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1 International Drug Trafficking Jessica Drake The University of Arizona Global Campus GEN499 – General Education Capstone Prof. Michelle McCraney 11/27/2023

2 International Drug Trafficking The world is affected by the plague of drug trafficking. Drugs have an impact on everyone in many ways, from terrorist groups who utilize them as a source of funding to individuals who use them for personal purpose and ruin their lives due to addiction. Numerous documentaries and television programs depict the devastating effects of drugs on people, including addiction, violence, and those who profit from drug trafficking while endangering others. Securing the borders of the United States against drug trafficking has been a difficult and ongoing task for many years. Globally, efforts have been made to stop the flow of medicines and to prosecute those who manufacture and deal in them. Drug lords are frequently apprehended, but not before a new one appears to profit from the money. As a result, trafficking becomes an almost never-ending loop against an illicit sector that generates billions of dollars a year. International drug trafficking negatively impacts society by harming the environment, destroying economies, affecting healthcare systems, and crime rates. The fight against drug abuse and drug trafficking must go on, and border security protocols must be reinforced, which will require more government funding. History of Drug Trade To better understand the impacts of drug trafficking, it is imperative to understand where and when it all began. Illicit and narcotic drugs have been present in China for centuries, with China being the first to control drug distribution. The English East India Company produced and exported opium from China and India in the 1700s (n.d.). However, the Chinese banned opium trade and destroyed foreign products, leading to the "Opium Wars" from 1839 to 1860. According to the National Army Museum (n.d.) the First China War, also known as the First Opium War, was a trade dispute between Britain and Imperial China in the 19th century. British

3 merchants were illegally importing Indian opium into China, demanding payment in silver. This led to millions of addicts across China, largely sustained by illegal British imports. The Chinese wanted to stop these imports to address social concerns and erode trading advantages. In May 1839, the Chinese forced the British Chief Superintendent of Trade in China, Charles Elliott, to hand over opium stocks for destruction. The British captured forts on Chuenpi and Taikoktow, Canton, Amoy, Chinhai, Ningpo, Chapu, and Chinkiang. The war ended on 17 August 1842, and the British won each part of the war, and opium trade was made legal through treaties. Tariffs allowed for legal opium trade, but societal issues began. Illegal opium trade in southern China led to gangs, piracy, and violence due to financial income (n.d.). Rasmussen (2011) highlights the significant role of poppy in the drug trade during World War I and II, where drugs were used to treat wounded individuals, leading to the emergence of addiction and the introduction of amphetamines. Amphetamines were also introduced during World War II, and the world leadership saw drugs as a pandemic that needed to be governed. And in 1943, the Army's Supply Service introduced 5mg Benzedrine sulfate "pep pills" to individual soldiers, with no questions or restrictions on their use. This continued until the Korean conflict in 1945, when the American military continued to buy amphetamine tablets. Benzedrine was believed to cause individuals to feel on top of things, leading to mistakes in combat. By the end of the war, researchers concluded that enough Benzedrine could impair judgment and that mistakes in combat were caused by anxiety rather than fatigue. Some military men used the drug to raise morale and counteract behavioral deficiencies related to fear in combat. Synthetic drugs, including LSD and Fentanyl, have surged in popularity in the past century. Opioids are grown and exported from Afghanistan, both legally and illegally, funding the Afghan government and terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda. This illegal trafficking

4 exploits societal issues for its gain (Greenfield et al., 2021). Afghanistan has dominated global illegal cultivation for the past two decades, becoming the world's leading supplier by 1999. However, weak governance and limited legal economic opportunities have allowed illegal cultivation to continue. In 2000-2001, the Taliban-led government instituted a ban on cultivation, causing a 95% drop in production. Despite efforts to curb production, cultivation resumed after the Taliban fell from power. Afghanistan's central government struggles to maintain control and control over the country (Greenfield et al., 2021). The chart below shows the opium cultivation in Afghanistan in comparison to other countries around the world. Drug trafficking, a form of illegal activity exploiting social issues, gained prominence in Mexico under President Felipe Calderon's war on drugs in late 2006, highlighting the link between drugs and violence. In order to defend their drug production and trafficking operations, cartel violence increased, resulting in savage acts against local government officials and people

5 (Trevino, & Genna, 2017). Since it is the main source of financial revenue in many areas, this is what leads to the violence. Economic Impacts of Drug Trafficking Drugs have a big economic influence on the community's, people, and tax revenue in The United States. The drug trade removes people from society where they may be useful by causing deaths, sicknesses, and jail. According to a 2010 Department of Justice estimate, about 620,000 persons were incarcerated for offenses involving drugs, which meant that 620,000 of them were no longer employed or contributing to the economy. Drug users put their lives in danger, many of which end up dead. These problems impact not only the economy and productivity but also the legal, healthcare, and environmental systems. To keep narcotics at bay, organizations like the DEA, Border Patrol, and Interpol are entrusted with lowering drug production and trafficking. Drug trafficking and associated social issues that the drug trade target can be reduced with ongoing funding, drug reduction, and enforcement initiatives. Additionally, globalization has significantly impacted organized crime, making the international narcotics traffic a worldwide enterprise. With about thirteen million Americans still purchasing a gram of cocaine, an ecstasy, or a quarter ounce of marijuana, the United States continues to be the single greatest market for illegal narcotics. Between five and six million people who are part of a hard-core group have more severe drug habits and spend about $60 billion annually on drugs. According to experts, at least 1% of people spend $200 a year on illegal substances, which works out to $16 million a week or $832 million annually in New York City alone. The pharma industry continues to operate because of its enormous profit margins; estimates of the amount of money transferred south annually range from $10 to $30 billion (Zill & Bergman, n.d.). This is money that is not

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