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. - --- MAP posted-by: Matt