CHAPTER VII

DRUG TRAFFICKING

INTRODUCTION
Drug abuse has become not only a national issue or a problem of just a few countries but it is a clear
and present global danger.
Today, highly entrenched, well-organized drug syndicate are behind this menace. They employ the
most advanced and most sophisticated technology coupled with unlimited financial resources at their
command and disposal. Police agencies around the world, pooling their resources together are more often
than not, the losers in a game of hide-and-seek with the international drug syndicate (Sotto, 1994)

DRUG TRAFFICKING DEFINE

Drug trafficking is also known as illegal drug trade. It is a global black market activity consisting of
production distribution packaging and sale of illegal psychoactive substances. It is simply smuggling across
borders, and distribution within the demand country. This applies in the local scene where local producer’s
scout demand areas for their illegal drug trade.
Drug trafficking involves selling drugs and drugs paraphernalia, whether it is a local exchange between a
user and a dealer or a major international operation. Drug trafficking is a problem that affects every nation in
the world and exists on many levels.
Drug trafficking is the commercial exchange of drugs and drug paraphernalia. This includes any
equipment used to manufacture illegal drugs or use them. It is the illegal drug trade or drug trafficking is a
global black market consisting of the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of illegal drugs.

TECHNIQUES USED BY DRUG TRADERS WHEN CROSSING BOARDERS

1. Avoiding boarder checks, such as by small ship, small aircraft ,and through over land smuggling routes.
2. Submitted to border check with the drugs hidden in a vehicle, between another merchandise ,in
luggage, in or under clothes, inside the body, etc.
3. Buying of diplomats to smuggle drugs in diplomatic mail/ luggage, to avoid boarder checks.

A Mule is a lower echelon criminal recruited by a smuggling organization to cross a boarder carrying drugs, or
sometimes an unknowing person in whose bag or vehicle the drugs are planted, for the purpose of retrieving
them elsewhere.
WORLD WIDE DRUG OUTLOOK

ILLICIT DRUG ROUTES

The first important drug traffic route as illustrated above shows how illicit drugs distributed from its
discovery, preparation up to marketing in the illicit market. It is noted that plants such as opium poppy, as
sources of dangerous drugs are cultivated and harvested mostly in the areas of Middle East while Europe
became the center for drug manufacture and synthesis. United States became the overall center for the drug
marketing.

THE SECOND MAJOR DRUG TRAFFIC ROUTE

GOLDEN TRIANGLE
THAILAND- LAOS- MYANMAR

In southeast Asia the golden triangle approximately produced 60% of opium in the world and 90% of the
opium in the eastern part of Asia. It is also the officially acknowledge source of southeast Asian heroin. Heroin
is produced in the golden triangle and passes through nearby countries in relatively in small quantities
through air transport while in transit to the United State and European countries.

THE GOLDEN CRESCENT

AFGHANISTAN
PAKISTAN
IRAN
INDIA
 In southwest Asia the golden crescent is the major supplier of the opium poppy, marijuana, and
heroin products in the western part of Asia. It produces at least 85% of to 90% of all illicit heroin channeled in
the drug under world market.

WORLD WIDE PERSPECTIVE

1. Middle East - It is the Becka valley of Lebanon is considered to be the biggest producer of cannabis
in the middle east. Lebanon is also became the transit country for cocaine for south America to
European illicit drug markets
2. Spain- It is known as the major transshipment point for international drug traffickers in Europe and
became ‘’the paradise of drug users in Europe’’.
3. South America- Columbia, Peru Uruguay, and panama are the principal sources all cocaine supply in
the world due the robust production of the coca plants source of the cocaine drug.
4. Morocco- It is known in the world to be the number one producer of marijuana. However Mexico is
still the major producer of cannabis.
5. Philippines- It is second to Morroco as to the production of marijuana. It also became major
transshipment point for the world wide of distribution of illegal drug particularly shabu and cocaine
from Taiwan and South America. It is also noted that Philippines today is known as the drug
paradise of abusers in Asia.
6. India- It is the center of the worlds drug map, leading to rapid addiction among its people.
7. Indonesia -Northern Sumatra has traditionally been the main cannabis growing area in Indonesia.
8. Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand- is the most favorable sights of drug distribution from the golden
triangle and other part of Asia.
9. China - It is the transit route for heroin from golden triangle to Hong-Kong. It also the country where
ephedra plant is cultivated source of drug ephedrine- the principal chemical for producing for drug
Shabu.
10. Hongkong- It is the world transshipment point of all forms of heroin.
11. Japan- It became the major consumer of cocaine and shabu from the United State and Europe.

