Research Paper on Transnational Drug Trafficking in Southeast Asia and Australia

Introduction

Transnational drug trafficking refers commercial activities which involve the production distribution, and marketing of substances that are subject to drug prohibition rules by organizations in different nations. Currently, there are various illegal drug markets in South East Asian nations and Australia, and they have attracted the attention of scholars, security personnel, and international organizations. Among the most traded substances are narcotics, which have severe health and social consequences. According to De Danieli (2014, p. 1237), narcotic addiction is a common problem among users, and it destabilizes their standard body functions to the extent that they cannot work without using it. Socially, most drug addicts are not productive, as they cannot engage in any economic activity. Moreover, some of them resolve to crime as a means of obtaining finances for purchasing drugs. The South Asia region and Australia are among the significant sources of illicit drugs all over the world. Specifically, the area joining three Asian nations of Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and the confluence of Mekong and Rusk rivers which is famous for the production of opium. The region is known as the golden triangle because of the role it played in gold transitions between Chinese nationals and the local communities. The golden triangle not only serves as a production point for opium and other illicit substance, but it is a major route used by drug traffickers to move their merchandise into Asia and Australia. The concept of transnational trade is influenced by the fact that in each of the South Asian nation as well as Australia, there exist a well-structured drug cartel. Consequently, there is a need to establish succinct ways of minimizing the prevalence of drug activities in the region by synthesizing information from particular authors on the subject.

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Responses to the Drug Issue

Integrative Cross-Border Operations and Interagency Partnership in Dealing With Drugs

The drug problem in Southeast Asia and Australia occurs at border points of many nations with other significant exchanges occurring in-land (Emmers, 2003, p.2). In-land cartels are also well established in each nation to the extent that they can protect their workers after they cross the border. Therefore, investigations sometimes become difficult when the suspects move from one country to another because it denies the law enforcement officers from a foreign nation the jurisdiction to apprehend them. Thus, to eliminate this problem, the United Nations office on drug and crime (UNODC) suggested an inter-agency cross-border partnership between nations. Ideally, the suggestion was to include all the nations; whether affected or not in a comparative approach towards drug trafficking. Primarily, the UNODC enhances the border management practices of South East Asia, and as a result, the region's capacity to counter illicit drug trade and other criminal activities by organized crime gangs is enhanced (Chin, 2016, p.52). Consequently, markets in each nation are denied supply as most drugs come from a common source, which may be outside the border. The development occurs through formation of an integrated network comprising of various Border Liaison Offices (BLO). The security personnel receives speciality training to enable them to operate at the forefront where they come into contact with drug dealers and report them to other higher authorities in real time. The effect of this approach is that combative actions, which may include seizure of drugs and other related substances and consequent apprehension of suspects, are executed (Goodhand, Meehan, & Perez-Nino, 2014, p.125). The UNODC also possess a global synthetic monitoring system, which analyses drug activities and generates reports over a specified period. The information gathered is then used to enhance the capability of states in Southeast Asia and Australia to develop evidence-based responses to domestic drug trafficking concerns.

UNODC's efforts in establishing an integrated approach towards drug trafficking have seen a reduced movement of illicit substances for the past ten years. Consequently, the transnational drug trade in Southeast Asia and Australia is limited, as domestic markets cannot be supplied through border routes. The extension of UNODC's operations to the Asian region and Australian enabled the body, through its allied officers to seize about 100 tons of Heroin all as the total consumption was 350 tonnes while production was estimated to be around 540 tones. On a yearly basis, UNODC statistics indicate that about 5 tons of opium from the Myanmar region are seized. The seizure of heroin has also increased in the previous years with 73.7 metric tons of the substance being recovered in 2008. A bulk of the consignment had come from South Asia.

Cannabis seizure by UNODC and other related agencies amounted to 7200 tonnes in 2015. On the other hand, meth seizure was around 190 tonnes all over the world with seizures in East Asian being higher than those done in the USA and Europe combined. Therefore, the integrative Cross-border operations and interagency partnership in dealing with drugs have had reduced effect in the transnational drug trafficking issue in Southeast Asia and Australia (Broadhurst, 2017, p.43). Mainly, most practices have been centred around the Asian region and the Middle East, and this has reduced the prevalence of illicit substances in Australia since they get there through the Asian route. The only requirement for the UNODC approach in having an integrative approach towards drug and illegal substance trafficking is that nations, especially those affected with the drug issue have to allow drug-related security agencies to seize illicit substances and apprehend suspects in their countries without jurisdictional restrictions.

