Challenges in Eradication of Major Narcotic Crops - Essay Example

Q) What are the key challenges facing the global policy of eradication of the major narcotic crops? The fight against illegal cultivation of narcoticcrops has faced a lot of challenges, despite the establishment of convections and international forums on the same. Available evidence that several countries and regions are struggling to ensure that the fight is coordinated points at the magnitude of the uphill task presented to governments and similar agencies. Since the illegal activities are spread across the globe, it is difficult to launch a comprehensive fight such as the war on terrorism has been able to achieve. The following challenges have been isolated from a myriad of similar challenges, to illustrate how enormous the global problem on the fight against narcotic crop cultivation is. Detection of Narcotic Crops Crops under cultivation are difficult to be distinguished by their nature, since most of the earth’s land area is vegetated. While it could be easier to detect drugs in transit, at an advanced stage of entry in to the market, it is relatively difficult to identify growing crops in the plantations. Alternatively, very complex and expensive satellite detection systems can not be available for every agency for the same use due to cost factors. However, there are still some forms of narcotic crops that can not easily be detected for relevant eradication action to be taken, such as destruction of the plantation. An example of such a detection system is the Narcotics and Awareness Control Project (NACP) in Afghanistan, which uses an aerial sensor application (Sader, 1990, p4). Crop surveillance and detection has also been performed by the remote sensing mechanism in other countries such as Peru, Thailand and Mexico. Several drugs are used in their crop derivative forms, which make the detection of the crop a difficult task. Crop detection requires botanical knowledge of some sort since there are several crops with similar features which demand specialist attention to detect. The commonest form of detection by usage of sniffer dogs, for instance detects the processed forms, which present a challenge to detection while under plantation. Locating Besides the detection challenge, narcotic crops are usually cultivated in inaccessible locations. Most narcotic plantations are located in terrains where ordinary human disturbance and possible detection is low. As a tactic, narcotic growers have been successful in avoiding detection as well as access into the plantation. Keeping off interference by choice of inaccessibility can only be countered by use of remote detection systems which are considerably expensive and unavailable to every agency fighting narcotics. Government efforts to increase infrastructure networks in such areas are almost remote due to the productivity prospects of such regions; most of these areas are in developing and poor countries whose top development agenda lies in other sectors. Political and Economic Interests In addition to the detection and terrain challenges, there is an insurmountable force of interest from several quarters of the society, which assist propagation of narcotic crops. One of the interest groups in the illegal drug drop propagation, eventual processing and distribution lies in the political elite. Some iconic politicians who have enough manipulation power have been participating in these illegal acts for purposes of strengthening their political interests. Alternatively, teething financial challenges have compelled some vulnerable individuals to participate in the trade, either directly or indirectly. Huge profits are obtained from the cultivation of narcotic drugs than from most other crops. Some level of resistance launched by the farmers can be understood from this perspective as reported in Farrell (1998, p401), where some farmers organised demonstration in resistance of eradication programs. Coincidentally, it has been difficult for governments and other agencies involved in this fight to implement substitution crops as an alternative for income generation. For possible success in the use of substitution crops as a strategy to eradicate narcotic crops propagation can only be attained with the elimination of these two challenges. According to the UNODC (2010, p68), it is increasingly becoming a difficult task to eliminate opium growth in Afghanistan since the farmers are getting incentives from the high prices of the drug in recent years. According to the report, economic hardships compel farmers who did not get agricultural assistance in the period of the study from the government to engage in growing of opium in Afghanistan. Corrupt officials in some governments have conspired with illegal drug farmers in the cultivation or by offering security to their farms. Eradication agencies can not be successful in the event that contradictory orders coming from the authorities are experienced. Political or personal