Heroin Trafficking from Afghanistan - Research Paper Example

Heroin trafficking from Afghanistan (Course, semester, class) (Name of the professor) (Date: mm: dd: yy) Heroin trafficking from Afghanistan Introduction Heroin, which is used as medicine and misused as drug is produced from opium poppy. Its production and distribution is a serious threat to the whole world. Besides, there is little chance for an addict to escape from the clutches of the same. When demand increases, the drug dealers make use of illegal ways to supply drugs to every nook and corner of the world. Afghanistan is the most notorious and largest producer of Opiates, especially Heroine. So, Heroin trafficking from Afghanistan pulls the younger generations towards serious health problems and crimes, originating from drug addiction. Hence, heroin production and trafficking from Afghanistan is a major threat to humanity. Thesis statement: An investigation to unearth the role of Afghanistan in Heroin trafficking to global market and possible preventive measures. I. Heroin production in Afghanistan As pointed out, heroin production and trafficking is based on poppy cultivation and opium based drugs. The opium markets distribute raw opium to traders and they refine it with the help of precursor chemicals and produce heroin. But these refinement workshops are located near to the border areas and poppy farms. So the government control over these areas become limited and it helps the heroin traffickers to form a parallel governing system. The refinement workshops make use of typical equipments for the basic processing of opium. But further refining needs technical expertise and it is provided by some foreign chemists. Morphine base, crude form of heroine is produced from opium. But it is difficult to produce heroin from morphine base. For instance, the heroin traffickers make use of mobile labs to overcome this trouble. Innovative methods like usage of large trucks for the production of heroin help the traders to keep themselves away from the authorities. Some Afghani districts like Nangarhar’s Achin are notorious for heroin labs and large scale heroin production. Frank Clements in the work ‘Conflict in Afghanistan: a historical encyclopedia’ opines that large scale refinement of heroin in Afghanistan helps to smuggle the same through borders without further difficulties (Clements 78). When the refinement process becomes more difficult, cost and demand of pure heroin in the global market shows increasing tendency. Earlier, refining opium was done in Pakistan or Turkey. But in 1995, the Pakistani authorities destroyed illegal workshops and it helped to hinder heroin trafficking from Afghanistan to Pakistan. But the heroin traders discovered an innovative way to handle this situation. They began to set up mobile units for heroin refinement in Afghanistan. Now the heroin traders in Afghanistan are capable to refine opium into morphine base or heroin. The areas in Afghanistan, like Nangarhar, southern Helmand etc are notorious for large scale production and smuggling of heroine to every nook and corner of the world. The geographical setting of these areas, non-co-operation of villagers, less control of Afghani government over these areas hinders control from the government authorities. II. The role of Afghanistan in heroin trafficking The geographical position of Afghanistan helps it to be the most notorious region for opium production from poppy plants and heroin trafficking. As Afghanistan is the major producer of opium, it is not a strange fact that it plays the major role in drug trafficking. The production of heroin in Afghanistan is no more a small scale business but a large scale business aiming to destroy the whole world. Daurius Figueira makes clear that lack of a stable government in Afghanistan is helpful for the warlords to play most important role in cultivation of poppy and production of opiates in rural areas (Figueira 13). Besides, the traditional mode of opium refinement is considered as outdated and the usage of innovative technology helps to conquer new markets. Earlier, Burma was the leading producer of opium. But now, Afghanistan seized the opportunity and is the leading producer and supplier. There are several factors which helps Afghanistan to be the most notorious region in heroin trafficking. First of all, Afghanistan plays multiple roles in heroin trafficking. For instance, it is the world’s largest producer and supplier of opiates. Besides, protection given to the drug dealers by Taliban helps them to challenge the government on all levels of drug trafficking. The high rate of corruption in local levels of the Afghani government and increased usage of public lands for poppy cultivation helps the drug dealers to have the leading role in heroin trafficking. As pointed out earlier, the role of Afghanistan in heroin trafficking is maintained year by year by using high yielding varieties of poppy plants. Besides, the role beyond a producer, i.e. the distributor’s role helps the Afghani drug dealers to control the global market of heroine. But the military presence of the US and its allies in Afghanistan does not prevent the drug traders from their dealings. This happens because of the deeply rooted corruption in the higher and lower levels of the Afghani bureaucracy. As the main source of opium production, Afghanistan is a serious threat to millions of