CHAPTER V

THE GLOBAL DRUG

SITUATION
•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 syndicates 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 syndicates (Sotto, 1994).
THE ILLICIT DRUG TRAFFIC
ROUTES
 A. DRUGS THAT ORIGINATE FROM THE
GOLDEN TRIANGLE

Burma/Myanmar

Laos Thailand
Known as one two main opium-producing areas
in Asia, The Golden Triangle has a size of
approximately 950,000 km2, which overlaps the
mountain ranges of three Southeast Asia
countries, namely, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar.
 In fact, until the early 21st century, majority of the
world’s heroin was produced in the Golden Triangle.
In the past, major traffickers in Bangkok who were of
Thai-Chinese and Burmese-Chinese descent have
controlled much of the production and foreign sales of
Southeast Asian heroin from Thailand.
Today, small traffickers in Bangkok and other parts
of Thailand control smaller quantities of heroin
being sold in the international markets.
However, a combination of pressure from local law
enforcement agencies, media publicity, and a
regional drought has significantly reduced their
role in this complex drug production.
Presently, heroin and opium that are produced in the
northeastern region of Myanmar are transported by donkey or
horse caravans to refineries located along the Burma-Thailand
border.
Upon their arrival, these drugs are converted to heroin, after
which most of the finished products are shipped across the
border to towns throughout North Thailand and in Bangkok,
for subsequent international market distribution (Golden
Triangle Dru Production, n,d.).
Heroin produced in Southeast Asia is brought
to the US by couriers (usually US and Thai
nationals) who prefer to travel via commercial
airlines. Among the US states, Hawaii and
California are the main entry points of Golden
Triangle heroin.
However, small percentages of the drug are brought
to other cities too, such as New York and even
Washington, D.C.
Although Southeast Asian drug-trafficking groups
have achieved success in sneaking heroin to the
US, they initially faced challenges in its street-level
distribution in the beginning.
However, contacts between Asian and American
prisoners began to develop and flourish when
Asian traffickers incarcerated in American prisons
in the 1970s established contacts with American
gangs and organizations who then agreed to
distribute and sell heroin.
 B. DRUGS THAT ORIGINATES FROM THE
GOLDEN CRESCENT

- Iran
- Afghanistan
- Pakistan
Another area in Asia where illicit opium production takes
place.
The mountainous peripheries of these three countries constitute
the so-called crescent.
However, of the three, only Pakistan and Afghanistan are
opium producers, while Iran serves as a trans-shipment route
for these smuggled opiates, aside from being a consumer of
such illegal drugs (Steinberg, 1995).
At present, however, Afghanistan produces over 90% of the world’s
non-pharmaceutical-grade drugs. Aside from opiates, Afghanistan is
also the world’s largest producer of hashish (Wright, 2009).
WORLD’S DRUG SCENE
1. Southeast Asia – the “Golden Triangle” approximately produced 60%
of opium in the world, 90% percent of opium in the eastern part of Asia.
It is also the officially acknowledged source of Southeast Asian Heroin.
2. Southwest Asia – the “Golden Crescent” is the major supplier of
opium poppy, MJ and Heroin products in the western part of Asia. It
produces at least 85% to 90% of all illicit heroin channeled in the drug
underworld market.
3. Middle East – the Becka Valley of Lebanon is the biggest producer of
cannabis in the Middle East. Lebanon is also considered as the transit
country for cocaine from South America to European markets.
4. Spain – major transshipment point for international drug traffickers
in Europe – known as “the paradise of drug users in Europe”.
5. South America – Columbia, Peru, Uruguay, and Panama are the
sources of all cocaine supply in the world.
6. Morocco – the number one producer of cannabis in the world.
(2003 to 2006)
7. Philippines – the major transshipment point for the worldwide
distribution of illegal drugs such as shabu and cocaine from Taiwan
and South America. The second world’s supplier of MJ and the drug
paradise of drug abusers in Asia.
8. India – center of the world’s drug map, leading to rapid addiction
among its people.
9. Indonesia – Northern Sumatra has traditionally been the main cannabis
growing area in Indonesia. Bali Indonesia is an important transit point for
drugs en route to Australia and New Zealand.
10. Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand – the most favorable sites of drug
distribution from the “Golden Triangle” and other parts of Asia.
11. China – the transit route for heroin from “Golden Triangle” to H.K.
12. Hong Kong – the world’s transshipment point of all forms of heroin.
13. Japan – the major consumer of cocaine and shabu from U. S. and
Europe.
 ORGANIZED CRIME GROUPS
BEHIND THE GLOBAL DRUG SCENE
1. Columbian Medellin Cartel
Founded during the 1980’s by Colombian 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.
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. Cali Cartel
The downfall of the Columbian Medellin Cartel is the rise of the Cali Cartel - the
newly emerged cocaine monopoly. Gilberto Rodriquez Orajuela –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 is also called the Chinese Mafia – the oldest and biggest criminal
organization in the world. It is believed to be the controller of the “Golden Triangle”.
DRUG SYNDICATES IN THE PHILIPPINES
Binondo-based Chinese syndicate has been identified as
the nucleus of the Triad Society, 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 the triads families established
only in 1947.
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.
END OF CHAPTER V