The Effects of Drug Cartel on The Globe!
A Global illegal trade of illicit drug.
One of the factors that makes drug trafficking to be an issue is that drug trafficking contributes to several social problems across the globe. Most criminal activities against humanity, such as terrorism and civil wars are often funded through illicit drug trade. For instance, in Columbia funds generated from cocaine trafficking, contribute to civil wars because the money is used to purchase guns and other weapons (Public Broadcasting Service). Although the huge cartels in Columbia have been destroyed, smaller cartels that are protected by guerillas continue to cultivate, manufacture, and traffic cocaine to different locations. Meanwhile the money is mainly used to purchase weapons to intensify the ongoing civil wars in the remote regions of the country. The National Police of Colombian estimates that there are over 300 small and well-organized cartels in the country, that engage in cocaine trafficking today (Public Broadcasting Service). In other parts of Latin America, funds obtained from drug trafficking are utilized in funding guerillas such as the Shining Path, operating in Peru, and Columbia’s FARC (Drug Policy Alliance). Similarly, opium cultivated in Afghanistan is used in funding Taliban and its activities, a group that has always been linked with several terror activities across the globe. Both the guerrillas and the terror groups control most of the illicit drug cultivation zones. Because of the cartels, civil wars and terrorism cannot be ended which means that many more lives will be lost.
The Origin of Drug Trafficking
To understand more about drug trafficking, its history should be aware. The origin of drug trafficking can be existed further in the past; however, recorded drug trafficking history can be traced to China during the eighteenth century (Motte). Opium addiction in China had become a major concern in the country during the later parts of the seventeenth century (Motte). Most European businesspeople in the Chinese coastal imported opiates from other regions across Asia and sold them locally in the country. This prompted the then Chinese emperor to ban opium importation into the country. This led to a decrease in opium supply in the country. Consequently, the decreased supply contributed to inflated opium prices due to increased demand. Meanwhile, opium trade continued to thrive through cartels due to laxity in implementing the ban in the country. This contributed to an overwhelming rate of opium addiction among the males in China, during the early 20th century (Motte). In response, Britain and China agreed to work together to solve the crisis through establishing international drug enforcement. The enforcement began in 1906 in which China submit to the agreement of reducing drug cultivation while Britain try to decrease the importation of opium (Motte). Thereafter, the United Nation (UN) took over the responsibility of controlling drug trafficking after its formation. The UN eventually established the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), which is an independent and quasi-judicial control organization. This agency helps in monitoring enforcement of restrictions on narcotics and psychotropic and in deciding which precursors should be regulated.
The Statistics
Global
drug trafficking has continued to flourish despite the bodies that have been
established to control the problem. The United Nations Office on Drugs and
Crime (UNODC) estimates that the current annual heroin flow into the global
market is about 430-450 tons (The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). Most of the heroin distributed
across different markets comes from Asia, particularly Afghanistan and the
Lao’s People Democratic Republic. The major trafficking routes that link
Afghanistan to European and Russian markets are the northern and Balkan routes.
These routes pass through nations such as Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Greece,
Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, the Russian Federation, and Tajikistan. The UNODC
approximates that the annual market value of the trade is $ 20 billion for the
Balkan route and $ 13 billion for the northern route (The United
Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). Meanwhile,
according to UNODC, cocaine users reached about 17 million people globally,
during 2008. Out of this number, North America was the major contributor with
an approximated 40% of the global consumption (The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). Europe contributed
almost a quarter of the global consumption. These two regions accounted for an
estimated $ 80 billion, which was 80% of the global market value in 2008 (The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime). The North American
market acquires its cocaine from Central America via sea, and from Colombia via
Mexico. The European market gets it cocaine from Colombia through direct
shipments.
Drug Trafficking Affect On The Illicit Drug Use In American
- The number of people who had used an illicit drug or abuse pan pain reliever has been increasing. In 2012, it was an estimated of more than 22 million American from aged 12 or older, which was 9% of the population. The most common used illicit drug reflects a recent rise was the use of marijuana.
- In the category of recreational drug, hallucinogenic substances are among the oldest drugs used by human kind commonly in religious and shamanic rituals, and yet it is dangerous when people misuse them.
- A survey done in 2009 by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed about 770,000 American whose aged from 12 to above has abused hallucinogen at a minimum of once in the year. Also, a study revealed that 1.2%, 1.8% and 2.58% of 8th, 10th, and 12th grades respectively had at least once time abused hallucinogen.
How To Reduce Illicit Drug Use?
- National Drug Control Strategy in 2010 released by The President Obama's administration which implications through creating a balanced policy in efforts to eliminate and provide possible solutions to drug trafficking (Council on Foreign Relations). The policy entails treatment, international cooperation, enforcement and, prevention. This policy is developed through joint efforts of different state, local, and federal partners and the Office of National Drug Control Policy (Council on Foreign Relations). This strategy also calls for collaboration between the US and Mexico to eradicate the cross-border illicit drug trade (Council on Foreign Relations). Furthermore, the strategy stresses the need to control drug use in the country due to its consequences such as increased youth addiction and drugged-driving among several citizens. The plan aims to reduce deaths and other implications that result from drug consumption in the country.