the USA should never be ruled by a king, or queen, for that matter. Well, thanks to conservative members of the nation’s Supreme Court who seem to be beholden to Trump, he has been granted virtual immunity, which may well mean that he can take on the appurtenance of monarch of all he surveys.

Little Jamaica, a mere dot on the map of the world, ought to be cringing at the likelihood of that happening, as there are many negative consequences that are likely to emanate from such a Trump presidency. Even as the US President Joe Biden-led Democratic Party appears to be self-destructing and the Free World looks on in apprehension, fearing the likely deleterious consequences of a Trump Administration, it behoves all well-thinking citizens to not just raise their eyebrows in consternation but take deep interest in the political drama that is now unfolding.

At the time of writing this piece, most American news outlets were predicting that the wall around President Biden is closing as top Democrats as well influential big donors to that beleaguered party circle the wagon, urging him to throw in the towel and allow for a new nominee to emerge. This move is based on the premise that after reading the political tea leaves carefully, pundits have concluded that a Biden-Kamala Harris (she of Jamaican vintage) ticket cannot bring home the bacon.

Interestingly, there are many blacks, including Jamaicans, who are supporting the Trump ticket. But be that as it may, there is need for Jamaicans to take a cautious approach to backing the ascendancy, once again, of “the Donald” who is riding high, notwithstanding the recent assassination attempt on his life. Indeed, from all indications, it would appear that the incident has given a fillip to his electioneering efforts, with him taking on the image of a defiant hero (with raised fist and bloodied ear) – political theatre at its best!

Should Trump prevail in November, one of his most-feared policy proposals, which will have tremendous consequences for Jamaicans, is the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants. It has been said that for every one Jamaican at home there is one abroad, and the United States is where many of them reside, quite a few thousand without proper papers. And while it is safe to say that many of these “yardies” are there seeking to live the American Dream, several of them are involved in various forms of criminal activities, including drug trafficking and scamming.

If Trump goes through with this threat, our beloved homeland is likely to be repopulated by many undesirables, which could mean a spike in crime and antisocial behaviour. After all, it has already been well documented that deportees have had a bad influence on Jamaican communities in more ways than one. On the other hand, there could be a major reduction in remittances, and it is well known that outside of tourism and bauxite, the funds sent back to Jamaica from the Diaspora amount to billions of dollars. Surely this has the potential to put a dent in our economy, not to mention the grief and suffering that many Jamaicans in the lower socio-economic bracket who look forward to the “little pittance” from abroad and barrels of goodies would experience.

Another area of concern in terms of the geopolitics is the matter of climate change, which has seen an increase in worldwide disasters, from massive tropical cyclones to wildfires, not to mention the heat! It has been well established that Trump is an anti-climate change advocate, labelling it hocus-pocus. Already, his conspiracy theory stance on the COVID-19 pandemic saw the loss of thousands of lives, as his Administration dilly-dallied on this deadly virus and the enormous consequences that ensued.

Right now we are in the throes of recovering from the onslaught of Hurricane Beryl, and at this early stage of the hurricane season, which is predicted to be a very active one, it boggles the mind that the man that is likely to become the most powerful individual in the world regards climate change, which is a clear and present danger, as a hoax.

Incidentally, let us not forget that Trump has very little regard for Third World states such as Jamaica. Some readers will recall that most demeaning photograph of Caribbean leaders, including our own Prime Minister Andrew Holness, sitting in a side room at Mar-a-Lago — Trump’s swanky residence — in Florida like penitent schoolboys waiting to see the principal, then President Trump. And also recall that he once referred to “poor” countries like ours as “s…holes”.

Under the triumphalist banner ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA), Trumpism has been appealing to populist sentiments, underpinned by racism and xenophobia, as well as a large group of anti-intellectual, conspiracy-minded, alienated malcontents and anti-immigrant, far-right, and fascist individuals that may well take America down a dangerous path to chaos, emboldened by autocracy akin to the rise and fall of the Roman Empire (or is it the Third Reich?) Of course, Trump’s vice-president pick, JD Vance, once referred to him as a modern-day Hitler!

Historically, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been aligned to the Republican Party while the People’s National Party (PNP) has been aligned to the Democratic Party. One must hasten to add that the Republican Party of Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan is not the one cavorting and having a grand time in Milwaukee. It is now Trump’s Party — MAGA.

The country is in such a quandary that a Jamaica that has always looked up to the great United Sates of America now finds itself questioning this once highly thought of nation. What a ‘ hataclaps’!

Lloyd B Smith has been involved full-time in Jamaican media for the past 49 years. He has also served as a Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. He hails from western Jamaica where he is popularly known as as the Governor. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or [email protected].

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HM Amit Shah to chair meet on coordination for countering drug trafficking abuse

New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah will on Thursday chair the seventh apex level meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) which has been convened to coordinate and synergise efforts of various central and state agencies involved in countering drug trafficking and abuse in India.      At the meeting in Delhi, Shah will launch a national narcotics helpline -- 'MANAS' (Madak Padarth Nisedh Asuchna Kendra) -- and virtually inaugurate the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) zonal office in Srinagar.      The home minister will also release NCB's annual report 2023 and compendium on 'Nasha Mukt Bharat', an official release said.      Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government has adopted a 'zero tolerance policy' against drug trafficking to curb the menace of drugs, it said.      The Ministry of Home Affairs will achieve PM Modi's goal of a drug-free India by 2047 through a three-point strategy -- strengthening of institutional structure, coordination among all narco agencies and extensive public awareness campaign, it said.      A number of steps have been taken in this direction including organising NCORD meetings of all stakeholders at all levels of the four-tier system on a regular basis and the launch of a dedicated centralised NCORD portal for sharing of activities and best practices.      Also, the formation of a joint coordination committee for coordination on operational matters of specific large cases, which have connections with other crimes and international ramifications.      Besides, a dedicated anti-narcotics task force (ANTF) will be set up in each state and UT and high priority will be give to drug disposal drives and the launch of the NIDAAN portal for narco offenders.      Creation of canine squads for drug detection, strengthening the forensic capabilities, establishment of special NDPS courts and fast track courts and launching Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA) for awareness against drug abuse are also part of the initiatives.      The NCORD mechanism was formed in 2016 for better coordination between states and the Ministry of Home Affairs. It has been further strengthened through a four-tier system in 2019.      It has an apex-level NCORD committee, which is headed by the Union home secretary, an executive-level committee, which is headed by a special secretary, MHA, state-level committees, headed by chief secretaries, and district-level committees headed by district magistrates, the release said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)

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