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135-571: The Pong Su incident began on 16 April 2003 when heroin was smuggled from the Pong Su , a North Korean cargo ship, onto an Australian beach. Australian military special forces subsequently boarded the Pong Su in Australian territorial waters four days later. The ship was suspected of being involved in smuggling almost 125 kilograms (276 lb) of heroin into Australia with an estimated street value of A$ 160 million. The Pong Su (봉수호)

270-400: A maintenance drug to assist the treatment of opiate addiction, normally in long-term chronic intravenous (IV) heroin users. It is only prescribed following exhaustive efforts at treatment via other means. It is sometimes thought that heroin users can walk into a clinic and walk out with a prescription, but the process takes many weeks before a prescription for diamorphine is issued. Though this

405-488: A prodrug for the systemic delivery of morphine. When the drug is injected, however, it avoids this first-pass effect, very rapidly crossing the blood–brain barrier because of the presence of the acetyl groups, which render it much more fat soluble than morphine itself. Once in the brain, it then is deacetylated variously into the inactive 3-monoacetylmorphine and the active 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM), and then to morphine, which bind to μ-opioid receptors , resulting in

540-408: A rush as a forerunner to the high experienced with the use of heroin, which is most pronounced with intravenous use. While the onset of the rush induced by injection can occur in as little as a few seconds, the oral route of administration requires approximately half an hour before the high sets in. Thus, with both higher the dosage of heroin used and faster the route of administration used, the higher

675-419: A $ 3.30 per hour wage for foot soldiers. Contrary to a popular image of drug sales as a lucrative profession, many of the employees were living with their mothers by necessity. Despite this, the gang had four times as many unpaid members who dreamed of becoming foot soldiers. There are several arguments on whether or not free trade has a correlation to an increased activity in the illicit drug trade. Currently,

810-474: A fast onset. Snorting heroin becomes an often unwanted route, once a user begins to inject the drug. The user may still get high on the drug from snorting, and experience a nod, but will not get a rush. A "rush" is caused by a large amount of heroin entering the body at once. When the drug is taken in through the nose, the user does not get the rush because the drug is absorbed slowly rather than instantly. Heroin for pain has been mixed with sterile water on site by

945-528: A few addicts who have tried methadone and buprenorphine without success. Beginning in February 2010, addicts in Copenhagen and Odense became eligible to receive free diamorphine. Later in 2010, other cities including Århus and Esbjerg joined the scheme. It was estimated that around 230 addicts would be able to receive free diamorphine. However, Danish addicts would only be able to inject heroin according to

1080-580: A formal protest. Under questioning, crew members insisted throughout that the ship was privately owned by the "Pong Su Shipping Company" and had no connection to the North Korean state, that they had never seen the two men who had brought the heroin ashore, that their voyage had been in order to pick up a cargo of luxury cars from Melbourne on behalf of a Malaysian company (later shown not to exist), and that they had only stopped off Boggaley Creek in order to conduct engine repairs. Drug charges were laid against

1215-467: A heart attack, as well as in opioid replacement therapy . Medical-grade diamorphine is used as a pure hydrochloride salt . Various white and brown powders sold illegally around the world as heroin are routinely diluted with cutting agents . Black tar heroin is a variable admixture of morphine derivatives—predominantly 6-MAM (6-monoacetylmorphine), which is the result of crude acetylation during clandestine production of street heroin. Heroin

1350-559: A history of long-term use, opioid withdrawal symptoms can begin within hours of the last use. When given by injection into a vein, heroin has two to three times the effect of a similar dose of morphine . It typically appears in the form of a white or brown powder. Treatment of heroin addiction often includes behavioral therapy and medications. Medications can include buprenorphine , methadone , or naltrexone . A heroin overdose may be treated with naloxone . As of 2015, an estimated 17 million people use opiates, of which heroin

1485-481: A jury trial: All four crew members pleaded not guilty at the beginning of their trial in August 2005. The prosecution case against the four North Korean officers was that they would not have allowed their ship to be stopped in the position it was if they were not aware that the real purpose of their voyage was to smuggle the heroin. The prosecution did not allege any official involvement of the North Korean government, only

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1620-461: A law allowing diamorphine prescription as a standard treatment for addicts; a large-scale trial of diamorphine prescription had been authorized in the country in 2002. On 26 August 2016, Health Canada issued regulations amending prior regulations it had issued under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act ; the "New Classes of Practitioners Regulations", the "Narcotic Control Regulations", and

1755-608: A more common cause of drug-related deaths. Depending on drug interactions and numerous other factors, death from overdose can take anywhere from several minutes to several hours. Death usually occurs due to lack of oxygen resulting from the lack of breathing caused by the opioid. Heroin overdoses can occur because of an unexpected increase in the dose or purity or because of diminished opioid tolerance. However, many fatalities reported as overdoses are probably caused by interactions with other depressant drugs such as alcohol or benzodiazepines . Since heroin can cause nausea and vomiting,

1890-569: A natural product of the opium poppy . Internationally, heroin is controlled under Schedules I and IV of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs , and it is generally illegal to make, possess, or sell without a license. About 448 tons of heroin were made in 2016. In 2015, Afghanistan produced about 66% of the world's opium. Illegal heroin is often mixed with other substances such as sugar, starch , caffeine , quinine , or other opioids like fentanyl . Bayer 's original trade name of heroin

2025-522: A particularly increased demand for marijuana and cocaine . As a result, international organized crime syndicates such as the Sinaloa Cartel and 'Ndrangheta have increased cooperation among each other in order to facilitate trans-Atlantic drug-trafficking. Use of another illicit drug, hashish , has also increased in Europe. Drug trafficking is widely regarded by lawmakers as a serious offense around

2160-788: A path to the United States and Europe for illegal drugs originating in Colombia , through Central America, Mexico and Caribbean countries such as Haiti , the Dominican Republic , and Puerto Rico . According to the United Nations, cocaine trafficking through Venezuela increased from 2002 to 2008. In 2005, the government of Hugo Chávez severed ties with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), accusing its representatives of spying. Following

2295-499: A period of abstinence. If this occurs and the user takes a dose comparable to their previous use, the user may experience drug effects that are much greater than expected, potentially resulting in an overdose. It has been speculated that an unknown portion of heroin-related deaths are the result of an overdose or allergic reaction to quinine , which may sometimes be used as a cutting agent. When taken orally, heroin undergoes extensive first-pass metabolism via deacetylation , making it

