Dealing with the global illegal drug trade is one of the biggest challenges governments are faced with because it has grown into a huge and well organised business, and as such the battle to curb it is becoming increasingly challenging. A large amount of resources which could have been channeled into developmental projects have to be diverted into combating this scourge and this is having a telling effect particularly on poor and developing countries.
In a BBC News article Drugs: A global business Philip Fiske revealed:
:”The global trade in illegal drugs is worth billions of dollars a year – as much, by some estimates, as the international tourist trade. The huge sums of money at stake make it one of the most lucrative and dangerous of criminal businesses. Globalisation, banking deregulation and free trade agreements play into the hands of drugs syndicates, some of which have the organisation and reach of multinational businesses.”
.” The United Nations estimates there are more than 50 million regular users of heroin, cocaine and synthetic drugs like ‘ecstasy’ world-wide.”
“The global illegal trade could be worth as much as $400 billion dollars a year – almost as much as the international tourist trade – creating employment for tens of thousands of people both legally and illegally.”
Farmers, security guards, chemists, accountants, pilots, lawyers, bankers, dealers, policemen and health-workers are all kept busy supporting or combating the trade.
“The economics of the drugs business function like any other industry.”
“If there’s a shortage of raw material, be it coca leaf or opium, the price of the drug goes up. If there’s too much, the price goes down.
“Just as any self-respecting multinational corporation has marketing departments or strategic think-tanks to plan for the future, so international drug gangs do too.”
“South American drug cartels have, for years, been using highly qualified marketing and economic graduates to maximise their ‘industrial output’.”
Our country with its large porous borders and dense jungles has been seriously affected by the illegal drug trade and because of limited financial and other resources the government has been finding it extremely difficult to curb. And despite several appeals for increased assistance, in this regard, to a major power there has been little help forthcoming.
Nevertheless, recently a police operation in the Berbice River unearthed what would seem to be a major illegal drug ring and hopefully this would help to lead to many other similar illegal drug businesses.
Notably, according to Police Commander Steve Merai the surprise attack was triggered by a tip off gathered through intelligence work. Indeed, intelligence is the key to successfully combating the illegal drug trade and in general major criminal activities.
Surprisingly, the good work by the police there has received a lukewarm response from the general public. One would have expected widespread commendations. Ironically, when the police does something wrong there is a big hue and cry from many quarters.
However, Mr. Merai Merai made some pertinent observations, one of which is that the operation in Berbice River would be putting our new money laundering laws to test.
“The new legislation in relation to the money Laundering Act, will be tested through this raid .These people cannot purchase engines and boats by planting corn and cassava. They have to prove ownership and they will also have to prove where they got the money from .I expected legal challenges, and we are prepared for it,” asserted the Commander.
The other very important observation made by Mr. Merai is that the illegal drug trade has seeped into the school system. This is frightening and most worrisome, because when young people become involved in such kind of business their future is seriously threatened as well as the fabric of society.
So despite our limitations, there is no option other than intensifying the fight against this social scourge because it is a threat to national development and the future of this nation