TOO MUCH AT STAKE TO CHANGE DRUG LAWS

We should congratulate ourselves for contributing to the creation of
the hugely successful, hugely profitable, Caruana crime empire (14
face drug charges in widespread raids, July 16).

After all, our pig-headed resistance to reforming our drug laws has
created the conditions in which narco-sharks have proliferated and
thrived.

Drug money laundering has become a global enterprise. No sooner is the
money off the streets than it is recycled into legitimate businesses
acting as fronts for the crime organizations.

Everyone wins: The banks get their cut, the drug barons grow fat and
police forces can legitimately claim they need more resources.

Cutting off the flow of funds, by reforming our drug laws and ending
our absurd prohibition, would make a substantial dent in the global
black market. But with untaxed profits in the billions of dollars on
the line -- not to mention the budgets of enforcement agencies --
don't expect changes soon.

There's too much at stake.

Checked-by: "Rich O'Grady"