Drug Smuggling Routes
. “The Southern Route”: Afghanistan -> Pakistan -> SE Asia (Heroin, 150 metric tons)
Afghanistan supplies 80 percent of the
world’s opium, and thus, 80 percent of its heroin. Almost half the opium
cultivated in Afghanistan is trafficked through Pakistan, but Pakistan
itself has few heroin users. The country tends to stick to funneling the
drug through its territory, reaping the cash rewards of that trade.
Pakistani traffickers operate a number of
direct air (and sea) trafficking routes to Europe, according to the
UNODC, mostly to the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
North America accounted for more than 40
percent of global cocaine consumption in 2007 and 2008, while the
countries in the EU and European Free Trade Association accounted for
over 25 percent of consumption.
3. “The Balkan Route”: Afghanistan -> Iran -> Turkey -> Southeast Europe -> Western Europe (Heroin, 105 metric tons)
Of the 105 metric tons that embarks on this
route, only 37%, ends up in Europe. The rest is diverted from Iran to
the Caucauses, or toward Africa.
Trends in heroin use indicate that the flow
along this route is declining, as more of the supply flows toward the
coastal markets of Africa. The number of heroin users in Africa
increased by 54% between 2004 and 2008, according to the UNODC, which
fears that a rise in IV drug use there could worsen an already severe
HIV/AIDS epidemic.
4. “The Northern Route”: Afghanistan -> Central Asia -> Russia -> Western Europe (Heroin, 95 metric tons)
The largest national market for Afghan
heroin is the Russian Federation, and that market has rapidly expanded
since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Reports indicate that Russia
is there heroin is now doing its worst damage, including through the
spread of HIV.
Although cocaine use appears to be growing
in developing countries, the vast bulk of the production is destined for
two major overseas markets: North America (6.2 million users in 2008)
and Europe (4 to 5 million users).
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