This illicit trade stands as one of the most lucrative illegal industries in the world. Certain studies and surveys show that drug trafficking averages between 200 and 750 billion dollars each year, most answers coming in between 400 and 500 billion. Overall, the drug trade accounts for about 1% of the world's revenue. It is also extremely difficult to control, because of the fact that this trade involves high levels of organization, drug lords, and complicated networks.
There are different types of drugs rampant and flourishing in different regions of the world, as shown by the map above:
Currently, North America has the highest worldwide cocaine consumption, with the use of Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS) significantly increasing. The cocaine first arrives in Central America and Mexico from Columbia, and from there is sent by land or sea to the United States. Mexican mafias are highly involved in the drug trade, aiding in the smuggling of cocaine to America.
In Western and Central Europe, the consumption of cocaine continues to rise, with opiates and ATS increasing as well. Western and Central Europe is a destination for tons of thousands of drugs, created by an elaborate inner European network. Amsterdam, Madrid, and the borders of Germany are all large destinations of control in this trade. The Czech Republic and a small portion of Slovakia, and Germany hold a large market for Amphetamines and Methamphetamines.
South America is also known for its cocaine trade. Columbia, Peru, and Bolivia are the countries that produce almost all of the world's cocaine. In 2010, Columbia produced 40%, Peru also produced 40%, and Bolivia was at 20%. This is a dramatic increase from 2008's 52%, 35%, and 15%.
Asia has the largest worldwide consumption of ATS and opium. While ATS comes from almost everywhere in the world, Myanmar is the world's largest producer of opium, at 20% of the world's cultivation and 12% of its production of drugs.
While Southern Africa is not very involved in illegal drug trafficking, other parts of Africa are another story, with its increase of ATS consumption. Africa (excluding southern) serves as a transport route to Europe. However, its production remains insignificant.
Eastern and South Eastern Europe have experienced greater consumption of opiates, because they are close to trade routes. Africa smuggles in cocaine to Western Europe by traveling through this region, and other regions smuggle in opiates to Western Europe through here.
Near the Middle East, there is a high consumption of both opiates and ATS, which is on the rise. This is the main route to smuggle in opiates and heroine, in which over 20 countries are involved. Opium production remains primarily in Afghanistan (along with Myanmar in Asia). 63% of opium cultivation comes from Afghanistan and 74% of its production comes from here as well.
Even though the "war on drugs" has been going on for a very long time, it is easy to see that illegal drug trafficking is still a large world issue that remains unresolved.
For more information regarding the drug trade, please check out the following links:
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-drugs-travel-around-the-world-2015-2
http://www.ibtimes.com/six-things-you-need-know-about-americas-illegal-drug-trade-whos-using-what-where-what-cost-convergex
http://www.un.org/en/ga/president/66/Issues/drugs/drugs-crime.shtml
Unfortunately, the illegal drug trade has detrimental effects on more than just those who are involved. While dealers and drug lords make enormous profits for themselves, they bring in significance costs for the state. In the United States alone in 2012, about 330,000 of the country's 1.6 million prison inmates were serving time for drug related offenses, costing 25 thousand dollars annually for each inmate, and totalling 8.2 billion.
Drug trafficking has other implications on countries as well, besides just fiscal cost. In many nations, the drug groups undermine state authority, fueling corruption and ruining fair elections. This negatively impacts the lives of the nation's citizens, now living in a state filled with corruption and weak government controlled by criminal groups.
There are different types of drugs rampant and flourishing in different regions of the world, as shown by the map above:
Currently, North America has the highest worldwide cocaine consumption, with the use of Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS) significantly increasing. The cocaine first arrives in Central America and Mexico from Columbia, and from there is sent by land or sea to the United States. Mexican mafias are highly involved in the drug trade, aiding in the smuggling of cocaine to America.
In Western and Central Europe, the consumption of cocaine continues to rise, with opiates and ATS increasing as well. Western and Central Europe is a destination for tons of thousands of drugs, created by an elaborate inner European network. Amsterdam, Madrid, and the borders of Germany are all large destinations of control in this trade. The Czech Republic and a small portion of Slovakia, and Germany hold a large market for Amphetamines and Methamphetamines.
South America is also known for its cocaine trade. Columbia, Peru, and Bolivia are the countries that produce almost all of the world's cocaine. In 2010, Columbia produced 40%, Peru also produced 40%, and Bolivia was at 20%. This is a dramatic increase from 2008's 52%, 35%, and 15%.
Asia has the largest worldwide consumption of ATS and opium. While ATS comes from almost everywhere in the world, Myanmar is the world's largest producer of opium, at 20% of the world's cultivation and 12% of its production of drugs.
While Southern Africa is not very involved in illegal drug trafficking, other parts of Africa are another story, with its increase of ATS consumption. Africa (excluding southern) serves as a transport route to Europe. However, its production remains insignificant.
Eastern and South Eastern Europe have experienced greater consumption of opiates, because they are close to trade routes. Africa smuggles in cocaine to Western Europe by traveling through this region, and other regions smuggle in opiates to Western Europe through here.
Near the Middle East, there is a high consumption of both opiates and ATS, which is on the rise. This is the main route to smuggle in opiates and heroine, in which over 20 countries are involved. Opium production remains primarily in Afghanistan (along with Myanmar in Asia). 63% of opium cultivation comes from Afghanistan and 74% of its production comes from here as well.
Even though the "war on drugs" has been going on for a very long time, it is easy to see that illegal drug trafficking is still a large world issue that remains unresolved.
For more information regarding the drug trade, please check out the following links:
http://www.businessinsider.com/how-drugs-travel-around-the-world-2015-2
http://www.ibtimes.com/six-things-you-need-know-about-americas-illegal-drug-trade-whos-using-what-where-what-cost-convergex
http://www.un.org/en/ga/president/66/Issues/drugs/drugs-crime.shtml
No comments:
Post a Comment