Forum: Advisory Panel on the Question of the Indochinese
Introduction
Drug production and trafficking is a widespread issue that has proven to be extremely difficult for individual governments. The black market for illegal drugs has become almost omnipresent in modern society as the production and distribution of drugs has evolved into one of the most profitable industries. United Nations (UN) reports from 2003 value the illegal drug market to be approximately $320 billion and growing. Governments try to prevent the issue through legal restrictions such as prohibition which has caused the formation of the black market. In their efforts to prevent drug trafficking, governments face many obstacles such as the implementation of
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Golden Triangle
A region in Asia known for its production of opium that consists of four countries: Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, and Thailand.
Golden Crescent
A region in Asia known for its production of opium that consists of three countries: Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.
History
As drug prohibition laws came into action, a black market for newly illegal drugs became prevalent. In 19th-century China, the two “Opium Wars” broke out because of disputes between the British and Chinese. Decades earlier, the British produced large amounts of opium in Bengal, in Northeastern India, and illegally exported it to China; the Chinese Emperor became wary of the increasing use of opium and rising number of addicts. In order to control the issue, seeing as the prohibition laws had not been effective, the emperor demanded that foreign companies surrender their opium to the government. However, when the British firms refused to comply, the emperor banned all importing and held foreigners in the country until firms were forced to hand over their opium. In response, the British sent troops from India that caused havoc to the coastal region of China, initiating the first Opium War that resulted in the Treaty of Nanking. The second Opium war followed soon after caused by arguments about the Treaty of Nanking, therefore resulting in another treaty, the Treaty of
dominating the drug industry are the Latin American and majority of Asian, specifically cocaine and heroin production. Global organised crime is evolving and embracing new markets and technologies; moving from the traditional hierarchies towards a more flexible, network based construct of organisation. To a certain extent, the legitimate world is a victim of its own accomplishment; the globalisation of the legal economy has globalised the underworld. This has provided the demands of numerous illicit services, and an improvement of policing ironically forcing criminals to become more organised to continue. The international organised crime groups that are working together and with an effect, dividing the globe amongst them. There is sufficient
This refers to the elimination of drug crops while they are still being grown. The U.S. has used this policy in several South American countries as a means to limit drug trafficking before it has a chance to develop. However, significantly reducing crops has not always led to decreasing drug trafficking. Reduction of drug crops in one country may lead to increased production in another. This is likely to happen when one country becomes the focus of an eradication effort, while another country can increase its production to fill in the void. If there is one thing that the world market can produce, it is its high demand of illegal drugs. The Drug Policy Alliance gives cites a specific instance verifying the problems that can be associated with eradication procedures. During the mid 1990s, “eradication efforts in Bolivia and Peru created incentives to grow coca in Columbia. While Peru experienced a 66% reduction in coca cultivation and Bolivia experienced a 53% reduction, coca cultivation in Columbia doubled. In addition, more potent strains of coca have been developed, leading to higher yielding coca crops.” This example shows the adverse effects of the policy of eradication.
