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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 8:47 pm
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Results for drug dealing
9 results foundAuthor: Rodgers, Dennis Title: Bismarckian Transformations in Contemporary Nicaragua? From Gang Member to Drug Dealer to Legal Entrepreneur Summary: Through a detailed life history of Bismarck, a Nicaraguan youth gang member turned illegal drug dealer turned legal entrepreneur, this paper explores the potential relationships between formal and informal economic activity. It focuses particularly on the various economic activities that he has been involved in at different stages in his life, tracing their origins and evolving dynamics in order to highlight not only how the ‘formal’ and ‘informal’ often mix, but also how they can in fact be extremely interdependent, to the extent that they often directly feed off each other. At the same time, however, Bismarck’s story also underlines how the systemic iteration of economic activity ultimately depends less on their form and more on the contingent articulation of the specific type of activity concerned, the particular trajectory of the individual social agents involved, as well as ultimately the nature of the broader contextual political economy. Details: Manchester, UK: University of Manchester, Brooks World Poverty Institute, 2009. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: BWPI Working Paper 82: Accessed June 22, 2013 at: http://www.bwpi.manchester.ac.uk/resources/Working-Papers/bwpi-wp-8209.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Nicaragua URL: http://www.bwpi.manchester.ac.uk/resources/Working-Papers/bwpi-wp-8209.pdf Shelf Number: 129143 Keywords: Drug DealingDrug OffendersGangs (Nicaragua) |
Author: Afilipoaie, Alois Title: The Growing Industry of Darknet Marketing Summary: Tor's hidden services have allowed a new form of low-risk high-profit drug dealing to emerge and grow quickly over the last four years. Vendors of narcotics are utilising innovative marketing techniques that mirror those used by legal, 'real-world' and web-based businesses to promote and sell goods and services. These range from offers of free samples and discounts, to the use of banner adverts and brand management. Drug marketing is becoming increasingly sophisticated as more users and buyers flock to the Tor network and as hidden markets become more diversified and competitive. Details: Singleton Park, Swansea, UK: Global Drug Policy Observatory, 2015. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 6, 2015 at: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/media/GDPO%20SA%20Marketing.pdf Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.swansea.ac.uk/media/GDPO%20SA%20Marketing.pdf Shelf Number: 135157 Keywords: Drug DealingDrug Markets Illegal DrugsInternet Crimes |
Author: Vazquez, Pedro Title: Residents' Feelings and Interpretation of the Open-Air Drug Market in Conkey and Clifford Neighborhood of Rochester, New York Summary: Low-level drug dealers thrive where they do not conflict with legitimate businesses, but rather support and are supported by certain elements of their environment (Thomas J. Charron, Debra Whitcomb, & George Ross, 2004, pg. 3). According to T. Charron, D. Whitcomb, & G. Ross (2004), dimly lit parking lots, alleys, abandoned buildings, bars, and roads that allow drivers to slow down or stop are some of the elements of the environment that support low-level drug dealers. Low-level drug dealing in open-air markets generates or contributes to a wide range of social disorder and drug-related crime in the surrounding neighborhood that can also have an effect on the residents' quality of life (Alex Harocopos & Mike Hough, 2005). The purpose of this paper is to gain an understanding of how residents in the Conkey and Clifford neighborhood in Rochester, New York have been affected by the open-air marijuana market, as well as their view of their neighborhood. The Rochester Drug Free Street Initiative (RDFSI) coalition has been working with residents in the Conkey and Clifford neighborhood to bring to an end the marketing of low-level drugs in their neighborhood. The RDFSI is implementing two approaches, which is led by Ibero-American Development Corporation (IADC), the H.O.P.E project and other committed local partners. The intervention, which is known as INSPIRE (Invested, Neighbors, Seeking, Progress, Inspiration, Restoration, & Empowerment), is being run by RDFSI staff and community members. The RDFSI is applying the two civil approaches to a two- tiered strategy. First is the Restorative Practices Strategy: working with PiRI (Partners in Restorative Initiatives,) neighborhood residents, and other community providers. RDFSI created what is being known as "Restorative Community Circles"; here people who are currently selling marijuana on the street can meet with other community members who want to help them transition into productive community members. This process creates a safe space for those who inform dealers how drug sales are affecting them and their families. The second strategy involves a stay-away order. RDFSI staff knows that not all dealers will be receptive to the restorative community circle process, but residents still need to be protected from those who continue to sell marijuana in their neighborhoods. The order will assist in interrupting the sale of marijuana by extricating the dealers from