people. The drug dealers consider the economic benefit of opium production and distribution and are not aware of the health effects of their commodity. Besides, Afghanistan faces the serious problem of drug addiction in domestic level. The production, manufacturing and illicit distribution of heroine is deeply rooted in crime and corruption. The money raised from heroin smuggling is used to spread terrorism and religious fundamentalism. For instance, the producers of heroine in Afghanistan pay large amount of money to Taliban, a notorious religious fundamentalist cum terrorist group in Afghanistan. When drug trafficking is connected to terrorism and religious fundamentalism, its threat to the humanity become more serious. The opium producers and traffickers are ready to risk their life and they do not consider their social responsibility towards their society. Instead, they value the economic benefit from this illegal trade. So, the government must create alternative job opportunities and income sources for the farmers who produce opium. Then only the government can control the production of heroine in Afghanistan and its distribution to the global market. III. Political, social and economic factors One can see that political, social and economic factors deeply influence the high rate of heroin trafficking from Afghanistan. Political factors The political scenario in Afghanistan is an interconnection of warlords, religious fundamentalist groups like Al-Qaeda and Taliban, and drug traffickers. But the overall control is vested upon Taliban, which is notorious for its religious fundamentalism and sponsorship of global terrorism. Without considering this fact, one cannot explore the political factors behind heroin trafficking from Afghanistan to the global market. Besides, political insurgency and revenue from heroin trafficking is interconnected. The ever increasing rate of corruption in the political scenario is rapidly infiltrating to all levels of the government. The heroin traffickers are aware of the fact that a weak government cannot hinder their business. So, they provide funds to the religious fundamentalists to weaken the government. In Afghanistan, heroin traffickers seek support from politicians and are aware of the fact that political support is important in their illegal business. In addition, political support helps the producers and suppliers of opiates to keep themselves away from law and order. The deep relation between political leaders in all levels and the drug traffickers hinder the scope of a stable government in Afghanistan. More than that, the Drug Enforcement Administration in Afghanistan is afraid of the political leaders and hesitates to conduct investigation against the same. So, one can see that the relation between politics and drug mafia in Afghanistan is a serious threat against democracy. Social Factors The domestic insurgency originated from a number of wars deeply affected the Afghani society. In addition, drug abuse is a serious social problem in Afghanistan. As the whole nation is an open market of drugs, there exists high chance for drug abuse among youngsters. Amalendu Misra states that opium production and heroin refinement is a collaborative work by local farmers and warlords in Afghan society (Misra 144). Besides, the Afghani refugees, forced to flee from Iran and Pakistan are undergoing treatment in de-addiction centers in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan. The street children, who were orphaned and alienated by wars, face the problem of drug addiction and a serious threat to the society. Injecting drugs with the help of syringes and sharing the same cause rapid spread of a number of diseases among the youngsters. The employers pay drugs instead of money and this force the employees to be addicted to the same. For instance, employees freely supply drugs and later ask for money. This forces the employees to spend all the money for drugs without any earnings. Moreover, people consider the usage of drugs as escapism from the memories of their war-torn society. So, one can see that the Afghani society is facing serious threat from drug addiction and related problems. Economic factors Afghanistan is a war-torn state which was forced to face civil wars, domestic insurgencies, political instability and religious fundamentalism. As Afghanistan is the largest producer opiates, heroin production is a large scale illegal industry. The religious fundamentalist groups consider revenue from poppy cultivation as a source for their activities. It is a fact that the real source behind economic support for terrorist groups in Afghanistan is the revenue from heroin trafficking. David Shams opines that drug economy in Afghanistan provide funding to terrorist groups like Taliban and Al-Qaeda (Shams 65). The geographical condition in Afghanistan forces the farmers to consider poppy cultivation as the most important source of their livelihood. The revenue from drug trafficking is used for financing the candidates in elections. Besides, the people in Afghanistan keep drugs instead of money. When they need money, they sell opiates in the market. So, one can see that poor economic condition forces the Afghanis to be in the forefront of heroin trafficking. IV. Heroin trafficking from Afghanistan and its global market Heroin production in Afghanistan is increasing and helps the drug dealers to diversify