2430-448: A port. Some 30 men were arrested and detained. It was alleged that the North Korean government was involved in the manufacture and trade of the drugs. The North Korean government stated the ship was a "civilian trading ship" and the ship's owner had no knowledge of the illegal cargo . The three men arrested on shore pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the importation of a commercial quantity of heroin. They denied that they were part of

2565-446: A power play in order to gain influence, and as a result created more corruption in the government. One such power play was an alliance with drug traffickers. This political corruption obscured justice, making it difficult to identify violence when it related to drugs. By the 1940s, the tie between the drug cartels and the PRI had solidified. This arrangement created immunity for the leaders of

2700-566: A primary trading route, due to its large-scale and costly war against drug trafficking. The Border Police Chief of Iran said that his country "is a strong barrier against the trafficking of illegal drugs to Caucasus, especially the Republic of Azerbaijan." The drugs produced by the Golden Triangle of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand, on the other hand, pass through the southern routes to feed the Australian, US, and Asian markets. Venezuela has been

2835-666: A profit in the cocaine smuggling market in order to leverage it for their activities. Drugs are increasingly traded online on the dark web on darknet markets . Internet-based drug trafficking is the global distribution of narcotics, making extensive use of technology. Similarly, the use of the Internet for the illegal trafficking of two controlled categories of drugs can also be identified as Internet-related drug trafficking. The platform Silk Road provided goods and services to 100,000 buyers before being shut down in October 2013. This prompted

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2970-517: A prominent set culture of Mexican society that created the means for drug capital. One of the sites of origin for drug trafficking within Mexico, was the state of Michoacán . In the past, Michoacán was mainly an agricultural society. This provided an initial growth of trade. Industrialization of rural areas of Mexico facilitated a greater distribution of drugs, expanding the drug market into different provinces. Once towns became industrialized, cartels such as

3105-511: A response, Mexico saw an increase in violence caused by drug trafficking. The corruption cartels created resulted in distrust of government by the Mexican public. This distrust became more prominent after the collapse of the PRI party. In response, the presidents of Mexico , in the late twentieth century and early twenty-first century, implemented several different programs relating to law enforcement and regulation. In 1993, President Salinas created

3240-637: A result of the increased use of opium in Britain, the British government restricted the sale of opium by implementing the 1868 Pharmacy Act . In the United States, control of opium remained under the control of individual US states until the introduction of the Harrison Act in 1914, after 12 international powers signed the International Opium Convention in 1912. Between 1920 and c.  1933

3375-483: A significant number of deaths attributed to heroin overdose are caused by aspiration of vomit by an unconscious person. Some sources quote the median lethal dose (for an average 75 kg opiate-naive individual) as being between 75 and 600 mg. Illicit heroin is of widely varying and unpredictable purity. This means that the user may prepare what they consider to be a moderate dose while actually taking far more than intended. Also, tolerance typically decreases after

3510-496: A six-year period. This was spent as follows: $ 5,000 to the board of twenty directors of the Black Gangster Disciple Nation , who oversaw 100 such gangs for approximately $ 500,000 in monthly income. Another $ 5,000 monthly was paid for cocaine, and $ 4,000 for other non-wage expenses. J.T. took $ 8,500 monthly for his own salary. The remaining $ 9,500 monthly went to pay the employees a $ 7 per hour wage for officers and

3645-471: A trial diamorphine maintenance program for users that had failed multiple withdrawal programs. The aim of this program was to maintain the health of the user by avoiding medical problems stemming from the illicit use of diamorphine. The first trial in 1994 involved 340 users, although enrollment was later expanded to 1000, based on the apparent success of the program. The trials proved diamorphine maintenance to be superior to other forms of treatment in improving

3780-402: A variable single dose range using a hypodermic needle . The dose of heroin used for recreational purposes is dependent on the frequency and level of use. As with the injection of any drug, if a group of users share a common needle without sterilization procedures, blood-borne diseases, such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis , can be transmitted. The use of a common dispenser for water for the use in

3915-626: Is a lack of local stability, as mayors cannot be re-elected. This requires electing a new mayor each term. Drug gangs have manipulated this, using vacuums in local leadership to their own advantage. In 1929, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) was formed to resolve the chaos resulting from the Mexican Revolution . Over time, this party gained political influence and had a major impact on Mexico's social and economic policies. The party created ties with various groups as

4050-570: Is built using illegal funds, and when the house is sold, legal money is earned. When drugs are sent over land, through the Sahara, the drug traders have been forced to cooperate with terrorist organizations, such as Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb . Drugs in Asia traditionally traveled the southern routes – the main caravan axes of Southeast Asia and Southern China – and include

4185-466: Is clouded; heart function slows, and breathing is also severely slowed, sometimes enough to be life-threatening. Slowed breathing can also lead to coma and permanent brain damage . Heroin use has also been associated with myocardial infarction . Repeated heroin use changes the physical structure and physiology of the brain, creating long-term imbalances in neuronal and hormonal systems that are not easily reversed. Studies have shown some deterioration of

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4320-498: Is especially true in all developing countries, such as Honduras , but is also an issue for many developed countries worldwide. In the late 1990s in the United States the Federal Bureau of Investigation estimated that 5% of murders were drug-related. In Colombia, drug violence can be caused by factors such as the economy, poor governments, and no authority within law enforcement. After a crackdown by US and Mexican authorities in

4455-415: Is heated by a flame underneath it, with the resulting smoke inhaled through a tube of rolled up foil, a method also known as " chasing the dragon ". Another popular route to intake heroin is insufflation (snorting), where a user crushes the heroin into a fine powder and then gently inhales it (sometimes with a straw or a rolled-up banknote , as with cocaine) into the nose, where heroin is absorbed through

4590-418: Is higher than expected. Users report an intense rush , an acute transcendent state of euphoria , which occurs while diamorphine is being metabolized into 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM) and morphine in the brain. Some believe that heroin produces more euphoria than other opioids; one possible explanation is the presence of 6-monoacetylmorphine, a metabolite unique to heroin – although a more likely explanation

