COMBATING DRUG MENACE

Illicit drug trafficking and related criminal activities continued to
expand in Pakistan in the 1990s. Recent years have been distinguished
by a significant increase in the number of reports of drug seizures of
large quantities, particularly heroin and hashish.

The frequency of such seizures from 1995 to 1999 indicates that
trafficking groups are becoming better organised and have greater
resources at their disposal than ever before.

Successive governments in Pakistan declared war on narcotic
trafficking, but, unfortunately, apathy and lack of proper
understanding of the issue and criticism from the Opposition, failed
to bring the desired results.

It has been obvious that drug mafias enjoy the support of some
influential people in politics.

This is, in fact, a universal phenomenon. This is like fighting with
"The Underground Empire" (title of a thought-provoking book on the
subject by James Mills). It is obvious that street drug markets in
Pakistan could not exist and flourish without political corruption and
support of those in power.

During the last few years heroin addiction has penetrated all social
classes and is now pervasive throughout the country.

How could we come to grips with the drug abuse problem without the
help of law enforcing officials? Answers to the questions will clarify
why certain people in politics are fearful about the campaign against
the drug traffickers. In the meantime the present government must
start a massive public awareness campaign in support of its
anti-narcotic enforcement efforts. Its purpose should be to encourage
people to take direct action against the problem.

It is important that the government be committed to addressing the
problem.

Its programmes can have the most far-reaching effects, for they serve
as a catalyst for community action. Coming back to the question as to
how corruption has contributed to the "epidemic" the most important
aspect to note is that this country has had drug dens, places where
people used to smoke hashish and other drugs before heroin was
introduced. Those dens existed illegally, but the police protected
them because it was a source of steady income for them. When heroin
entered these dens it spread instantly among its users.

The minute one of the users saw someone smoking this white powder
(they didn't even know what it was) and then falling to the ground,
they said "that must really be good. We want some of that, please",
and rapidly began using heroin.

There are numerous cases of people getting addicted to heroin in the
early stages of the epidemic in Pakistan, who had no idea why they
were suffering from the withdrawal symptoms after taking it just for a
week. Corruption that flows with large scale trafficking and
production of drugs has gripped the ruling classes of Pakistan within
a short span and during the last two decades the drug trafficking
cartels became very powerful, of course with the help of corrupt
officials, bureaucrats and politicians and began threatening the peace
and safety of the citizens.

Karachi is a living example.

When earnings from the drug trade started reaching the target of Rs.
20 billion a year, the great financial power in the hands of Pakistani
drug dealers began corrupting elements of our government. And the
extent of this corruption superseded all the prevalent levels of it in
the society. So one of the things that should go along with the battle
against narcotics is strong effort against corruption. The latest
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report issued by the US
Government says: "...money derived from illicit narcotics trafficking
has affected Pakistan's economy and generated reports of drug-related
corruption at various levels of the Government of Pakistan. Poorly
paid and ill-educated law enforcement personnel are susceptible to
bribes from traffickers who also are able to purchase political
favours and influence in government. Two widely reported drug
traffickers from the NWFP were elected by tribal councils as
representatives to Pakistan's National Assembly, while others
suspected of narcotics activities conducted business without
interference".

This report is an eye-open for us. Day by day the influence of the
merchants of death trade is growing and if it continues unabated it
could have very serious consequences. What is also important at the
moment is the financial investigation side of drug trafficking. A
report published in 1999 has described Hong Kong as a major centre for
money laundering. According to this report, it is there that most of
Pakistani drug traffickers are increasingly moving.

The other financial centres being used include Switzerland, Holland
and the United States. Bankers and particularly governments will be
more willing to cooperate because they don't want to have their
economy based on illegal profits of narcotics.

There cannot be two opinions about the view that the by-products of
narcotics are corruption, political instability, and detriment to the
health of the people. However, even though the leaders of the
government may be committed against the menace, often officials at
other levels of government are amenable to corruption which is one of
the by-products of narcotics trafficking. In our case there is also a
lack of technical expertise. And this is one of the major handicaps
for a successful anti-narcotic campaign. One of the important
components of our strategy should be the seizure of assets of the
traffickers. This has proved very effective in the United States.
Beginning in 1984, based upon some very powerful legislation called
the Comprehensive Crime Act of 1984, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
and other law enforcement agencies were given the authority to seize
the assets from the violators.

In 1987, the DEA seized assets in excess of US $380 million from
trafficking organisations operating in the United States, or more than
a million dollars a day.

We should follow the US Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 which provides for
the seizure of assets and their distribution among the law enforcement
agencies within America. This is a fine example of effective
legislation as it provides incentive to the agencies working against
the traffickers. We can enter into agreements, through mutual legal
assistance treaties, with countries including the United States to
share profits seized as a result of cooperative anti-drug action with
them. The drug trade is an international problem.

It is in the best interest of all the nations to work together so that
in the long-term we can minimise the international menace.

Each of us must join the enforcement effort and in sharing
intelligence gathering.

No country other than Pakistan knows better the dangers of allowing
drug traffickers to get the upper hand. We are at present not just
facing a drug-abusing population but also a terrorist force which
threatens the government itself.

The fact is that a cartel or a group of cartels have become so
powerful that they can work out agreements with terrorists and
saboteurs to undermine the authority of the State. Such an unholy
alliance in Colombia resulted in the assassination of none less than
the Minister of Justice. The problem cannot be easily solved.
Colombia, Peru and Bolivia are all pertinent examples.

It is going to take a tremendous amount of political will and effort
on the part of government to succeed.

The alternative is to have drug traffickers running the government and
the government itself not to have control over parts of its land and
parts of its activity.