Harsh Penalties for Drug Peddlers

Governments in Southeast Asia in recent days have imposed harsh penalties for drug sale and related activities. The new legislation is considered to be the toughest on the planet, and they are a response to the increasing drug problem in the region especially regarding domestic markets controlled by transnational drug cartels. An exciting aspect of the laws is that both locals and foreigners receive same punishment under the host nation's jurisdictions and are jailed within the country (Windle, 2015). Ideally, each state in the region has its unique set of laws against drugs. For instance, in Cambodia, individuals found with drugs face a sentence of 5 years to life imprisonment. In Indonesia, individuals caught with narcotics face the death penalty while those caught with marijuana are likely to spend at least 20 years in prison (Liu, 2016, p.65). For those peddling drugs in Laos, death by the firing squad is the proposed punishment by the nations under article 135. Similarly, the law in Malaysia prescribes a death penalty for drug traffickers while a lengthy incarnation period is recommended for those caught with the substances. Moreover, suspected drug users or traffickers can be arrested without a warrant in the nation (Burns, 2014, p.217). Other Asian countries of Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam also prescribe a death penalty for people caught with particular amounts of drugs perceived to be for sale. On the other hand, those found with soft drugs in small quantities face lengthy prison sentences of at least ten years (Burns, 2014, p.220).

The drug laws in Southeast Asia are non-discriminative and apply equally even to visitors. The approach is different to other nations especially in western countries as most have abolished the death penalty and drug trafficking does not carry a hefty sentence as compared to murder and terrorism. In recent times, individuals going into Asia have battled with local Asian courts and lost due to the toughness with which the issue is handled. For instance, in 2005, Nguyen Van Tiong, an Australian national was arrested at Changi International Airport in Singapore during a stopover. He was in possession of 14 ounces of heroin. Tiong had boarded a plane heading to Australia from Cambodia and was hanged a few days later. In the days following the execution, Australia had placed a clemency request, which was denied by the Singapore authorities.

Discussion

Corruption

The primary problem curtailing efforts to eradicate transnational drug trafficking in Australia and the Southeast Asia region is corruption. The concept involves bribing of government officials and security officers to gain access to drug markets or allow peddlers to operate. Particular cross-broader transactions, especially between China and Japan, thrives on corruption as intermediaries evade tax and other security checks by bribing officials. In this regard, there are two factors, which make officials cooperate with drug traffickers; fear and the potential for financial growth. Ideally, the drug business is lucrative. For instance, according to Luong (2017), the Balkan route is valued at $ 20 billion while the northern route is valued at $ 13 billion per year. Consequently, drug traffickers have significant amounts of money, which enable them to bribe officials with ease who accept as they seek financial freedom. According to Beyrer, et al. (2000, p.73), drug-related engagements pay higher than legal occupations, and as a result, they are naturally attractive to individuals with weak financial foundations. On the other hand, drug traffickers are also dangerous. In this regard, most of them are criminals and possess weapons, which they use to facilitate their transactions. Principally, they do not hesitate to take life regardless of their target. For instance, Latypov et al. (2014, p.1149) state that many individuals died as a result of drug-related violence and crimes in southeast Asia. Consequently, most law enforcement officers primarily from Asian countries tend to turn a blind eye on the peddlers' activity to remain safe. Moreover, they do not offer any resistance.

Corruption can hinder the UNODC's approach to have integrative Cross-border operations and interagency partnership in dealing with the transnational drug trade in Australia and Southeast Asia. In this regard, some of the security agencies incorporated within the UNODC's approach could be susceptible to corruption. Consequently, they will offer drug traffickers a leeway to use in moving their products instead of arresting them. Thus, the approach might fail to be effective. Similarly, the harsh penalties introduced within the legal systems of various Asian nations might not have significant effects if no arrests are made if the police decide to collude with drug traffickers (Kamarulzaman and McBrayer, 2015). Principally, corruption in the Asian region and Australia is the most prominent hindrance to ending transnational drug trade.

Poor Social and Economic Status in the Region

Most nations in the Asian region are struggling economically as they are categorized as developing countries. Since the 1980s, countries such as Laos and Myanmar have had poor economic status with their population enduring hardships (Chin and Zhang, 2015, p.82). Consequently, most people tend to resolve to any activity, which can enhance their financial position regardless of whether it is legal, or not. In this regard, the golden triangle has for long been the leading opium producer of the world. However, the rise of China in the second part of the 21st century meant that selling opium to Chinese merchants brought in more cash than before. Therefore, most individuals in the golden triangle ventured into opium farming thereby producing it in large scale and selling it to Chinese traders (Chin, 2016, p.151). The acti...