Agenda

Fourth Committee

Trafficking in Drugs

by
Nicole Wheeler

"No nation is immune from the devastating consequences of drug abuse and illicit trafficking.” The trafficking of illegal drugs is a constant threat to the security of the nations of the world. It affects the economically less developed countries and the economic superpowers alike. Although many alternative approaches have been taken to combat the problem, drug trafficking still exists and flourishes, especially with the opening of trade barriers. Since its creation, the United Nations has recognized the drug problem and has actively pursued methods of drug control. But the question remains whether there is anything anyone, even the United Nations, can do to stop the trafficking?

Drug Trafficking: The Problem
On an international level, the drug problem is growing rapidly. The trafficking of illicit drugs is estimated at $400 billion a year; it accounts for about 8 percent of international trade each year. Drugs are the biggest international criminal business. The massive amount of money exchanged makes it necessary to have a legitimate business as a “front”; therefore, money laundering goes hand in hand with drug trafficking.

One tactic to battle the problem is to take preventive methods to keep people from getting addicted to drugs in the first place. Unfortunately, this is not very successful. For example, in the last five years the number of addicts has doubled in the former Soviet Union.

The drug problem is related to social status. Inadequate education and poor employment opportunities make the profits in the drug business, although short term and high risk, irresistible to a number of people in developing countries. For instance, in 1996 World Policy Journal ranked Mexico as Latin America’s second largest cultivator of opium; the primary producer is Colombia. In addition, Guatemala traffics around 200 to 300 metric tons of cocaine a year as documented in the Journal of International Affairs.

Although the drug problem has its effects almost everywhere in the world, it is extremely evident in the South American landscape. In his article “The Waters Run Red,” Greg Gatjanis describes the environmental impact of the drug world. In the production of cocaine harsh chemicals are used and then dumped into rivers. Colombia, for example, suffers from an estimated 20 million liters of such chemicals a year. This adds jungles and wildlife to the casualties of the drug war.

History: Trial and Error Solutions
In 1961, the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs declared the cultivation of poppies, hemp and coca leaves punishable, because they lead to the production of drugs. This came into force in 1964, and by 1985 115 states were members.

In 1971, the Convention on Psycotropic Substances was devised to control drug abuse and to add to the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs list of drugs, LSD being one example. This came into force in 1976 and by 1985 had 80 state parties.

The international Narcotics Board was created to supervise drug control treaties, monitor drug activity and to keep parties accountable.

In 1981, the Commission on Narcotics proposed The International Drug Control Strategy. It was a 5-year program, which called for the reduction of demand and trafficking of drugs; new techniques for drug detection were also reviewed.

In 1984, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru and Venezuela adopted the Quito Declaration against Traffic in Narcotic Drugs. This declared drug trafficking “a crime against humanity.”

In April of 1996, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) indicated a continuing rise in the rate of drug use. “Even the few instances where a decrease had been reported, there is usually a commensurate rise in the abuse of another drug used as a substitute because its price is lower or because the drug of choice is not available.”

During the 1998 General Assembly Special Session on the World Drug Problem, members agreed for the first time to reduce the supply of illicit drugs by the year 2008. In response the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) launched the Global Illicit Corps Monitoring Programme (ICMP). The goal for the ICMP is to assist countries in creating a monitoring system that can plot the progress towards their eradication goals. Countries that already have this system are Laos, Afghanistan, Colombia, and Peru. The benefit that these countries share is the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS). This will optimize the fieldwork and identification of illicit drugs.

Recent Efforts
In December of 1998, the Government of Bolivia launched its drug control “Dignity Plan,” to free Bolivia of the coca-cocaine industry by the year 2002. As of this year there were approximately 10,000 hectares of illicit coca, 78 percent less than the previous three years. The amount of money that has been generated through illicit drugs has been reduced from $400 to $183 million dollars. Working with the private sector and farmers associations, UNDCP has demonstrated the use of forests as a long term source of income for the local residents.

Significant steps also have been taken by the Government of Pakistan to eliminate illicit cultivation of the opium poppy, by the use of alternative agricultural development. Although about 80,000 hectares of illicit opium were cultivated in 1978, Pakistan reported that it would eliminate the opium poppy this year.

In 1999, 23 Governments and 3 International bodies, presented an initiative called “Operation Purple.” These bodies set out to deny cocaine traffickers access to potassium permanganate. The objective of this operation was to identify rogue firms. Almost 8,000 tons of potassium permanganate were tracked, and the importing countries seized 2,200 tons. The success of this operation was primarily due to the cooperation of law enforcement agencies.

Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer of illicit opium. In 1999, production reached a record high of 4,600 tons; when this is processed, it will yield 460 tons of heroin. In order for Afghanistan to contain the drugs exiting the country, the UNDCP has organized a “Security Belt” around Afghanistan. This program is designed to help the surrounding countries strengthen their drug control capabilities. These projects include strengthened border controls, promoting cross border cooperation and training of customs officials, searching vehicles and cargo containers. The aim of this “Security Belt” is to prohibit opiates from leaving Afghanistan and for chemicals used in the heroin manufacture from reaching the laboratories.

Questions for further consideration:
1) How will US President Clinton’s strategy be any different than the previous attempts to end drug trafficking? Can the UN build upon it?
2) Should more economic incentives be provided to farmers in drug zones to encourage the cultivation of non-drug crops? 
3) What part of the responsibility for trafficking lies in the hands of the countries with a high demand for drugs? On those with high production of drugs?
4) Should farmers, traffickers, dealers and users all face the same punishment? What should the punishment consist of?
5) Should free trade continue to be promoted, even if it will continue to cause a flood of illicit drugs into and out of countries?
6) How can international efforts to combat drug trafficking be strengthened and better coordinated?