DRUG TRAFFICKING AS INTERPOL'S PRIORITY CRIME AREAS

The drug trade involves growers, producers, couriers, suppliers, dealers and users and affects people in
almost all of INTERPOL’s 188 member countries.
INTERPOL’s criminal intelligence officers focus on the most commonly used and trafficked narcotic drugs
– cocaine, heroin, cannabis, and synthetic drugs – as well as precursor chemicals and doping substances.
INTERPOL’s primary drug-control role is to identify new drug trafficking trends and criminal
organizations operating at the international level and to assist all national and international law enforcement
bodies concerned with countering the illicit production, trafficking and abuse of drugs by:
1. Collecting and analyzing data obtained from member countries for strategic and tactical intelligence
reports and disseminating these reports to the concerned countries;
2. Responding to and supporting international drug investigations;
3. Helping to coordinate drug investigations involving at least two member countries;
4. Organizing operational working meetings between member countries where INTERPOL has
identified common links in cases being investigated in these countries;
5. Organizing regional or global conferences on specific drug topics, the aims of which are to assess
the extent of the drug problem, exchange information on the latest investigative techniques and
strengthen cooperation within the law enforcement community.
INTERPOL maintains close liaison with national law enforcement agencies and with non-
governmental organizations (NGO) that have a counterdrug mandate. This constant communication is
crucial to fulfilling INTERPOL’s mission to aid the international community in curbing illicit drug
trafficking and sales.

THE ORGANIZED CRIME GROUPS BEHIND THE GLOBAL DRUG SCENE

1. The Columbian Medellin Cartel - Founded during the 1980’s by Columbian drug lords in the name of
Pablo Escobar Gaviria and drug bosses Jose Gonzalo Rodriguez Gacha and the top aid cocaine
barons Juan David and the Ochoa Brothers.

The medellin Cartel is reputedly responsible for organizing world’s drug trafficking network. The
Columbian government succeeded in containing the Medellin Cartel, which resulted in the death,
surrender and arrest of the People behind the organization. This further resulted to the
disbandment of the Cartel led to its downfall.
 2. The Cali Cartel
The downfall of the Columbian Medellin Cartel is the rise of the Calli Cartel – the newly
emerged cocaine monopoly.

Gilberto Rodriguez Orajuela – better known as Don Chepe- “the Chess player” heads the syndicated
organization. Under him, the Cali Cartel was considered the most powerful criminal organization in
the world.
The Cartel produces over 90% of cocaine in the world. Due to this, it was called the best and the
brightest of the modern underworld. “They are professionals of the highest order, intelligent,
efficient, imaginative, and nearly impenetrable” – US Drug Enforcement Agency.
3. The Chinese Triad
The Chinese Triad, also called the Chinese Mafia is the oldest and biggest criminal organization
in the world. It is believed to be the controller of the “Golden Triangle” with international connections
on drug trafficking.

4. DRUG SYNDICATES IN THE PHILIPPINES

a. The Binondo-based Chinese syndicate has been identified as the nucleus of the Triad Society,
the Bamboo gang based in Taiwan and the 14K based in Hong Kong . The Bamboo gang is the
influence of the Green Gang of the Chinese Triad while the 14K is the newest among triad
families established only in 1947.
b. The Filipino-Chinese drug syndicates are groups responsible in smuggling shabu into the
country. Most drug couriers use Hong Kong and Taiwan as their embarkation point for the
Philippines. And recently, intelligence reports reveal that large quintets of shabu are smuggled
in the country directly from Mainland China through commercial airlines and ocean-sea vessels.

The most common “modus operandi” by the syndicates – posing as fishermen along Philippine seas,
particularly, the northern provinces of Luzon such as La Union, Ilocos, and Pangasinan where they drop their
loads of shabu to shoreline based members. The syndicates are famously involved in marijuana cultivation
and other drug smuggling including drug manufacture.

THE LAW ON DANGEROUS DRUGS IN THE PHILIPPINES

1. R.A. 6425 - Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972

2. R.A. 9165 – ComprehensiveDangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Approved on June 7, 2002 - Effective July
4, 2002
3. Republic Act No. 9211 - Known as Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 - Signed into law in June 2003. The
following are the prohibited Acts:
a. Allowing Children to man stalls selling tobacco product (s)
b. Selling tobacco products to a minor (under 18 years of age)
c. Selling of Tobacco products within 100 meters from playgrounds, schools and all youth
facilities Cigarette vending machine also within the place mentioned
d. Smoking in Public Places

Activity task:
1. Defined what is drug trafficking/
2. Enumerate and explain the illicit drug routes in Drug trafficking.
3. Defined and explain what is golden triangle?
4. Defined and explain what is golden crescent?
5. Defined and explain RA no. 9165.