4725-498: Is less common than other methods of administration, mainly because there is little to no "rush", and the effects are less potent. Heroin is entirely converted to morphine by means of first-pass metabolism , resulting in deacetylation when ingested. Heroin's oral bioavailability is both dose-dependent (as is morphine's) and significantly higher than oral use of morphine itself, reaching up to 64.2% for high doses and 45.6% for low doses; opiate-naive users showed far less absorption of

4860-404: Is more fat soluble and therefore more potent by injection, so smaller doses of it are needed for the same effect on pain. Both of these factors are advantageous if giving high doses of opioids via the subcutaneous route, which is often necessary for palliative care. It is also used in the palliative management of bone fractures and other trauma, especially in children. In the trauma context, it

4995-691: Is more common to use morphine or other strong opioids in these situations. In 2004, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence produced guidance on the management of caesarean section , which recommended the use of intrathecal or epidural diamorphine for post-operative pain relief . For women who have had intrathecal opioids, there should be a minimum hourly observation of respiratory rate, sedation and pain scores for at least 12 hours for diamorphine and 24 hours for morphine. Women should be offered diamorphine (0.3–0.4 mg intrathecally) for intra- and postoperative analgesia because it reduces

5130-574: Is often laundered in countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal . According to the Africa Economic Institute, the value of illicit drug smuggling in Guinea-Bissau is almost twice the value of the country's GDP . Police officers are often bribed. A police officer's normal monthly wage of $ 93 is less than 2% of the value of 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) of cocaine (€7000 or $ 8750). The money can also be laundered using real estate. A house

5265-415: Is primarily given by nose in hospital; although a prepared nasal spray is available. It has traditionally been made by the attending physician, generally from the same "dry" ampoules as used for injection. In children, Ayendi nasal spray is available at 720 micrograms and 1600 micrograms per 50 microlitres actuation of the spray, which may be preferable as a non-invasive alternative in pediatric care, avoiding

5400-544: Is reduced abruptly. Intravenous use of heroin (and any other substance) with needles and syringes or other related equipment may lead to: The withdrawal syndrome from heroin may begin within as little as two hours of discontinuation of the drug; however, this time frame can fluctuate with the degree of tolerance as well as the amount of the last consumed dose, and more typically begins within 6–24 hours after cessation. Symptoms may include sweating , malaise , anxiety, depression, akathisia , priapism , extra sensitivity of

5535-462: Is somewhat controversial among proponents of a zero-tolerance drug policy , it has proven superior to methadone in improving the social and health situations of addicts. The UK Department of Health's Rolleston Committee Report in 1926 established the British approach to diamorphine prescription to users, which was maintained for the next 40 years: dealers were prosecuted, but doctors could prescribe diamorphine to users when withdrawing. In 1964,

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5670-654: Is supposed to address the problem, not apportion blame. Though street-level drug sales are widely viewed as lucrative, a study by Sudhir Venkatesh suggested that many low-level employees receive low wages. In a study he made in the 1990s working closely with members of the Black Gangster Disciple Nation in Chicago , he found that one gang (essentially a franchise ) consisted of a leader (a college graduate named J.T.), three senior officers, and 25 to 75 street level salesmen ('foot soldiers') depending on season. Selling crack cocaine , they took in approximately $ 32,000 per month over

5805-559: Is the most common, and opioid use resulted in 122,000 deaths; also, as of 2015, the total number of heroin users worldwide is believed to have increased in Africa, the Americas, and Asia since 2000. In the United States, approximately 1.6 percent of people have used heroin at some point. When people die from overdosing on a drug, the drug is usually an opioid and often heroin. Heroin was first made by C. R. Alder Wright in 1874 from morphine,

5940-410: Is the rapidity of onset. While other opioids of recreational use produce only morphine, heroin also leaves 6-MAM, also a psycho- active metabolite . However, this perception is not supported by the results of clinical studies comparing the physiological and subjective effects of injected heroin and morphine in individuals formerly addicted to opioids; these subjects showed no preference for one drug over

6075-648: Is typically injected , usually into a vein , but it can also be snorted, smoked, or inhaled. In a clinical context, the route of administration is most commonly intravenous injection ; it may also be given by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection, as well as orally in the form of tablets. The onset of effects is usually rapid and lasts for a few hours. Common side effects include respiratory depression (decreased breathing), dry mouth, drowsiness, impaired mental function, constipation, and addiction . Use by injection can also result in abscesses , infected heart valves , blood-borne infections , and pneumonia . After

6210-450: Is typically used in non-medical settings. It is used as a recreational drug for the euphoria it induces. Anthropologist Michael Agar once described heroin as "the perfect whatever drug." Tolerance develops quickly, and increased doses are needed in order to achieve the same effects. Its popularity with recreational drug users, compared to morphine , reportedly stems from its perceived different effects. Short-term addiction studies by

6345-467: The 4th Armoured Division expanded captagon production and trafficking from Syria into a "business model controlled by the regime". In 2022, 90% of all captagon pills manufactured in Syria exported by drug cartels affiliated with Assad regime arrived at its customer destinations across the world. Although hundreds of millions of pills were intercepted and seized by police forces, these accounted only for 10% of

6480-686: The Assad regime and Hezbollah . A joint investigation conducted by Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project and BBC News Arabic published a documentary in June 2023, revealing further details about the activities of regime officials, Ba'athist military commanders and Assad family members in their involvement in Syria's drug cartel. The investigation found that Lebanese criminal and drug kingpin Hassan Daqou collaborated with Syria's Fourth Armoured Division on trafficiking billions of dollars of drugs, under

6615-507: The Brain Committee recommended that only selected approved doctors working at approved specialized centres be allowed to prescribe diamorphine and cocaine to users. The law was made more restrictive in 1968. Beginning in the 1970s, the emphasis shifted to abstinence and the use of methadone; currently, only a small number of users in the UK are prescribed diamorphine. In 1994, Switzerland began

6750-620: The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution banned alcohol in the United States . Prohibition proved almost impossible to enforce and resulted in the rise of organized crime, including the modern American Mafia , which identified enormous business opportunities in the manufacturing, smuggling and sale of illicit liquor. The beginning of the 21st century saw drug use increase in North America and Europe, with

6885-616: The Fourth Armoured Division , directly supervises the production, smuggling and profiteering of the drug business. Already suffering from severe financial problems as a result of corruption and civil war, profits from Captagon are said to be the "lifeline" of the Assad regime, through which it earns more than 90% of its total revenue. The smugglers receive direct training from Syrian military to successfully conduct trafficking operations. Republican Guard , commanded by Maher al-Assad