their geographical market. Residents have asked, "Why haven't the police done anything about drug dealers?" Police officers have a hard task when it comes to arresting low-level drug dealers. Marijuana has been decriminalized in New York State, which means that any individual found with less than an ounce of marijuana will not be arrested, charged, or face any jail time. These individual will only face a violation, which is punishable by a fine of $25.00 or less. Parking on the wrong side of the street is a much more serious violation than that of a violation for marijuana possession of less than an ounce, as alternate parking fines are $50.00 in the City. This is why police officers have limited power in handling the issues of open-air drug markets. This paper will highlight the answers to the survey conducted by RDFSI during the Rochester T.I.P.S event. Project T.I.P.S stand for Trust, Information, Programs & Services, the projects includes community agencies and law enforcement personnel working together in a selected neighborhood to rebuild trust amongst residents and share information. The answers to the "Your Voice" survey, which was construed by CPSI (Center for Public Safety Imitative) student researcher. This survey was giving to residents who are involved with RDFSI, and the information from the resident's focus group conducted by the RDFSI. Details: Rochester, NY: Center for Public Safety Initiatives Rochester Institute of Technology, 2014. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 21, 2015 at: https://www.rit.edu/cla/criminaljustice/sites/rit.edu.cla.criminaljustice/files/docs/WorkingPapers/2014/Conkey%20and%20Clifford%20Resident%20Surveys%20-%20MJ%20Market%20-%20WEBSITE%20VERSION.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://www.rit.edu/cla/criminaljustice/sites/rit.edu.cla.criminaljustice/files/docs/WorkingPapers/2014/Conkey%20and%20Clifford%20Resident%20Surveys%20-%20MJ%20Market%20-%20WEBSITE%20VERSION.pdf Shelf Number: 135328 Keywords: Drug DealersDrug DealingDrug MarketsDrug OffendersDrugs and Crime |
Author: Lauger, Timothy R. Title: An Audit of the Gangs in Niagara Falls, New York Summary: This report relies on official crime data, law enforcement intelligence, census data, and ethnographic interviews to assess the nature and extent of the gang problem in Niagara Falls, NY. It finds that street gangs are firmly entrenched on the streets of Niagara Falls, and that they are fueled by high poverty rates, a vibrant underground illicit economy, and the dissemination of gang culture across geographical locations. We also identify that the city of Niagara Falls has experienced escalating rates of violence that contrast national trends. We examine the extent to which street gangs may be involved in localized violence and note that interpersonal violence appears to be a growing problem in the city, but gangs are not yet involved in patterns of contagious murder. They are, however, heavily involved in drug dealing and may increasingly be demonstrating a willingness to use excessive forms of violence (guns) to resolve interpersonal disputes. Moreover, gangs and gang members appear to evolve and become more sophisticated as they remain active in street life. This report concludes with a discussion of viable solutions for dealing with street gangs in Niagara Falls. Details: Niagara University, NY: Niagara University, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2012. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 18, 2015 at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271075901_An_Audit_of_the_Gangs_in_Niagara_Falls_New_York Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271075901_An_Audit_of_the_Gangs_in_Niagara_Falls_New_York Shelf Number: 135703 Keywords: Drug DealingGang-Related Violence Gangs Street Gangs |
Author: Lenton, Simon Title: The social supply of cannabis among young people in Australia Summary: Cannabis is the most prolifically used illicit drug in Australia, however, there is a gap in our understanding concerning the social interactions and friendships formed around its supply and use. The authors recruited cannabis users aged between 18 and 30 years throughout Australia, to explore the impact of supply routes on young users and their perceived notions of drug dealing in order to provide valuable insight into the influence that reciprocal relationships have on young people’s access to cannabis. Findings reveal that the supply of cannabis revolves around pre-existing connections and relationships formed through associates known to be able to readily source cannabis. It was found that motivations for proffering cannabis in a shared environment were related more to developing social capital than to generating financial gain. Given this, often those involved in supply do not perceive that they are breaking the law or that they are 'dealers'. This social supply market appears to be built on trust and social interactions and, as such, presents several challenges to law enforcement. It is suggested that there would be benefit in providing targeted education campaigns to combat social supply dealing among young adults. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, December 2015. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice no. 503: Accessed March 2, 2016 at: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/tandi_pdf/tandi503.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/tandi_pdf/tandi503.pdf Shelf Number: 138010 Keywords: CannabisDrug Abuse and AddictionDrug DealingDrug MarketsIllicit DrugsMarijuana |
