The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) recently published its 2020 World Drug Report, revealing worrying trends in the illegal drug trade due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The report suggests that economic hardship could push more people towards illlicit drug-related activities as a source of income. Furthermore, it outlined that various governments’ strategies to manage the pandemic have inadvertently had significant impacts on the drug trade. Both production and supply have been affected, and consumption patterns are changing.
The Interplay between Economic Crisis and Diverted Focus
According to the UNODC report, the financial burdens caused by Covid-19 may reduce governmental budgets related to tackling drug issues. This could lead to an overall increase in drug use, with a shift towards cheaper, more harmful drugs. Countries such as Italy, Niger, and those in Central Asia have seen a significant decrease in drug seizures. In response to stricter regulations, drug traffickers have shifted their focus to other illegal activities, like cybercrime and trafficking falsified medicines. Conversely, countries like Morocco and Iran have reported considerable drug seizures, indicating large-scale drug trafficking.
Impact of Lockdown Measures on Drug Production, Supply, and Consumption
The pandemic lockdown measures potentially disrupt the production and sale of opiates, particularly as March to June are crucial months for opium harvest in Afghanistan. The decline in international trade resulting from the pandemic could also lead to a shortage in the supply of acetic anhydride, a precursor vital to heroin manufacture. A shortage of poppy lancers was resolved due to women workers increasingly engaged in the poppy-lancing process. The report also indicates an increased demand for cannabis during lockdowns, likely due to its localised production and trafficking.
Influence of Lockdown on Drug Trafficking Routes
Air travel restrictions severely disrupted drug trafficking by air. As a result, there have been increased signs of maritime routes usage. Recent heroin seizures in the Indian Ocean might reflect an increase in these maritime trafficking routes, leading to Europe along the ‘southern route’.
India’s Role in the Illicit Drug Trade
The UNODC report identifies India as a major hub of illicit drug trade, from traditional cannabis to more modern prescription drugs like tramadol, and designer drugs like methamphetamine. India’s geographic location between two significant illicit opium production regions, the Golden Crescent (Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan) and the Golden Triangle (South-East Asia), makes it a vital link in the drug trade.
Challenges Faced by Governmental Authorities
There are several challenges that authorities need to address. The borders in the lower Mekong region are porous and difficult to control, allowing easy cross-border movements. The conventional methods of containerised trafficking, couriers, and body-packing have been reduced due to border closures and trade shutdown. However, dealers might find alternative ways limiting the impact of reduced trade.
Government control in the Golden Triangle is limited, suggesting drug trafficking will continue at high volumes. Additionally, the supply of necessary chemicals for drug production is unlikely to be disrupted because major organised crime groups source chemicals directly from industries, rather than through illicit overseas trade channels.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC): A Brief Overview
Established in 1997, the UNODC was created combining the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) and the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Division of the United Nations Office at Vienna. UNODC publishes the World Drug Report, tracking drug trends worldwide.
The Way Forward: Managing Drug Trafficking Post-Pandemic
To effectively manage the evolving drug trade in a post-pandemic world, strategic efforts will be required at national, regional, and international levels. This includes a careful analysis of methods and trends to understand the changes to drug markets caused by the pandemic. One area of focus should be the change in strategy of drug trafficking organisations due to Covid-19-related measures. For example, India must strategically observe the use of maritime trafficking routes from Myanmar along the Andaman Sea – some of which cross Indian territorial waters – to curb trafficking. Furthermore, strategies to deal with illicit drug supply and usage must be institutionalised to ensure that the fight against this menace is not compromised in the face of future crises.