It is considered to be a failure, due to the overfunded budget of drug control policies with little results in return. The United States government decided its domestic problem of drugs could be stopped at the source, such as Latin America and Middle Eastern countries by offering resources in exchange for manpower in the war. “Between 1981 and 1995, the United States spent only US $ 5.3 billion on all international drug control programs in Asia, the Middle East, the Caribbean and Latin America together. (Vellinga,2000).” Not nearly enough to stop 100 billion plus drug industry. The manufacturing, production, transportation of drugs is the best way to earn money in these poverty stricken countries, all of them are considered to be third world countries. “ coca cultivation and cocaine production and trafficking feed on the bad socioeconomic condition in the source countries. (Vellinga,2000).” It is impossible to stop drug industry because of multiple factors involved. For example, supply and demand “ the illegitimate nature of the business, it's high profit and high risk characteristics, will lead them to take any course of action that is necessary in order to have their merchandise reach the market. (Vellinga,2000).” Cracking down on the drug industry causes prices for the product to rise, exactly what occur during prohibition and the black market
Intercontinental communities began to show interest in the Asian drug trade in the beginning of the 20th century. The Shanghai Opium Commission in 1909 was the first attempt at regulating drug trade in the region, as countries including the United States, Great Britain, China, Japan, and Russia
A business relies on supply and demand regardless of whether the product it is selling is legal or illegal. Therefore, a business that offers illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine, and heroin and services not readily available to customers in the United States creates a niche. Drug traffickers (cartels) set prices for such illegal goods without government regulators circumventing the law. Cartels set prices based on supply and demand elasticity for drugs, which helps in creating a loyal customer base. If the demand is high toward a specific drug and supply is low, then prices will rise until supplies are plentiful. Drug trafficking yields such vast amounts of revenue, approximately $150 billion per year; it becomes extremely difficult
The Golden Triangle is region of Southeast Asia encompassing the countries of Thailand, Burma and Laos. The region is accredited as one of the world leaders in opium production, behind Afghanistan. Although, the region also produces heroin, meth and marijuana (Swanson, 2011 Pg. 569). The Golden Triangle is responsible for supplying the regional demands of predominantly the refined form of opium, or heroin, as well as the demands of Northeast Asia, Europe and the United States of America. In a 2014 the United States saw a total of 47,055 deaths attributed to drug overdose becoming the leading cause of accidental death in the country (American Society of Addiction Medicine, 2016).
Mountains in South America. It is a widely available and highly addictive drug because of its abuse potential.
In the early 1700’s the Portuguese introduced a new form of smoke-able opium to China. The opium was mixed with tobacco and became a new commodity in China. Opium trade was originally dominated by the Dutch, but was soon taken over by the British due to British rule in India and the foundation of the East India Company. The British
According to Michelle Alexander, why and how has the “war on drugs” developed over the last 40 years? What are the main political and economic factors that led to the war on drugs, and what are the main political and economic factors that shaped it as it developed over the last four decades? Draw on material from the Foner textbook chapters 25 through 28 to supplement Alexander’s discussion of the political and economic context.
The vast amount of money in the drug trade can compromise local economies and can permeate government agencies and institutions, leaving nations susceptible to corruption. Organized
Asia is known for their opium usage and huts. Opium was one of the was that all types of people came together and had fun. Every type of person was able to smoke opium. It was a way to enjoy the day. They had certain places and times that you could enjoy your opium.
Drug trafficking is the illicit production transportation and trade with drugs. These drugs are produced in one country of the world and with strong network communication are traded to different destination of the world. It is clear that the existence of drug trafficking is the international problem, which needs rapid solutions. The harmful impact of drugs is commonly known all over the planet, that is why the majority of the drugs prohibited. Also it has a tremendous social impact that is breaking society slowly. This topic caught my attention and wanted to do a research on this topic because there are numerous issues those conflicts on this topic. Drugs are entering to United States from numerous places and statistics of deaths are
Colombia has played a significant role throughout the new drug trade. The illicit drug trade may be a world black market dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, and sale of medication that go with from a mensuration subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions interdict trade, except at a lower place license, of the various styles of medicines through the utilization of drug prohibition laws. The drug trade has been around since the Thirties, and Colombia's position among the drug trade did not become dominant until the 19 Seventies. Once North yank country eradicated marijuana, the plantations stayed identical. Traffic is also illicit world trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, and sale of medication
The Chinese government regarded the use of opium as one of the most acute moral and economic questions which as a nation they had to face decided in 1906 to put an end to the use of the drug within ten years, and issued an edict on the 20th of September 1906, forbidding the consumption of opium and the cultivation of the poppy. As an. indication of their earnestness of purpose the government allowed officials a period of six months in which to break off the use of opium, under heavy penalties if they failed to do so. In October of the same year the American government in the Philippines, having to deal with the opium trade, raised the question of the taking of joint measures for its suppression by the powers interested, and as a result a conference met at Shanghai on the 1st of February 1909 to which China, the United States of America, Great Britain,
Drug trafficking has been one of the main sources of crime in the world. There are also endless problems related to the consumption of drugs. In addition, drug smuggling is usually accompanied by some crimes such as prostitution, murder, assault and kidnapping. Due to this, all the authorities in the world work all through to ensure that people do not sell or consume illegal drugs in order to protect the society as well the involved individuals from the dangers related to the