Taliban and Mexico Drug Cartels

In Context

• Taliban in Afghanistan may fuel the narcotic drug market in India and the world with help of Mexico Drug Cartels.

What are Narcotic Drugs?

• The World Health Organization (WHO) defines narcotics as any substance that modifies the consumer’s perception, behaviour and cognition, mood or motor functioning. 
• As per an estimate, currently, more than 35 million people globally suffer from drug disorders.
• The illicit trafficking of drugs is becoming an issue including in India.

Background of the Speculations

• Afghanistan and Mexico might appear distant from one another on a world map and are also separated by major historical, sociological and religious differences.
• But there are a number of similarities between Taliban and Mexican Drug Cartels as listed below:
  • Drugs as Source of Finances
    • They both are united by the fact that they are financially dependent on drug trafficking
  • Extreme Violence for Political Power and gaining Territory
    • Further, they both use extreme violence to expand their political power and control of territory.
    • Ahead of the recent elections in Mexico in June, numerous opposition candidates were threatened and killed by the cartels.
    • Cartels were also reported to buy votes more openly than ever before.
  • Transnational Network
    • Both have a transnational presence as “drug-trafficking organizations”, as highlighted by renowned experts in 2009 to the US Congress
    • The expert group has pointed out dangerous similarities that have only increased since 2009.

Gravity of the Problem

• Afghanistan, Mexico and Myanmar control 95%:
  • Roughly 95 per cent of the world’s opium poppies are cultivated in Afghanistan, Mexico and Myanmar. 
  • It includes all the illegal production and trafficking of heroin and other opiates that this entails. 
  • Experts at the US Congress hearing in 2009 estimated that 50% of Afghanistan’s GDP that year stemmed from the proceeds of the illegal drugs trade.
• Involvement of State Officials:
  • In Mexico, drug cartels have the support of government officials. 
  • In Afghanistan, the Taliban is slowly taking over as a legitimate State Government.
  • In Afghanistan, according to US and UN documents, producers are in direct contact with the Taliban. 
  • They also were complicit with the government — including the US-backed one.
• Ambiguous Attitude of Taliban:
  • Consumption of opiates is banned but not the cultivation and sale of opium poppies. 
  • According to a US State Department report released early in 2021, most opium production in Afghanistan was taking place in regions already under Taliban control or at least their influence.
  • It said that the Taliban derived a considerable income from the trade.
  • This fueled conflict, undermined the state of law, encouraged corruption and was also a contributing factor to drug abuse in the country.
• Increasing Area Under Poppy Cultivation:
  • A UN report published in April drew a direct link between the Taliban and opium poppy cultivation. 
  • It said that the total area under opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan had increased nearly 1.25 times between 2019 and 2020.
  • Moreover, though 21 hectares had been eradicated in 2019, none had been in 2020.
• Chances of Collaboration:
  • The Sinaloa Cartel of Mexico is currently the fastest-growing one and controls the land where poppy cultivation is most profitable.
    • It is thus a potential rival for the Taliban.
  • But the fact that the cartel and the Islamist group serve different markets means that they could actually complement each other.
  • It would not be the first time that organizations, which are actually in competition, came together to increase their profits and political influence.

Way Forward for India

• Keep a Check on Customs and Immigration Points:
  • Any country can not control the happenings of foreign nations but isolate itself by filtering the incoming goods and people.
  • India can upgrade its customs and Immigration management system to closely monitor the influx of drugs.
• Sealing the porous Land Borders:
  • Few major areas of concern are Nepal, Myanmar and the Pakistan border.
  • Such hotspots must be identified with appropriate intelligence gathering and sealed for future infiltration.
  • Advanced border management technologies like BOLT-QT can be deployed.
• Aware Citizens about the problems of using Psychotropic Drugs especially in Border Areas:
  • The drug market thrives because of customers.
  • If India can educate its citizens and ensure youth participation in the Drug-Free India Campaign, a lot of problems can be solved.

Source: IE