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7020-521: The Merida Initiative , to help combat drug trafficking in Mexico. This program increased US security assistance to $ 1.4 billion over several years, which helped supply Mexican forces with "high-end equipment from helicopters to surveillance technology". Despite US aid, Mexican "narcogangs" continue to outnumber and outgun the Mexican Army , allowing for continued activities of drug cartels across

7155-695: The Narcosobrinos incident , Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro 's two nephews were found guilty of trying to ship drugs into the United States so they could "obtain a large amount of cash to help their family stay in power". According to a research conducted by the Israel-based Abba Eban Institute as part of an initiative called Janus Initiative, the main routes that Hezbollah uses for smuggling drugs are from Colombia, Venezuela and Brazil into West Africa and then transported through northern Africa into Europe. This route serves Hezbollah in making

7290-656: The National Defence Forces and Hezbollah also consume illegal drugs in large quantities. In July 2023, German police busted a major captagon network run by two Syrian-born men in southern German state of Bavaria . Assad regime sponsors the largest Captagon production network in Syria; which is the source of about 80% of total captagon supply in the world. In an investigative report published by The Insider news-outlet in 2024, journalist Yuriy Matsarsky stated: "...Captagon produced in underground labs—and in actual Syrian pharmaceutical facilities—is distributed to

7425-514: The Pong Su were charged with narcotics trafficking. Most significantly, an official of the governing Korean Workers' Party was found on board, linking the drug shipment to Kim Jong-il 's government. According to Australian media reports, he had served as senior envoy in North Korea's embassy in China. The Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer called in the North Korean ambassador to lodge

7560-576: The US–Mexico border . Although narcotics are illegal in the US, they have become integrated into the nation's culture and are seen as a recreational activity by sections of the population. Illicit drugs are considered to be a commodity with strong demand, as they are typically sold at a high value. This high price is caused by a combination of factors that include the potential legal ramifications that exist for suppliers of illicit drugs and their high demand. Despite

7695-634: The United States , heroin is not accepted as medically useful. Under the generic name diamorphine, heroin is prescribed as a strong pain medication in the United Kingdom , where it is administered via oral , subcutaneous , intramuscular , intrathecal , intranasal or intravenous routes. It may be prescribed for the treatment of acute pain, such as in severe physical trauma , myocardial infarction , post- surgical pain and chronic pain , including end-stage terminal illnesses . In other countries it

7830-726: The death penalty (in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and elsewhere). In December 2005, Van Tuong Nguyen , a 25-year-old Australian drug smuggler, was hanged in Singapore after being convicted in March 2004. In 2010, two people were sentenced to death in Malaysia for trafficking 1 kilogram (2.2 lb) of cannabis into the country. Execution is mostly used as a deterrent, and many have called upon much more effective measures to be taken by countries to tackle drug trafficking; for example, targeting specific criminal organisations that are often also active in

7965-505: The east-coast United States is most commonly found in the hydrochloride salt form, requiring just water (and no heat) to dissolve. Users tend to initially inject in the easily accessible arm veins, but as these veins collapse over time, users resort to more dangerous areas of the body, such as the femoral vein in the groin. Some medical professionals have expressed concern over this route of administration, as they suspect that it can lead to deep vein thrombosis . Intravenous users can use

8100-422: The route of administration . Smoking is the fastest route of drug administration, although intravenous injection results in a quicker rise in blood concentration. These are followed by suppository (anal or vaginal insertion), insufflation (snorting), and ingestion (swallowing). A 2002 study suggests that a fast onset of action increases the reinforcing effects of addictive drugs. Ingestion does not produce

8235-667: The "Food and Drug Regulations", to allow doctors to prescribe diamorphine to people who have a severe opioid addiction who have not responded to other treatments. The prescription heroin can be accessed by doctors through Health Canada 's Special Access Programme (SAP) for "emergency access to drugs for patients with serious or life-threatening conditions when conventional treatments have failed, are unsuitable, or are unavailable." Medicinal uses: Neurological: Psychological: Cardiovascular & Respiratory: Gastrointestinal: Musculoskeletal: Skin: Miscellaneous: The onset of heroin's effects depends upon

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8370-528: The 1970s. As of 2022, the Syrian government finances the biggest multi-billion dollar drug trade in the world, mostly focused on an illegal drug known as Captagon , making it the world's largest narco-state . Its revenues from Captagon smuggling alone is estimated to worth 57 billion dollars annually in 2022, which is approximately thrice the total trade of all Mexican cartels. General Maher al-Assad , younger brother of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and commander of

8505-511: The 1980s and 90s, drug-related homicide was at a record high. This increase in drug violence became increasingly tied to these ethnic minorities. Though the rate of violence varied tremendously among cities in America, it was a common anxiety in communities across urban America. An example of this could be seen in Miami, a city with a host of ethnic enclaves. Between 1985 and 1995, the homicide rate in Miami

8640-498: The Andean countries, including Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela. The underground market in the early half of the 20th century mainly had ties to Europe. After World War II, the Andean countries saw an expansion of trade, specifically with cocaine. The Ba'athist government of Syria ruled by the Al-Assad family is known for its extensive involvement in drug trade since

8775-600: The National Institute for the Combat of Drugs in Mexico. From 1995 to 1998, President Zedillo established policies regarding increased punishment of organized crime, allowing "[wire taps], protected witnesses, covert agents and seizures of goods", and increasing the quality of law enforcement at the federal level. From 2001 to 2005, President Vicente Fox created the Federal Agency of Investigation . These policies resulted in

8910-506: The Qing dynasty issued edicts against opium smoking in 1730, 1796 and 1800. The West prohibited addictive drugs throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Beginning in the 18th century, British merchants from the East India Company began to illegally sell opium to Chinese merchants, and by the early 19th century, an illegal drug trade in China emerged. As a result, by 1838

9045-451: The UK. Because significant tolerance to respiratory depression develops quickly with continued use and is lost just as quickly during withdrawal, it is often difficult to determine whether a heroin lethal overdose was accidental, suicide or homicide. Examples include the overdose deaths of Sid Vicious , Janis Joplin , Tim Buckley , Hillel Slovak , Layne Staley , Bradley Nowell , Ted Binion , and River Phoenix . Use of heroin by mouth

