Smuggling of the Drug through Iran to Europe - Research Paper Example

? Topic Role of Afghan in Drug Smuggling Introduction Afghanistan is a country in South Central Asia, which has become haven for drugs in few decades time. Poppy cultivation and smuggling take place in the tribal boundaries of this country under the protection of radical elements. Here the poor farmers earn their livelihood by selling opium to the outside world. According to the author Scheweich : “In Afghanistan, the Karzai government is deeply involved in protecting the opium trade -by shielding it from American- designed policies ” (Scheweich).We can observe that, the Taliban regime which is prominent in this region is mainly financing for the flourishing for the opium trade.Unfortunately, Afghani government is sustaining largely on the opium and the hideous Taliban support it by protecting the opium farmers. Opium is a danger that is rottening the economical and social development of the country and also is destroying the future generation of the world. The Afghanistan was once notorious for its opium cultivation .However recently this business has weakened due to the international fight upon them by western power and destabilizing faced by the Taliban regime. It could be accounted that, the illiteracy and poverty in this nation are the main culprits which intimidate people to indulge in drug cultivation and trafficking. In the website Bryskine writes that :“According to the survey on drug use in Afghanistan by the UNODC, there are nearly 50,000 heroin users in the country as a whole, and an additional 150,000 who use opium”(Bryskine). Another disturbing fact is the wide use of drug prevalent among the people of opium trading communities. The young people as well as middle aged men are not educated, skilled and advanced to take up a normal job and they ignorantly remain engaged in the ecstasy of the opium consumption Drugs effect on the people and society. It is seen that numerous amount of people including children and women are taking the escort of drugs to forget the pain and poverty they face in their daily life. In a news article writer Nelson states that: “United Nations survey begun this month is widely expected to show that at least 1 in 12 people in Afghanistan abuses drugs double the number in the last survey four years ago”(Nelson). The women, who are much suppressed in their social interaction, develop the habit of drug abusing inside the secrecy of mud compounded walls. The soaring number of drug use in Afghan region also aggravated violence and domestic atrocities among men and youngsters .They remain in the intoxication of opium, and refrain from attending schools or potential professions opportunities. They smoke opium which is cheap in their region and beg for money which is an easy method to sustain them. According to the writer Kelly: “Conditions are ripe for drug use in Afghanistan: the country is swelled by the return of refugees from Pakistan and Iran, where opium use is endemic” (Kelly).The widespread abundance of the opium has alleviated the number of drug abusers all around the opium cultivating regions of Afghanistan. Seemingly, there are millions of drug addicts in Afghanistan and the government instead of taking care of this population is thriving on the business of opium. The number of drug addicts of the country is only increasing with nobody to educate this poor people about the ill effects of opium use. It is even observed that ,women even sell their babies in search of the drug which is a pathetic plight for humanity Force behind drug trafficking in Afghan Currently Afghanistan is the largest drug producing country in the world. In an article the writer Carpenter mentions that:“ The 2010 Afghanistan opium survey, which United Nation have recently released have revealed that the country’s opium production have decline 48% over the past year”(Carpenter) The opium plants are grown in the lands of tribal war land lords and these landlords are the part of Afghan government .This opium cultivation has taken the place of cottage industry in Afghanistan. Since Taliban regime has a strong prominence is afghan tribal areas, the cultivation and trafficking of opium is under their monitoring. The visible reduction in opium production has taken place not because of an attempt from the Afghan farmer’s part. Instead, the opium eradication program implemented by the Afghanistan government has done the work. The writer Hanley mentions in the website that: “The eradication program of the Afghan government stated that farmers would be compensated with $500 (?325) per acre for destroyed poppy” (Hanley).A vigorous effort to eradicate Taliban and anti- social elements is the core solution to this drug problem which is eating into the economy of the country. Since the financing to opium cultivation is flowing from Taliban and Al Qaeda, it is necessary to crackdown these radical groups to put an end to drug trafficking. Therefore, the U.S military is making all its effort to decode the forces behind the motivation and trading of opium in the tribal areas of Afghan regions. Dangers of drug production to Afghan’s neighboring countries Since the opium