Every year, governments around the world spend billions of dollars trying to stop the production and distribution of drugs. This is because drug trafficking — as any Breaking Bad fan will tell you — is a big business. In fact, it’s one of the most profitable illegal markets in the world today. In some places, drug traffickers are even more influential than politicians. The vast majority of the world’s drugs are produced or trafficked from just a few countries. Let’s take a look at some of the worst examples:
Mexico
Mexico is the world’s biggest producer of cannabis and the second-biggest producer of meth. Drug cartels in the country make an estimated $19 billion every year — with much of it coming from the sale of meth. In recent years, Mexican drug cartels have diversified their product range to include heroin and cocaine.
For much of the last decade, the country was the most notorious location for drug trafficking in the world. Nowadays, Mexico’s drug-related violence has significantly declined. This is largely thanks to the election of Andrés Manuel López Obrador as president. Obrador has vowed to bring down Mexico’s drug-related violence “to zero.”
Colombia
In the 1990s and 2000s, Colombia was the world’s biggest producer of cocaine. Today, growers in the country are still responsible for many of the world’s cocaine supplies. However, their share of the market has fallen significantly. This is largely thanks to the massive crackdown on drug production in Colombia in 2016. The Colombian government was so fed up with drug traffickers that they decided to eradicate their coca crops — which are needed to make cocaine — by force. The government sent in troops to destroy the coca fields, sprayed harmful chemicals over them, and offered farmers money to stop growing them. This extreme measure succeeded. Colombia’s cocaine production dropped by 50% in just one year.
Afghanistan
Most of the world’s heroin is made from opium poppies. This substance is harvested from the seed pods of the opium poppy plant. The country with the highest proportion of opium poppies is Afghanistan. Around 90% of the world’s opium poppies are grown in this country. This makes Afghanistan the world’s biggest producer of heroin. Most of this heroin is processed into a fine powder and packaged into small bags. It is then smuggled from Afghanistan to other countries, such as Iran and Pakistan, via the Middle East.
Dominican Republic
For a long time, the Dominican Republic was a small-scale producer of cannabis and coca. However, this has changed in recent years. As the world’s demand for drugs has increased, the country has ramped up its production of narcotics. The Dominican Republic has started to produce a massively increased amount of cannabis. This has turned the country into one of the world’s biggest producers of “high-potency weed.” This potent strain of cannabis is the main ingredient in the dangerous “black-market blend” known as “spice.” Spice has been linked to many health problems, including organ failure, strokes, and death.
Philippines
Drug traffickers in the Philippines have long been connected to the production and distribution of “white heroin” — otherwise known as “amphetamines.” However, the industry grew significantly in the 2000s when the country became a major supplier of meth. In fact, the Philippines is now the second-biggest producer of meth in the world. This country is also a key transit point in the international meth trade.
Venezuela
Venezuela has become a growing center for drug smuggling in recent years. Many experts believe that the country’s political instability has encouraged criminal gangs to set up shop in its border regions. Venezuela’s poor economic situation has also made it a tempting target for drug traffickers. People living in border towns in the country have reported seeing an increase in drug-related crimes. They say that their towns have become “transit points for illicit trafficking.”
India
Large shipments of Indian-made meth have been found in people’s homes across the United States. This has led many people to believe that the drug is being produced in India. However, experts now think that most of it is actually being produced in China — and then smuggled into India for sale.
Conclusion
Drug trafficking has become a major problem in many parts of the world — especially in South America. However, it is also a problem in many other regions, including Asia and Africa. Drug traffickers make massive profits from their operations. This makes them some of the most powerful people in the world. They are often more influential than even the most important politicians. Governments around the world spend billions trying to stop the production and distribution of drugs. They also put drug traffickers behind bars. This may seem like a huge task, but if countries work together, they can definitely make progress.
Knoxville Recovery Center Can Help
Fortunately, help is available for those battling addiction and/or mental health issues. Knoxville Recovery Center offers various services to those struggling in any stage of addiction or mental illness.
Services offered:
Detox – Our on-site detox clinic accommodates and supports clients as the body sheds all residual traces of addictive substances. Clients are under medical supervision during the detox process to ensure that they remain safe and comfortable.
Addiction Treatment – During our addiction treatment program, clients will engage in introductory therapies and exercises that work to prepare them for continued, more intensive treatment outside of our facility. The goal of our addiction treatment track is to stabilize clients so that they are treatment-ready.
Mental Health Treatment – Our mental health treatment program introduces behavioral therapies rooted in self-expression and holistic exercise. Art therapy, music therapy, and yoga are just a few forms of therapy we offer at the center. Our goal is to help the client reclaim their voice and expose them to treatment within a professional facility.
Aftercare Planning – Aftercare is designed for individuals who have benefitted from our introductory addiction services and are transitioning into a more intensive addiction treatment program. Once a client is stabilized, they will be encouraged to pursue continued addiction treatment. Our experienced case managers will then work with our clients to place them in a program that addresses their specific wants and needs.
If you feel that you or a loved one is struggling and needs help, our specialists are on standby and ready to help. Call Knoxville Recovery Center and speak with an expert today.