Author: Moyle, Leah Title: An Exploration of how the Social Supply and User-Dealer Supply of Illicit Drugs Differs to Conventional Notions of Drug Dealing and Consideration of the Consequences of this for Sentencing Policy Summary: The concept of 'social supply' has emerged as a term used both in the UK, and internationally, to describe drug distribution that is non-commercially motivated and almost exclusively found between friends and acquaintances. Social suppliers have increasingly been presented as actors who are qualitatively different to drug dealers (proper), in relation to their motivation and their activity. As a result, they have increasingly become identified as a group who should be distinguished as such legally (Police Foundation, 2000; Release, 2009). While social supply behaviours can be identified in wider research literature relating to recreational drug use, there is a relative gap in regard to in-depth accounts of social supply activity, and in regard to a social supply definition. In a similar way, heroin and crack cocaine user-dealers - a group who are also perhaps not best understood as profit motivated suppliers - have received insufficient academic attention, with the majority of research references failing to go beyond typologies that recognise them simply as suppliers who also use. With research indicating that social supply permeates a meaningful section of adolescent and adult drug markets, along with evidence to suggest that drug supply embodies one of limited options for addicted drug users to fund their habit, this thesis explores how far we can understand these behaviours as drug dealing (proper). Using qualitative in-depth interviews and case studies, this interpretivist research design develops existing ideas, as well as highlighting emergent social supply and user-dealing themes. Findings from this research indicate that social supply behaviours are usefully understood through a theoretical application of 'normalisation' (Parker et al., 1998) and 'drift' (Matza, 1964) and are wider in scope than those currently recognised by the literature base. The research findings also indicate the importance of the notion of 'economies of scale' - an incentive for drug users to obtain a larger quantity of substance for a cheaper price. Notions of reciprocity also feature, with group obligation providing a rationale for involvement in social supply. The findings are also suggestive of the idea that user-dealing - understood through the theoretical gaze of Bourdieu's 'Theory of Practice' (1990) - is characterised by limited distribution, minimal profit and explicated as a less harmful option than other crimes undertaken to fund drug dependence. This thesis concludes with the proposal that a conceptual shift towards 'minimally commercial supply' offers a more realistic and inclusive means of conceptualising both social supply and user-dealing activity. Possible ways forward therefore include the implementation of this term as a distinct offence that focuses on intent, thereby presenting a more proportionate approach than current policy responses for these groups allow. Details: Plymouth, UK: Plymouth University, 2013. 314p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed August 30, 2016 at: https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/handle/10026.1/3007 Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/handle/10026.1/3007 Shelf Number: 140080 Keywords: Drug DealingDrug MarketsIllegal DRugsIllicit Drugs |
Author: Andell, Paul Title: Preventing the Violent and Sexual Victimisation of Vulnerable gang-involved and gang-affected children and young people in Ipswich Summary: A Suffolk Constabulary threat assessment initiated in 2014 observed that the supply of Class A Drugs to Ipswich and other Suffolk towns was dominated by street gangs from London. It notes that children and young people from London and Suffolk were involved in 'running' the drugs to end users and that their risk of coming to harm was high. The Police estimated at this point that a small number of young people, frequently recorded as 'missing' from Care or home by the police and Safeguarding authorities, were either known, or suspected, to be working for London-based drug dealing networks. Children and young people reported 'missing' in London had also been found at Suffolk addresses known to be used for drug dealing. The assessment recognised that in the preceding decade there had been an increase in the numbers of boys and young men travelling from London to Ipswich in order to supply Class A drugs and that members of London-based drug-dealing groups had been present in Ipswich throughout this period despite several successful police operations to disrupt the trafficking and distribution of Class A drugs. The assessment suggested that violence, threats and coercion were used routinely by these groups to exert control over vulnerable children and young people and local Class A drug users whose homes were being 'cuckooed'. This kind of violence was evident in other parts of Suffolk where the illicit drug market was saturated and competition between dealers was fierce. Intelligence also suggested that Organised Crime Groups (OCG's) involved in drug dealing were storing weapons at dealing locations and arming 'runners' with knives. In recognition of these problems, in November 2014, representatives