Pubdate: Sun, 23 Jun 2013
Source: Financial Express, The (Bangladesh)
Copyright: 2013 The Financial Express
Contact:  http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5116
Author: Shahana Bilkis

CROSS-BORDER DRUG TRAFFICKING

Drug addiction is not an altogether new phenomenon in Bangladesh, but
in recent years this agent of human devastation has spread out its
tentacles more menacingly than ever. Besides many typical concerns,
Bangladesh is now confronted with the increasing volume of cross
border drug supplies.

Geographically Bangladesh is located at the heart of three
drug-producing regions: in the east the Golden Triangle, in the north
the Golden Wedge, and in the west, across India, the Golden Crescent.

Bangladesh has direct air, sea and road communications with almost all
the major drug producing countries in the region. This has placed
Bangladesh at a critical geographical crossroads for illicit drugs
from Myanmar, India, Pakistan and Nepal. Encircled by India on three
sides, Bangladesh became a 'launching-pad' for illicit drugs both from
India and drug producing countries beyond its borders.

In this contraband trade, many international drug syndicates from
Nigeria, Sri Lanka and other countries have been using the
northeastern states of India for bringing drugs from the Golden
Triangle region into Bangladesh. However, Indian authorities claim
that drug dealers from southwest Asia use the country and then
possibly Bangladesh for transit trafficking. Recent reports suggest
that exhausting every conceivable means, drug dealers are now
employing women and children as conduits for their criminal trading.

There are no doubt serious security concerns for Bangladesh being used
as crossroads for international drug trafficking. If the present trend
of drug trafficking continues and the growing drug culture remains
unabated, it is sure to affect the entire socio-economic structure of
the society. Drug-related violence acts as a deterrent to investment
and tourism, reduces employment opportunities and income and
deteriorates the law and order situation significantly.

Again, as the drug trade generates fabulous income, unemployed youths,
street boys and even girls become drug peddlers. The spread of drug
culture increasingly contributes to the erosion of social values which
is responsible for the increasing incidences of crime, administrative
corruption and obstruction to the rule of law.

The fight against drug trafficking and organised crime has created
severe pressure on the limited government resources. Besides, some
members of the enforcement agencies have allegedly developed unholy
alliance with the drug dealers hindering the operations against drug
traders by leaking information to the criminals ahead of the raid.

Organised transit trafficking, coupled with the supply of Indian drugs
into Bangladesh has already caused a menace in the country. India and
Bangladesh agreed to enhance mutual cooperation through sustained
steps to control drug trafficking. Both countries vowed to continue
sharing actionable intelligence and adopt a coordinated strategy to
prevent cross-border drug trafficking. Both countries are also in
agreement to continually engage and provide logistic help to each
other. A bilateral meeting in this regard is scheduled to be held in
Dhaka shortly.

Experts are of the opinion that to effectively control the booming
drug trade, more countries in the region need to be engaged. It is
well known that drugs are smuggled from Myanmar through international
borders, across the north eastern states of India such as Manipur,
Nagaland and Mizoram. Even if Indio-Bangladesh borders are sealed off,
the desired results can not be expected unless Myanmar is brought to
the negotiating table. To tackle the menace of drug trafficking as
well as smuggling of consumer and commercial goods, all stakeholder
governments in the region should put their heads together to formulate
short and long term strategies.
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MAP posted-by: Matt