their market. The European market is most profitable to the drug dealers but increased rate of production force them to find out new markets. For instance, China, Central Asia, Africa, the Unites States etc are new markets for the heroine traffickers. When the production of heroin shows increase and the demand become stable, the drug dealers stock the same in remote areas of Afghanistan or its neighboring countries. Gregory D. Lee makes clear that laboratories in Turkey play an important role in opium smuggling from Afghanistan (13). The Central Asian countries play major role in trafficking heroin from Afghanistan to other parts of the world. For instance, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are the traditional routes of heroin trafficking. Earlier, Russia was a transit area for heroin trafficking but not it as an important destination for the same. So, the role of Russia as a transit area of heroin trafficking to Europe is limited to an extent. But the insecure border areas in Afghanistan which is a window to Europe and Central Asia, plays the most important role in heroin trafficking. The Taliban does not show any importance to control drug production and trafficking because it is the important source of their revenue. One can see that heroin trafficking is a major source of revenue in Afghanistan. So, the religious leaders, the government, judiciary and police in Afghanistan are helpless to take effective measures to prevent the same. V. Findings The main findings are pointed out below. 1. Heroin trafficking from Afghanistan is no more an isolated business but a large scale business with the help of a network of drug dealers in the global market. 2. Heroin traffickers make use of innovative technology for refinement of opium. 3. The geographical position of Afghanistan as an isolated land surrounded with mountains helps it be the most notorious region for heroin trafficking. 4. The deep relation between drug traffickers and politicians pause threat towards democracy in Afghanistan. 5. The Afghani society faces the problem of drug addiction and degradation of traditional family set up. 6. A large number of Afghani farmers are not aware of the health effects of poppy cultivation and heroin production. 7. Poor economic condition compels the Afghani farmers to cultivate poppy. 8. The religious fundamentalist groups are not against heroin trafficking because they consider it as an important source of their revenue. 9. The heroin trafficking from Afghanistan is a serious health threat to the whole world. 10. Heroin trafficking from Afghanistan and the rapid spread of terrorism is interconnected. VI. Preventive measures The main preventive measures are pointed out below. 1. There must be a strong government in Afghanistan, which is away from corruption and religious fundamentalism. 2. The political leaders must show responsibility towards their nation and must be free from the influence of drug producers. 3. The police forces, judiciary, and bureaucracy must show willingness to take effective measures to hinder poppy cultivation. 4. The influence of religious fundamentalist groups among the people must be reduced and must give importance to democracy. 5. The government must formulate alternative sources of revenue to the farmers. 6. The government must make the people aware of the health effects of drug addiction. 7. The government must take measures to ensure tight security near border areas. 8. The farms used for poppy cultivation must be used for farming or other productive works. 9. The government must conduct awareness programs to keep the younger generation away from drug trafficking and addiction. 10. The government must create job opportunities and proper rehabilitation facilities to drug traffickers. VII. Conclusion Summing, the central role of Afghanistan in heroin trafficking to global market is to be considered as a serious threat and it is important to adopt effective measures against the same. Besides, prevention is important because heroin production and trafficking is the main economic source behind global spread of terrorism. So the destructive power of heroin trafficking is not limited to health problems but extends to other spheres also. The heroin trafficking degrades political stability, social security and economic sustainability of Afghanistan. In addition, drug addiction is a serious threat to humanity because it restrains human beings from development and forces to lead an idle life. When a particular society is under the hold of drugs, it is the responsibility of the whole world to help the same to be free from the clutches of drug production and addiction. The whole world must consider this fact and fight against heroin production and trafficking. Bibliography Clements, Frank. Conflict in Afghanistan: a historical encyclopedia. The United States of America: ABC-CLIO, 2003. Figueira, Daurius. Cocaine and Heroin Trafficking in the Caribbean: The Case of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Guyana. The United States of America: iUniverse, 2004. Lee, Gregory D. Global drug enforcement: practical investigative techniques. The United States of America: CRC Press, 2004. Misra, Amalendu. Afghanistan: the labyrinth of violence. Great Britain: Wiley-Blackwell, 2004. Shams, David. Democracys dilemma: the challenges to state legitimacy in Afghanistan. Democracys Dilemma, 2008. Read More