of the government's Ending Gangs and Youth Violence (EGYV) programme were invited to undertake a peer review of the effectiveness of local responses and provide a framework for future action. The EGYV review noted that senior leaders in the County had recognized the serious threat posed by the gang problem and that a range of existing multi-agency initiatives had been put in place. It observed that the Ipswich Borough Police Commander had established a GOLD policing strategy and constructed a complementary multi-agency intervention (Operation Volcanic). However it appeared that lack of clarity vis-a-vis roles and responsibilities within the community safety and other partnerships meant there were no obvious mechanisms to effectively identify, address and communicate a way of dealing with gang offending by the partnership. It also noted that, to date, senior leaders did not have a formal or specific role and that responses were largely Police-led and enforcement-based. Details: Ipswich, UK: University of Suffolk, 2017. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed May 15, 2018 at: https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/27822/1/Preventing_the_violent_and_sexual_victimisation_of_vulnerable_gang_involved.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/27822/1/Preventing_the_violent_and_sexual_victimisation_of_vulnerable_gang_involved.pdf Shelf Number: 150190 Keywords: Drug DealingDrug ViolenceDrug-Related ViolenceGangsSexual AssaultVictimization |
Author: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Title: Global Overview of Drug Demand and Supply: Latest trends, cross-cutting issues Summary: Drug use is associated with significant adverse health consequences About 275 million people worldwide, which is roughly 5.6 per cent of the global population aged 15-64 years, used drugs at least once during 2016. Some 31 million people who use drugs suffer from drug use disorders, meaning that their drug use is harmful to the point where they may need treatment. Opioids continue to cause the most harm, accounting for 76 per cent of deaths where drug use disorders were implicated. PWID - some 10.6 million worldwide in 2016 - endure the greatest health risks. More than half of them live with hepatitis C, and one in eight live with HIV. Number of deaths associated with the use of drugs remains high Roughly 450,000 people died as a result of drug use in 2015, according to WHO. Of those deaths, 167,750 were directly associated with drug use disorders (mainly overdoses). The rest were indirectly attributable to drug use and included deaths related to HIV and hepatitis C acquired through unsafe injecting practices. Overdose deaths from the non-medical use of pharmaceutical opioid use reach epidemic proportions in North America In 2015 and 2016, for the first time in half a century, life expectancy in the United States of America declined for two consecutive years. A key factor was the increase in unintentional injuries, which include overdose deaths. In 2016, 63,632 people died from a drug overdose in the United States, the highest number on record and a 21 per cent increase from the previous year. This was largely due to a rise in deaths associated with pharmaceutical opioids, including fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. This group of opioids, excluding methadone, was implicated in 19,413 deaths in the country, more than double the number in 2015. Evidence suggests that Canada is also affected, with a large number of overdose deaths involving fentanyl and its analogues in 2016. Outside North America, with the exception of Estonia, the impact of fentanyl and its analogues is relatively low. Many countries still fail to provide adequate drug treatment and health services to reduce the harm caused by drugs One in six people suffering from drug use disorders received treatment for those disorders during 2016, which is a relatively low proportion that has remained constant in recent years. Some of the most adverse health consequences of drug use are experienced by PWID. A global review of services aimed at reducing adverse health consequences among PWID has suggested that only 79 countries have implemented both needle and syringe programmes and opioid substitution therapy. Only four countries were classified as having high levels of coverage of both of those types of interventions. Information on the availability of HIV testing and counselling and antiretroviral therapy remains sparse: only 34 countries could confirm the availability of HIV-testing programmes for PWID, and 17 countries confirmed that they had no such programmes. There was no information on the availability of antiretroviral therapy for 162 countries. Witnessing an overdose and experiencing a non-fatal overdose are common Witnessing an overdose is common among those who use heroin and/or cocaine and who inject drugs. This provides an opportunity to intervene and influence the outcome of the situation (for example, in the administration of naloxone in the case of opioid overdose) and whether it proves to be fatal. Many people who use heroin and/or cocaine and who inject drugs also report that they have experienced a non-fatal overdose. Non-fatal overdoses can leave drug users with significant health problems and have also been shown to be associated with a subsequent fatal overdose, with the risk of death increasing with the number of prior non-fatal overdoses. Prisoners are at