What’s behind the worldwide explosion in cocaine trafficking

There are 12 replies in this Thread which has previously been viewed 847 times. The latest Post (December 29, 2024 at 12:31 PM) was by daveholman.

    The US's War On Drugs. We created that black market, and insist on feeding it. Now it seems much of the world is copying us.

    *Sorry. Lifelong Libertarian here. I'll dismount now.

    It is interesting the relationship of humans with drugs. It is definitely deep rooted down in most cultures, from hallugineous fungi to roots, leaves, etc.

    Still, while I do agree that making them illegal only feeds the black market, it is also evident that the consequence of drug consumption are a danger to society at large (healthcare costs, accidents caused by drugged people, violence etc.) so I am not sure I'd like to see more of them.

    The USA’s “War on Drugs,” started by Richard Nixon in the 1970’s, certainly did not stop the flow of drugs into the country. But I have yet to hear anyone suggest a workable solution to the drug problem. Should we just ignore the problem? Open dispensaries and sell cocaine gummies?

    We don't live too far from the Parana river. In fact they have just announced a mega port terminal about 12 kms from our house. One of the first major privately funded port investments from Milei's tenure

    Back in the late seventies it was 12 yo Scotch , in the eighties it was VHS recorders , in the nineties other electronics and laptops then cell phones.

    Now it is drugs in various forms.

    It used to be private planes but container ships are becoming the main transport mode

    if you haven’t read the WaPo (gift) article above, about South America’s place in cocaine trafficking, I encourage you to read it, as it is eye-opening.

    One of the reader comments following the article:

    “Record amounts of cocaine to Europe have come from an unlikely source: Paraguay – a landlocked country located in the maritime centre of South America surrounded by Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia – which is mostly known for its beef and cash crops.
    Paraguay’s emergence as a launching pad for cocaine shipments is a result of two trends – traffickers and drug gangs have set up in the country, and they search for new maritime transatlantic routes.
    Paraguay has long served as a transit point for cocaine to Brazil, which has a large market for consumers. In recent years, Brazil has become one of the major transshipment hubs for drugs to Europe. This has, in turn, made Paraguay a critical waystation for cocaine smuggled from producing countries, such as Colombia, Peru and Bolivia.
    Traffickers have also penetrated Paraguay by bribing politicians and police, infiltrating the highest levels of government.
    What worries agencies that combat drug trafficking is that crime syndicates use sophisticated technologies to evade law-enforcement efforts.
    As the business is highly lucrative, the thugs have unlimited resources. Sadly, not the law-enforcement authorities.”

    Okay, I'm getting back on my high horse. lol
    As Serafina said - humans and intoxicants have a long history. Everyone needs some escape some times.
    I've personally been clean and sober since 1985. I've seen the devastation drug and alcohol abuse can cause, first hand.


    But I still can't find a single instance of prohibition working. And the evidence is clear where drugs are legal fewer rather than more people abuse them.

    And when it comes to drugs, the only ones that profit are the black marketeers AND THE GOVERNMENTS. Half of whom are taking money to protect the drug cartels, the other half of whom are making their living trying to stop them, or prosecuting and imprisoning them and their customers.

    Just my $.02.