production and trafficking is controlled by the Taliban and Al- Qaeda the spreading of drug trade across the continents is highly inevitable. The Beehner in his news article writes that : “The UNODC estimates 60 percent of Afghanistan’s opium is trafficked across Iran’s border (much of it in transit to Europe)”. The radical groups have their networking in almost all countries along Asia and Europe and this international community of drug traffickers makes things worst for other countries. It should be understood that, Afghan drug trading is the root cause of world terrorism and only if government fight against drug lords can the world be freed from atrocities of anti – social elements. Another threatening factor is the neighboring countries which come under the threat of drug abuse due its proximity to this nation. According to website Rio Novosti : “The Chinese public security minister said the amount of Afghan drugs is also on the increase in China. It rose from 4.3 metric tons of heroin last year to six metric tons in the first five months of 2010”(Rio Novosti).This kind of rise in the drug use in neighboring countries lie China and Iran can affect their socio-economical stability to a large extend. Also Iran, which lies on the international drug trafficking route between Afghanistan and west is been provoking more of the Iranians in the vicious circle of drug use. It would be also surprising to know that players of drug traders also are testing their hands in international financial market. Smuggling of drug through Iran to Europe Middle Eastern and Central Asian regions are big bridge which links the Afghanistan and Europe in the illicit drug trade. As per writer Hajdinjak : “The Interpol estimates , over 80% of the opium, sold in the EU has traveled from turkey through the Balkans to Europe”(Hajdinjak ,154).The heroin produced in Afghanistan travel through Iran then reach Turkey where it is refined and imported to Bulgaria. Bulgaria is the spot from which the drug travels to Russia and furthermost European countries. Same like Balkans, Iran is a big supporter of drug trafficking to Afghanis as former lies in the western border of the Afghanistan. It is revealed that Iran manufacture weapons for Taliban and the latter traded drugs in exchange of their weapon acquisition. The smugglers enter Iran with raw opium and processed heroin. These drugs are then transported to other countries while crossing through Turkey border. The writer Constable states that: “The Afghan officials say that they face a double challenge from the Taliban, whose fighters protect and profit from poppy cultivation in areas they control” (Constable).These smugglers simultaneously provide financial support to the Taliban and the latter protects the Afghan farmers in return. On the contrary, it is a shocking fact to know from Iran officials that they would allow drug trafficking through their country to Europe, until the West stop criticizing them for their practice of Human rights in the country. Afghan being the number one supplier of drugs exporters has immensely destroyed the young generation of Europe at a consistent pace throughout decades. Conclusion Afghanistan is now not only a drug producing country but also the number one country in drug use. It is a saddening fact that the government in Afghanistan on it’s own is incapable to fight drug abuse. The country has to work out significantly feasible strategies to fight the evil elements like drugs abuse and terrorism. The government should understand that the root cause of evil is the Taliban regime .The drug users in the country is doubling and the government cannot be solely held responsible for this phenomena. The majority addicts in the country are coming from across the border and only if Afghan government is alert can problems be reduced. According to International organization United Nation :“The Afghanistan drug survey results suggested that domestic opium consumption in the country is equivalent to about 90 tons per years”(United Nation, 110). This is an exorbitant statistics, and also unravels the influence drugs have on the population of Afghanistan. From this statistic, we can imagine the social and economical development of the country. Usually when a person is under drug influence, his cognitive skill cease to operate and he becomes a slave of any foreign body .Drug addicted people are largely vulnerable to any insurgent group, anti social element or criminals. To conclude, Afghanistan can develop as a nation only if it takes significant support and help from developed nations like US ,UK and Germany. Bibliography Beehner, Lionel. "Afghanistan's Role in Iran's Drug Problem ." Website for council foreign relation. Council on Foreign Relations Inc., 14/09/2006. Web. 21 May 2011. . Bryskine, Sonya. "Middle East's Opium Addiction." Website for News. The Epoch Times, 25/02/2007. Web. 21 May 2011. . Constable, Pamela. "Afghanistan: Success of Afghan Drug War Is Waning." Website onmedia awareness Project. Washington Post DC, 14/01/2011. Web. 21 May 2011. . Carpenter, T.G. "U.S. Can’t Stop Afghanistan’s Opium Economy." Website for News. The National Interest, 11-10-2010. Web. 17 May 2011. Read More