higher risk for infectious diseases but are poorly served People in prison and other closed settings are at a much greater risk of contracting infections such as tuberculosis, HIV and hepatitis C than the general population, but access to treatment and prevention programmes is often lacking. Even where such programmes are available, they are not necessarily of the same standard as those provided in the community. The lack of access to prevention measures in many prisons can result in the rapid spread of HIV and other infections. People who use heroin are exposed to a severe risk of death from overdose after release from prison, especially in the first two weeks. Such deaths are related to a lowered tolerance to the effects of heroin use developed after periods of relative abstinence, including during incarceration. However, released prisoners are rarely able to access overdose management interventions, including prevention medications such as naloxone, or treatment for substance dependence, including methadone. Afghan opium poppy cultivation drives record opiate production Total global opium production jumped by 65 per cent from 2016 to 2017, to 10,500 tons, easily the highest estimate recorded by UNODC since it started estimating global opium production at the beginning of the twenty-first century. The total area under opium poppy cultivation worldwide increased to almost 420,000 ha in 2017. More than 75 per cent of that area is in Afghanistan. Overall seizures of opiates rose by almost 50 per cent from 2015 to 2016. The quantity of heroin seized globally reached a record high of 91 tons in 2016. Most opiates were seized near the manufacturing hubs in Afghanistan. A notable increase has been seen in cocaine manufacture Global cocaine manufacture in 2016 reached its highest level ever: an estimated 1,410 tons. After falling during the period 2005–2013, global cocaine manufacture rose by 56 per cent during the period 2013–2016. The increase from 2015 to 2016 was 25 per cent. The total area under coca cultivation worldwide in 2016 was 213,000 ha, almost 69 per cent of which was in Colombia. Global seizures are still dominated by cannabis but sharp increases are reported for other drugs Despite declining in 2016, cannabis continues to be the drug seized in the greatest quantities worldwide, followed by coca/cocaine-related substances and opioids. Both the quantity of ATS and of cocaine seized worldwide reached a record level in 2016. The sharpest increases in the quantities of drugs intercepted worldwide in 2016 were reported for plant-based NPS, which rose sevenfold, mainly due to seizures of kratom. The quantity of synthetic NPS seized worldwide, by contrast, saw a marked decline of more than 50 per cent in 2016, mainly due to a decline in the quantities of phenetalyamines and synthetic cannabinoids seized. Effect of the crackdown on darknet drug dealers is not yet clear In July 2017, police forces from several countries worked together to take down the largest drug-trading platform on the darknet, the part of the "deep web" containing information that is only accessible using special web browsers. Before it was closed, AlphaBay had featured more than 250,000 listings for illegal drugs and chemicals. It had had over 200,000 users and 40,000 vendors during its existence. The authorities also succeeded in taking down the trading platform Hansa, described as the third largest criminal marketplace on the dark web. It is not yet clear what effect the closures will have. According to an online survey in January 2018, 15 per cent of those who had used darknet sites for purchasing drugs said that they had used such markets less frequently since the closures, and 9 per cent said they had completely stopped. However, more than half did not consider themselves to have been affected by the closures. Although the scale of drug trafficking on the darknet remains limited, it has shown signs of rapid growth. Authorities in Europe estimated that drug sales on the darknet from 22 November 2011 to 16 February 2015 amounted to roughly $44 million per year. However, a later study estimated that, in early 2016, drug sales on the darknet were between $14 million and $25 million per month, equivalent to between $170 million and $300 million per year. Details: Vienna: UNODC, 2018. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: World Drug Report 2018, No. 2: Accessed June 29, 2018 at: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WDR18_Booklet_2_GLOBAL.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/WDR18_Booklet_2_GLOBAL.pdf Shelf Number: 150739 Keywords: Darknet Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug DealingDrug Markets Drug Trafficking Illegal Drugs Illicit Trade Internet Trade |