9180-416: The United States market originated from Mexico, and by the 2000s, over 90% of the cocaine in the United States was imported from Mexico. In Colombia, however, there was a fall of the major drug cartels in the mid-1990s. Visible shifts occurred in the drug market in the United States. Between 1996 and 2000, US cocaine consumption dropped by 11%. In 2008, the US government initiated another program, known as

9315-514: The United States to intervene in activities related to illegal drug transport in Latin America. Continuing into the 1980s, the United States instated stricter policy pertaining to drug transit through sea. As a result, there was an influx in drug-trafficking across the Mexico–US border , which increased the drug cartel activity in Mexico. By the early 1990s, so much as 50% of the cocaine available in

9450-615: The United States, had, as of 2011, the highest murder rate in the world. According to the International Crisis Group , the most violent regions in Central America, particularly along the Guatemala–Honduras border, are highly correlated with an abundance of drug trafficking activity. In several countries, the illegal drug trade is thought to be directly linked to violent crimes such as murder and gun violence. This

9585-464: The United States, around 195 cities have been infiltrated by drug trafficking that originated in Mexico. An estimated $ 10bn of the Mexican drug cartel's profits come from the United States, not only supplying the Mexican drug cartels with the profit necessary for survival, but also furthering America's economic dependence on drugs. With a large wave of immigrants in the 1960s and onwards, the United States saw an increased heterogeneity in its public. In

9720-518: The United States, drug cartels in Mexico see a $ 25–30 bn yearly profit, a great deal of which circulates through international banks such as HSBC . Drug cartels are fundamental in local economics. A percentage of the profits seen from the trade are invested in the local community. Such profits contribute to the education and healthcare of the community. While these cartels bring violence and hazards into communities, they create jobs and provide income for its many members. Major cartels saw growth due to

9855-406: The anus or vagina before the plunger is pushed. The rectum or the vaginal canal is where the majority of the drug would likely be taken up, through the membranes lining their walls. Heroin is classified as a hard drug in terms of drug harmfulness . Like most opioids , unadulterated heroin may lead to adverse effects . The purity of street heroin varies greatly, leading to overdoses when the purity

9990-440: The area where the drugs had been landed the night before. The AFP stated that they had been working on Operation Sorbet for several months, including with international peers. In May 2003, a further 75 kilograms (165 lb) of heroin in three packages was discovered buried near Wye River, after a search which followed coordinates from a seized GPS device. An additional 25-kilogram (55 lb) package of heroin had been lost during

10125-407: The arrests of major drug-trafficking bosses: Over the past few decades drug cartels have become integrated into Mexico's economy. Approximately 500 cities are directly engaged in drug trafficking and nearly 450,000 people are employed by drug cartels. Additionally, the livelihood of 3.2 million people is dependent on the drug cartels. Between local and international sales, such as to Europe and

10260-562: The attending physician, and administered using a syringe with a nebulizer tip. Heroin may be used for fractures, burns, finger-tip injuries, suturing, and wound re-dressing, but is inappropriate in head injuries. Little research has been focused on the suppository (anal insertion) or pessary (vaginal insertion) methods of administration, also known as "plugging". These methods of administration are commonly carried out using an oral syringe . Heroin can be dissolved and withdrawn into an oral syringe which may then be lubricated and inserted into

10395-419: The banking industry from collapse. He claimed he had seen evidence that the proceeds of organized crime were "the only liquid investment capital" available to some banks on the brink of collapse during 2008. He said that a majority of the $ 352 billion (£216bn) of drug profits was absorbed into the economic system as a result: "In many instances, the money from drugs was the only liquid investment capital. In

10530-476: The body of a man of East Asian appearance, close to a dinghy and covered by seaweed. He had been part of a two-man landing party from the Pong Su , but has never been identified. The dinghy had suffered fuel problems in the surf and had capsized landing the heroin, drowning one of the crew. On the same day, the second man from the landing party was apprehended in the immediate area by Victoria Police . He had been unable to get back to his boat and simply remained in

10665-438: The brain's white matter due to heroin use, which may affect decision-making abilities, the ability to regulate behavior, and responses to stressful situations. Heroin also produces profound degrees of tolerance and physical dependence. Tolerance occurs when more and more of the drug is required to achieve the same effects. With physical dependence , the body adapts to the presence of the drug , and withdrawal symptoms occur if use

10800-418: The central government as was done with the PRI party, drug cartels utilized new ways to distribute their supply and continued operating through force and intimidation. As Mexico became more democratized, the corruption fell from a centralized power to the local authorities. Cartels began to bribe local authorities, thus eliminating the structure and rules placed by the government—giving cartels more freedom. As

10935-425: The command of General Ghassan Bilal, the right-hand man of Maher al-Assad . The report also unearthed Hezbollah 's close participation in the drug production and smuggling networks. The Fourth Armoured Division, being an elite military unit permitted to move freely across Assad regime's checkpoints, oversees the smuggling operations from Syria, including the trafficking of cash, weapons, illegal drugs, etc. Days after

11070-423: The constant effort by politicians to win the war on drugs , the US is still the world's largest importer of illegal drugs. Throughout the 20th century, narcotics other than cocaine also crossed the Mexican border, meeting the US demand for alcohol during the 1920s Prohibition , opiates in the 1940s, marijuana in the 1960s, and heroin in the 1970s. Most of the US imports of drugs come from Mexican drug cartels. In

11205-462: The continuous development of new markets. A large amount of drugs are smuggled into Europe from Asia. The main sources of these drugs are Afghanistan , along with countries that constituted the so-called Golden Crescent . From these producers, drugs are smuggled into the West and Central Asia to its destinations in Europe and the United States. Iran is now a common route for smugglers, having been previously

11340-501: The creation of new platforms such as Silk Road 2.0, which were also shut down. Statistics about profits from the drug trade are largely unknown due to its illicit nature. An online report published by the UK Home Office in 2007 estimated the illicit drug market in the UK at £4–6.6 billion a year. In December 2009 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa claimed illegal drug money saved

11475-450: The deck from a Seahawk helicopter and from climbing the side onto the deck from three rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) with the crew compliant. The Pong Su was secured and brought into port in Sydney . Searches of the ship by Australian authorities revealed it had been modified for long voyages and was carrying enough fuel and provisions to travel around the world without needing to enter