power gathered this way facilitates further propagation of narcotic crops. Growth Conditions Another challenge that the anti narcotic campaign faces is by the fact that narcotic crops easily thrive in harsh environmental conditions that other useful crops find difficult to thrive in. the difficulty encountered by the owners of the marginalised and “unproductive” areas in making money out of their land is solved by planting suitable crops for the areas, irrespective of their illegality. The high profitability attached to these crops makes these farmers better off than their counterparts in rather productive areas. Apparently, this results in marked reluctance to cooperate with the authorities to find alternative land use. Adaptive Responses Fighting narcotic crops cultivation and propagation becomes even harder due to the adaptive responses embarked by the embattled cultivators. This happens by concealment of the real agricultural identity and activities of the farms. To assist in concealment, farmers cultivate other crops so as to disguise the presence of illegal crops in their plantations. On the other hand, farmers may result in increasing the output per harvest by using more sophisticated refinement techniques which increase concentration of the product. This happens when surveillance and eradication processes threaten the production of narcotics. Reverse Conditionality Farmers may consider the use of cultivation of narcotics as a tactic to gain compensation from governments and other agencies facilitating anti-narcotics campaign. Usually, compensations are extended to farmers in areas where cultivation of narcotics is rampant, to act as an incentive to stop the activity. These farmers reduce their area under cultivation depending on the amount of aid and compensation extended. Alternatively, farmers may introduce the cultivation into their farms as a tactic to attract similar assistance. This increases the chances of existence of this illegal business. Organised Crime Gangs Powerful organised criminal gangs have strengthened resistance to efforts against narcotics by launching powerful resurgence against governments. A case example of the Mexican gang by the name Zetas which has made several national and international anti-narcotic attempts futile is a classical illustration of the challenge that gangs present (ISBNI, 2010). Street gangs have for several decades now caused difficulties in several other countries including the US in the fight against narcotics. Government and civilians have been unable to cooperate due to terror infiltrated to the society by these gangs. Inadequate Enthusiasm Some level of cooperation hitches between the government and civilians has been occasioned by little or lack of enthusiasm in the fight. Several failures in strategies to counter narcotics growth can be attributed to enthusiasm issues. Conclusion The illegal cultivation of narcotics has for long remained a challenge to many governments and anti-narcotic campaigners. Several factors have led to this state of affaires. For one, it is difficult to detect narcotic plants given that a wide part of the land’s surface is covered with vegetation. In some cases, they are cultivated in hidden or inaccessible locations, political and economic interests in certain cases playing a part in the protection of narcotic plants. Other factors that have made fighting the growth of narcotics include the adaptability of the plants to harsh environmental conditions, the aspect of reverse conditionality, the existence of highly organised crime gangs and lack of enthusiasm amongst the authorities charged with the responsibility of fighting narcotics. References Dorn, N., Levi, M. & King, L. (2005) Literature Review on Upper Level Drug Trafficking. Home Office [Online] London: Home Office. Available from: www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdsolr2205.pdf [Accessed 23 January 2011]. Farrell, G. (1998) A global empirical review of drug crop eradication and United Nation’s crop substitution and alternative development strategies [online]. Available from: http://www-staff.lboro.ac.uk/~ssgf/PDFs/JDI%20Illicit%20Drug%20Crops.pdf [Accessed 23 January 2011]. Sader, S. A. (1990) Remote sensing of narcotics: With special reference to techniques for detection and monitoring of poppy production in Afghanistan [online], Washington, DC. Available from: http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdsolr2205.pdf [Accessed 23 January 2011]. U.S. Border Narcotics Intelligence (2010) “Zetas” drug gang grows, sows fear in Mexico [online]. Available from http://usbordernarcoticsintelligence.wordpress.com/2010/10/13/zetas-drug-gang-grows-sows-fear-in-mexico/ [Accessed 23 January 2011]. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) (2010) Afghanistan opium survey 2010 [online], Vienna. Available from http://www.unodc.org/documents/crop-monitoring/Afghanistan/Afghanistan_Opium_Survey_2010_web.pdf [Accessed 23 January 2011]. Read More