Author: International Crisis Group Title: Fire and Ice: Conflict and Drugs in Myanmar's Shan State Summary: Myanmar's Shan State has emerged as one of the largest global centres for the production of crystal methamphetamine ("ice"). Large quantities of the drug, with a street value of tens of billions of dollars, are seized each year in Myanmar, neighbouring countries and across the Asia-Pacific. Production takes place in safe havens in Shan State held by militias and other paramilitary units allied with the Myanmar military, as well as in enclaves controlled by non-state armed groups. The trade in ice, along with amphetamine tablets and heroin, has become so large and profitable that it dwarfs the formal economy of Shan State, lies at the heart of its political economy, fuels criminality and corruption and hinders efforts to end the state's long-running ethnic conflicts. Myanmar's government should stop prosecuting users and small-scale sellers and work with its neighbours to disrupt the major networks and groups profiting from the trade. The military should better constrain pro-government militias and paramilitaries involved in the drugs trade, with an eye to their eventual demobilisation. The growing drugs trade in Shan State is in part a legacy of the area's ethnic conflicts. For decades, the Myanmar military has struck ceasefire deals with armed groups and established pro-government militias. Such groups act semi-autonomously and enjoy considerable leeway to pursue criminal activities. Indeed, conditions in parts of Shan State are ideal for large-scale drug production, which requires a kind of predictable insecurity: production facilities can be hidden from law enforcement and other prying eyes but insulated from disruptive violence. Tackling the drug trade presents a complex policy challenge involving security, law enforcement, political and public health aspects. But if the drugs trade is partly a symptom of Shan State's conflicts, it is also an obstacle to sustainably ending them. The trade, which now dwarfs legitimate business activities, creates a political economy inimical to peace and security. It generates revenue for armed groups of all stripes. Militias and other armed actors that control areas of production and trafficking routes have a disincentive to demobilise, given that weapons, territorial control and the absence of state institutions are essential to those revenues. The trade attracts transnational criminal groups and requires bribing officials for protection, support or to turn a blind eye, which allows a culture of payoffs and graft to flourish and adds to the grievances of ethnic minority communities that underpin the seventy-year old civil war. Myanmar's military, which has ultimate authority over militias and paramilitaries and profits from their activities, can only justify the existence of such groups in the context of the broader ethnic conflict in the state - so the military also has less incentive to end that conflict. Tackling the drug trade presents a complex policy challenge involving security, law enforcement, political and public health aspects. An integrated approach that addresses all of these areas will be needed to effectively address it: - Myanmar's government should redouble its drug control efforts, ending prosecutions of small-time dealers and users and refocusing on organised crime and corruption associated with the trade. The president should instruct and empower the Anti-Corruption Commission to prioritise this. - At the community level, the government should focus more on education and harm reduction, in line with its February 2018 National Drug Control Policy. It should work with relevant donors and international agencies to invest in education and harm reduction initiatives geared specifically toward the particular dangers of crystal meth use. Although crystal meth is currently not widely used in Myanmar, that is likely to change given the huge scale of production. - Myanmar's military should rethink the conflict management approaches it has employed for decades. In particular, it should exert greater control over - and ultimately disarm and disband - allied militias and paramilitary forces that are among the key players in the drug business. The impunity that these groups enjoy, and the requirement that they mostly fund themselves, has pushed them to engage in lucrative illicit activities. - The military should also investigate and take concerted action to end drug-related corruption within its ranks, focusing on senior officers who facilitate or turn a blind eye to the trade. - Myanmar's neighbours should stop illicit flows of precursors, the chemicals used to manufacture drugs, into Shan State. As the main source of such chemicals, China has a particular responsibility to end this trade taking place illegally across its south-western border. It should also use its influence over the Wa and Mongla armed groups controlling enclaves on the Chinese border to end their involvement in the drug trade and other criminal activities. Targeting the major players in the drug trade will not be easy and comes with risks of pushback, perhaps violent, from those involved. But the alternative - allowing parts of Shan State to continue to be a safe haven for this large-scale criminal enterprise - will see closer links between local armed actors, corrupt officials in Myanmar and the region, and transnational criminal organisations. The more such a system becomes entrenched, and the greater the profits it generates, the harder it will be to dislodge and the longer conflicts in that area are likely to persist. The people of Shan State, and Myanmar as a whole, will pay the highest price. Details: Brussels, Belgium: International Crisis Group, 2019. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 9, 2019 at: https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia/south-east-asia/myanmar/299-fire-and-ice-conflict-and-drugs-myanmars-shan-state Year: 2019 Country: Asia URL: https://d2071andvip0wj.cloudfront.net/299-fire-and-ice.pdf Shelf Number: 154750 Keywords: CorruptionCrystal MethDrug DealingDrug TradeDrug TraffickingIceMethamphetamineMyanmarShan State |