11610-467: The demand for illicit drugs in certain areas of the United States. Large-scale drug trafficking is one of the capital crimes , and may result in a death sentence prescribed at the federal level when it involves murder. A large generation, the baby boomers , came of age in the 1960s. Their social tendency to confront the law on specific issues, including illegal drugs, overwhelmed the understaffed judicial system. The federal government attempted to enforce

11745-450: The departure of the DEA from Venezuela and the expansion of DEA's partnership with Colombia in 2005, Venezuela became more attractive to drug traffickers. Between 2008 and 2012, Venezuela's cocaine seizure ranking among other countries declined, going from being ranked fourth in the world for cocaine seizures in 2008 to sixth in the world in 2012. On 18 November 2016, following what was known as

11880-638: The drug at low doses, having bioavailabilities of only up to 22.9%. The maximum plasma concentration of morphine following oral administration of heroin was around twice as much as that of oral morphine. Injection , also known as "slamming", "banging", "shooting up", "digging" or "mainlining", is a popular method which carries relatively greater risks than other methods of administration. Heroin base (commonly found in Europe), when prepared for injection, will only dissolve in water when mixed with an acid (most commonly citric acid powder or lemon juice) and heated. Heroin in

12015-490: The drug cartels and allowed drug trafficking to grow under the protection of the government officials. During the 1990s, the PRI lost some elections to the new National Action Party (PAN). Chaos again emerged as elected government in Mexico changed drastically. As the PAN party took control, drug cartel leaders took advantage of the ensuing confusion and used their existing influence to further gain power. Instead of negotiating with

12150-471: The drug industry while weakening the efforts of law enforcement to monitor the flow of drug money into the legitimate economy. Cooperation among cartels expands their scope to distant markets and strengthens their abilities to evade detection by local law enforcement. Additionally, criminal organizations work together to coordinate money-laundering activities by having separate organizations handle specific stages of laundering process. One organization structures

12285-466: The drug was not previously popular." The effects of the illegal drug trade in the United States can be seen in a range of political, economic and social aspects. Increasing drug related violence can be tied to the racial tension that arose during the late 20th century along with the political upheaval prevalent throughout the 1960s and 70s. The second half of the 20th century was a period when increased wealth, and increased discretionary spending, increased

12420-451: The drug's euphoric, analgesic (pain relief), and anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effects; heroin itself exhibits relatively low affinity for the μ receptor. Analgesia follows from the activation of the μ receptor G-protein coupled receptor , which indirectly hyperpolarizes the neuron, reducing the release of nociceptive neurotransmitters, and hence, causes analgesia and increased pain tolerance. Illegal drug trade The government of

12555-547: The east away from Australia towards international waters at speed with a police vessel having to terminate the pursuit due to rough weather. In the evening, Navy warship HMAS Stuart began tracking the Pong Su . In the morning of 20 April, after a four-day chase, Stuart intercepted the Pong Su 35 nautical miles (65 km; 40 mi) south-east of Newcastle with the Pong Su complying with most directions. Army Special Operations Tactical Assault Group (TAG) West/East operators boarded by simultaneously fast roping onto

12690-400: The effects of heroin and causes an immediate return of consciousness but may result in withdrawal symptoms. The half-life of naloxone is shorter than some opioids, such that it may need to be given multiple times until the opioid has been metabolized by the body. Between 2012 and 2015, heroin was the leading cause of drug-related deaths in the United States. Since then, fentanyl has been

12825-492: The fear of injection in children. A number of European countries prescribe heroin for treatment of heroin addiction . The initial Swiss HAT ( heroin-assisted treatment ) trial ("PROVE" study) was conducted as a prospective cohort study with some 1,000 participants in 18 treatment centers between 1994 and 1996, at the end of 2004, 1,200 patients were enrolled in HAT in 23 treatment centers across Switzerland. Diamorphine may be used as

12960-457: The fighters of Bashar Assad's army . Interestingly, however, the quantities the country produces far exceed its own military’s demand. ... By some estimates, this business gives Syria more money than its entire legal export, and the regime constantly works to increase its profits, primarily by expanding its market reach. To this end, criminal gangs associated with Damascus or Hezbollah have built distribution networks for Captagon in countries where

13095-461: The first decade of the 21st century as part of tightened border security in the wake of the September 11 attacks , border violence inside Mexico surged. The Mexican government estimates that 90% of the killings are drug-related. A report by the UK government's Drug Strategy Unit that was leaked to the press, stated that due to the expensive price of highly addictive drugs heroin and cocaine, drug use

13230-470: The former opium-producing countries of Thailand , Iran , and Pakistan . After the 1990s, particularly after the end of the Cold War (1991), borders were opened and trading and customs agreements were signed so that the routes expanded to include China, Central Asia, and Russia. There are, therefore, diversified drug trafficking routes available today, particularly in the heroin trade and these thrive due to

13365-429: The genitals in females, general feeling of heaviness, excessive yawning or sneezing, rhinorrhea , insomnia , cold sweats, chills, severe muscle and bone aches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, watery eyes, fever, cramp-like pains, and involuntary spasms in the limbs (thought to be an origin of the term "kicking the habit" ). Heroin overdose is usually treated with the opioid antagonist naloxone . This reverses

13500-461: The landing. On the morning of 17 April, a Tasmania Police patrol vessel directed the Pong Su to head for Melbourne after it had travelled east entering the Bass Strait . In the afternoon, the Pong Su advised that it would head for Sydney and was directed to head for Eden . New South Wales Police patrol vessels became involved. In the morning of 18 April, the Pong Su changed direction to

13635-400: The large amount of baby boomers, commercial marijuana use was on the rise. This increased the supply and demand for marijuana during this time period. Corruption in Mexico has contributed to the domination of Mexican cartels in the illicit drug trade. Since the beginning of the 20th century, Mexico's political environment allowed the growth of drug-related activity. The loose regulation over

13770-616: The law, but with meager effect. Marijuana was a popular drug seen through the Latin American trade route in the 1960s. Cocaine became a major drug product in the later decades. Much of the cocaine is smuggled from Colombia and Mexico via Jamaica. This led to several administrations combating the popularity of these drugs. Due to the influence of this development on the US economy, the Reagan administration began "certifying" countries for their attempts at controlling drug trafficking. This allowed

13905-404: The need for supplemental analgesia after a caesarean section. Epidural diamorphine (2.5–5 mg) is a suitable alternative. Diamorphine continues to be widely used in palliative care in the UK, where it is commonly given by the subcutaneous route, often via a syringe driver if patients cannot easily swallow morphine solution . The advantage of diamorphine over morphine is that diamorphine

14040-623: The number of Chinese opium-addicts had grown to between four and twelve million. The Chinese government responded by enforcing a ban on the import of opium; this led to the First Opium War (1839–1842) between the United Kingdom and Qing-dynasty China. The British defeated the Chinese, and in the resulting treaty that ended the war, the Treaty of Nanking , the Qing government was forced to allow British merchants to sell Indian-grown opium. Trading in opium

14175-528: The officers on board the ship. On 2 March 2004, the United States Department of State released a report using the incident to link Kim Jong-il 's government to drugs trafficking. On 5 March 2006, a Supreme Court of Victoria jury found the ship's four officers not guilty on all charges. They were subsequently deported. After capture the ship was brought to Sydney Harbour where it was originally moored at Garden Island naval base . From there it

14310-462: The other. Equipotent injected doses had comparable action courses, with no difference in subjects' self-rated feelings of euphoria, ambition, nervousness, relaxation, drowsiness, or sleepiness. The rush is usually accompanied by a warm flushing of the skin, dry mouth, and a heavy feeling in the extremities. Nausea , vomiting , and severe itching may also occur. After the initial effects, users usually will be drowsy for several hours; mental function

14445-477: The policy set by Danish National Board of Health . Of the estimated 1500 drug users who did not benefit from the then-current oral substitution treatment, approximately 900 would not be in the target group for treatment with injectable diamorphine, either because of "massive multiple drug abuse of non-opioids" or "not wanting treatment with injectable diamorphine". In July 2009, the German Bundestag passed

14580-409: The potential risk for psychological dependence / addiction . Large doses of heroin can cause fatal respiratory depression, and the drug has been used for suicide or as a murder weapon. The serial killer Harold Shipman used diamorphine on his victims, and the subsequent Shipman Inquiry led to a tightening of the regulations surrounding the storage, prescribing and destruction of controlled drugs in

14715-500: The preparation of the injection, as well as the sharing of spoons and filters can also cause the spread of blood-borne diseases. Many countries now supply small sterile spoons and filters for single use in order to prevent the spread of disease. Smoking heroin refers to vaporizing it to inhale the resulting fumes, rather than burning and inhaling the smoke. It is commonly smoked in glass pipes made from glassblown Pyrex tubes and light bulbs. Heroin may be smoked from aluminium foil that

14850-408: The process of how financial transactions will be laundered, while another criminal group provides the "dirty" money to be cleaned. By fostering expansion of trade and global transportation networks, free trade encourages cooperation and formation of alliances among criminal organizations across different countries. The drug trade in Latin America emerged in the early 1930s. It saw significant growth in

14985-501: The publication of the joint BBC-OCCRP documentary; Assad government banned all activities of BBC media outlets and entry of affiliated media personnel in Syria. The extensive involvement of Syrian Armed Forces in sponsorship of drug production and trade has led to pervasive drug addiction problems amongst pro-Assad soldiers. In many instances, military officials encourage the soldiers to consume Captagon and other illegal drugs, leading to overdose or drug abuse. Pro-Assad fighters in

15120-521: The same researchers demonstrated that tolerance developed at a similar rate to both heroin and morphine. When compared to the opioids hydromorphone , fentanyl , oxycodone , and pethidine (meperidine), former addicts showed a strong preference for heroin and morphine, suggesting that heroin and morphine are particularly susceptible to misuse and causing dependence. Morphine and heroin were also much more likely to produce euphoria and other positive subjective effects when compared to these other opioids. In

15255-451: The seaside town of Wye River in Victoria , and followed them to a nearby hotel. The next morning, the two suspects were apprehended after leaving the hotel, and were in possession of two packages containing 50 kilograms (110 lb) of pure heroin. A third suspect was arrested later that day in nearby Geelong . The following day, in a search of the beach at Boggaley Creek, police discovered

15390-432: The second half of 2008, liquidity was the banking system's main problem and hence liquid capital became an important factor ... Inter-bank loans were funded by money that originated from the drugs trade and other illegal activities...there were signs that some banks were rescued that way". Costa declined to identify countries or banks that may have received any drug money, saying that would be inappropriate because his office

15525-719: The seizure of approximately nine million devices and drugs, including large quantities of fake COVID-19 tests and face masks. The countries of drug production and transit are some of the most affected by the trade, though countries receiving the illegally   imported substances are also adversely affected. For example, Ecuador has absorbed up to 300,000 refugees from Colombia who are running from guerrillas, paramilitaries and drug lords. While some applied for asylum, others are still illegal immigrants. The drugs that pass from Colombia through Ecuador to other parts of South America create economic and social problems. Honduras , through which an estimated 79% of cocaine passes on its way to

15660-589: The sheer volume of legal cross-border trade and provides cover for drug smuggling—by providing ample opportunity to conceal illicit cargo in legal trade. While international free trade continues to expand the volume of legal trade, the ability to detect and interdict drug trafficking is severely diminished. Towards the late 1990s, the top ten seaports in the world processed 33.6 million containers. Free trade has fostered integration of financial markets and has provided drug traffickers with more opportunities to launder money and invest in other activities. This strengthens

15795-514: The ship's crew, and also denied that they were Korean, instead claiming to be from either Malaysia or Singapore. The three men were: Also pleading guilty was the surviving man from the landing party: In 2019, Ta Sa Wong and Yau Kim Lam were released on parole, issued with North Korean passports, and deported to North Korea. Teng was deported to his home country of Malaysia, while as of 2019 Wee Quay Tan remained in custody at Fulham Correctional Centre near Sale, Victoria. The captain and crew of

15930-752: The ship's entire crew. Of the thirty crew members arrested, twenty-seven were discharged on 5 March 2004 by a magistrate on the basis that there was insufficient evidence for them to stand trial, although this number was reduced to twenty-six after it was later decided by Australian Federal Police that political secretary Choe Dong-song would also face trial. While awaiting deportation, the 26 remaining crew members were held in Baxter Detention Centre ; during which time they were questioned by federal authorities. They were deported from Australia on 24 June 2004. Four senior crew members were kept in Australia to face

16065-471: The smuggling of other goods (i.e. wildlife) and even people. In many cases, links between politicians and the criminal organisations have been proven to exist. In June 2021, Interpol revealed an operation in 92 countries that shut down 113,000 websites and online marketplaces selling counterfeit or illicit medicines and medical products a month earlier, led to the arrests of 227 people worldwide, recovered pharmaceutical products worth $ 23 million, and led to

16200-444: The social and health situation for this group of patients. It has also been shown to save money, despite high treatment expenses, as it significantly reduces costs incurred by trials, incarceration, health interventions and delinquency . Patients appear twice daily at a treatment center, where they inject their dose of diamorphine under the supervision of medical staff. They are required to contribute about 450 Swiss francs per month to

16335-427: The soft tissue in the mucous membrane of the sinus cavity and straight into the bloodstream. This method of administration redirects first-pass metabolism , with a quicker onset and higher bioavailability than oral administration, though the duration of action is shortened. This method is sometimes preferred by users who do not want to prepare and administer heroin for injection or smoking but still want to experience

16470-432: The structure and operation of the illicit drug industry is described mainly in terms of an international division of labor. Free trade can open new markets to domestic producers who would otherwise resort to exporting illicit drugs. Additionally, extensive free trade among states increases cross-border drug enforcement and coordination between law enforcement agencies in different countries. However, free trade also increases

16605-493: The total captagon exports of the drug cartels linked to the Assad regime. In 2020, Italian police seized 84 million captagon pills originating from Syrian ports while intercepting a single shipment. In June 2023, US State Department 's Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs published a detailed report to the US Congress , elucidating a strategy to eliminate the narcotics production, drug trafficking and drug cartel networks affiliated with

16740-538: The transportation of illegal drugs and the failure to prosecute known drug traffickers and gangs increased the growth of the drug industry. Toleration of drug trafficking has undermined the authority of the Mexican government and has decreased the power of law enforcement officers in regulation over such activities. These policies of tolerance fostered the growing power of drug cartels in the Mexican economy and have made drug traders wealthier. Many states in Mexico lack policies that establish stability in governance. There also

16875-678: The treatment costs. A national referendum in November 2008 showed 68% of voters supported the plan, introducing diamorphine prescription into federal law. The previous trials were based on time-limited executive ordinances. The success of the Swiss trials led German, Dutch, and Canadian cities to try out their own diamorphine prescription programs. Some Australian cities (such as Sydney) have instituted legal diamorphine supervised injecting centers , in line with other wider harm minimization programs. Since January 2009, Denmark has prescribed diamorphine to

17010-467: The world. Penalties often depend on the type of drug (and its classification in the country into which it is being trafficked), the quantity trafficked, where the drugs are sold and how they are distributed. If the drugs are sold to underage people, then the penalties for trafficking may be harsher than in other circumstances. Drug smuggling carries severe penalties in many countries. Sentencing may include lengthy periods of incarceration, flogging and even

17145-449: Was a 349-foot (106 m), 3,743-tonne North Korean-owned ocean freighter registered in Tuvalu , a flag of convenience . Three men arrested on shore were convicted of importing heroin; a fourth man from the ship who landed the heroin and was arrested on shore pleaded guilty; the crew were all acquitted and deported; and after being confiscated the ship was destroyed in 2006. Operation Sorbet

17280-414: Was an international operation by Australian police, who had been conducting surveillance on two people who had entered Australia in March 2003 from China, and a third person who had arrived from China on 9 April, all on tourist visas. On the night of 15 April 2003, Australian Federal Police (AFP) conducted surveillance on two people who rendezvoused with the Pong Su close to shore at Boggaley Creek, near

17415-453: Was lucrative, and smoking it had become common for the Chinese in the 19th century, so British merchants increased trade with the Chinese. The Second Opium War broke out in 1856, with the British joined this time by the French . The Treaty of Tianjin , which concluded that conflict, stipulated that the Chinese authorities would open further ports to foreign trade, including opium. In 1868, as

17550-406: Was one of the highest in the nation—four times the national homicide average. This crime rate was correlated with regions with low employment and was not entirely dependent on ethnicity. The baby boomer generation also felt the effects of the drug trade in their increased drug use from the 1960s to 80s. Along with substance use, criminal involvement, suicide and murder were also on the rise. Due to

17685-476: Was one of the main Ba'athist military divisions that was engaged in perpetrating brutal crackdowns and mass violence against protestors across the country. In 2018, Bashar al-Assad assigned Maher as the commander of the 4th Armoured Division, a military unit that supervised Assad regime's criminal enterprises like smuggling, drug trafficking, narcotics production and plunder of goods and resources. Under Maher's supervision,

17820-524: Was removed and donated to the Kurrajong Radio Museum. Heroin Heroin , also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a morphinan opioid substance synthesized from the dried latex of the opium poppy ; it is mainly used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects. Heroin is used medically in several countries to relieve pain , such as during childbirth or

17955-816: Was responsible for the great majority of crime, including 85% of shoplifting, 70–80% of burglaries and 54% of robberies. It concluded "[t]he cost of crime committed to support illegal cocaine and heroin habits amounts to £16 billion a year in the UK" Heroin is increasingly trafficked from Afghanistan to Europe and America through eastern and southern African countries. This path is known as the "southern route" or "smack track". Repercussions of this trade include burgeoning heroin use and political corruption among intermediary African nations. Cocaine produced in Colombia and Bolivia increasingly has been shipped via West Africa (especially in Nigeria , Cape Verde , Guinea-Bissau , Cameroon , Mali , Benin , Togo , and Ghana ). The money

18090-473: Was sunk by two GBU-10 Paveway II laser-guided bombs dropped from RAAF General Dynamics F-111C aircraft. The deliberate destruction of the freighter was said to deliver a strong message to international drug smuggling rings that the Australian Federal Police and Commonwealth Government would take all measures necessary to stop illegal drug importation. Before the ship was scuttled, its radio

18225-403: Was taken to Snails Bay and moored for over two years, where it was reportedly costing over $ 2,500 a day for maintenance and security. It was taken to Chowder Bay in early 2006 while authorities decided what to do with it. Authorities eventually decided to scuttle the ship. On 23 March 2006, in a joint Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Royal Australian Navy military exercise, the Pong Su

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