To switch it up a little from our current posts on nuclear weapons, I recently stumbled on an article on ABC News that stated that five people were charged in a US meth bust from North Korea. Five foreigners were arrested in Thailand back in September and were charged in the United States (today) with plotting to smuggle 100 kilograms of meth, produced in North Korea. Two of the men, who are apparently a part of a Hong Kong based criminal organization that is responsible for selling meth produced in North Korea, along with one other from Thailand and another two from Britain, had agreed to store and transport the drugs, before 30 kilograms of this meth was seized by authorities in both Thailand and the Philippines.
This year, these suppliers provided over 100 kilograms to sources that worked with the DEA, bragging that they were the only group to be able to smuggle this meth from North Korea after the united States cracked down on production there. They also stated that many of the labs in North Korea have been burned down in order to show the American's that they were no longer producing meth, however this particular group has labs that remain open. One of the men even claimed to have stored 1 ton of meth away because of the tensions between America and North Korea that might hinder its production. After meeting with DEA sources, the suppliers meth was tested in the US and was found to be 98 percent pure (that's some Breaking Bad shit if I've ever seen it).
North Korea, which has, for decades, been secretive from the rest of the world in much of its ventures, has received much of its scrutiny from the rest of society because of its tensions surrounding nuclear weapons, as well as surrounding many human rights violations (BBC News). Unknown to myself, and maybe some of you as well, North Korea has also been responsible for trafficking an assortment of drugs for decades with over 50 documented incidents (CNN). It was noted that there had not been a large scale drug trafficking incident involving DPRK state entities since 2004, and that something on this scale may be due to corrupt security agents and government officials who have allowed transnational drug smuggling to slide under the radar. So, should busts like this be happening more often? What can we do about drug traffickers world wide? Should every nation strengthen their trade policies/their security agents who may be responsible for letting drugs pass our borders? While these may be questions that are challenging to answer, I believe they deserve some consideration so that, in the future, the entire world might be safer.
It is an interesting and, I think, surprising headline for sure. But I don’t understand why they were tried in the US when they were foreigners who were caught in Thailand. I think busts like this should happen more often because it just goes to show how much really does slide under the radar. We expect a lot of this trafficking to come from other places like Guatemala, but perhaps we should put some extended drug bust efforts in unexpected countries like North Korea and Thailand. I think maybe a solution to these in the short run would be harsher checkpoints at nation’s borders and in the long run put an end to the war on drugs. People get so addicted to drugs like meth, and since it is such a stigma, making it so costly, people must resort to the illegal trading of drugs.
ReplyDeleteThis was a great post! I did not know that North Korea had large amounts of drug manufacturing. Since North Korea has such tight government regulation of their people (to the point where if someone says something bad about the leader they are killed) It seems unlikely that this was not an "illegally" sanctioned activity...but why would they get into the drug trade? Maybe because it is very profitable and North Korea has very limited options for income? I am not sure. But I can see how this can put more tension between North Korea and the rest of the International community.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post Anastasia! I absolutely believe nations should strengthen their trade policies/security agents with actors that are responsible for allowing drugs to enter our borders. There's not much we can do to prevent these criminal organizations from making drugs. Their labs are hard to find and new ones are popping up every day. The best way to prevent drugs such as Meth from coming into America is by having a more in depth transnational security checks.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I was not aware that North Korea is trafficking meth and I absolutely agree that trade policies should be strengthened. The problems is that in countries such as Thailand or Guatemala, the domestic government allows such crimes to go unnoticed, thus UN and other IGOs must find a way to help governments strengthen trade policies and possibly incentivize domestic governments to put harsher controls on domestic trade.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that North Korea was involved in the drug trafficking world. I would like to know just how they managed to smuggle the meth out of the country. I was under the assumption that North Korea was heavily monitored by the US and its allies. Better start checking cargo logs of ships headed out of North Korea. Honestly in such a poor country such as North Korea it is ingenious to start selling illegal drugs.
ReplyDeleteTrying to stop drug production in foreign countries is difficult even with cooperative foreign governments (take Mexico for example). It is probably close to impossible for the U.S. to try and halt illegal drug production in a state like North Korea, unless the U.S. can force compliance from North Korea through other incentives. That being said, drug trafficking is best tackled by targeting the source of demand. Increasing security at borders and modifying trading policies will result with the capture of drugs and drug traffickers no doubt, but more drugs and more traffickers seem to always emerge in the wake of every bust. So instead of trying to attack the supply source of illicit drugs it would seem ideal to target the consumers that are the reason drug trafficking is so prominent. Portugal and Switzerland have experienced success in decreased illegal drug consumption through policies that help users and addicts recover and refrain from participation in the black market. If policies like these could be promoted on an international level to replace policies that simply imprison drug users, the world may witness the decline of drug smuggling as a result of decreased demand. If states in the international community can take the profits out of drug trafficking, then I believe the movement of illicit substances across borders will become less prominent.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post. Im curious how they made the drug bust to begin with because from the sound of your post this has been going on for awhile. I believe stopping drug trafficking is a very difficult task, especially with new technologies coming about everyday. I read something the other day that man was killed because he unknowingly drank a bottle filled with liquid meth. I had no idea liquid meth even existed, let alone able to be hidden in something as normal as a water bottle. With people disguising meth and I'm sure other drugs like this, I can only imagine how much more difficult it would make for the US to put a stop to drug trafficking.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post. Im curious how they made the drug bust to begin with because from the sound of your post this has been going on for awhile. I believe stopping drug trafficking is a very difficult task, especially with new technologies coming about everyday. I read something the other day that man was killed because he unknowingly drank a bottle filled with liquid meth. I had no idea liquid meth even existed, let alone able to be hidden in something as normal as a water bottle. With people disguising meth and I'm sure other drugs like this, I can only imagine how much more difficult it would make for the US to put a stop to drug trafficking.
ReplyDeleteTo go along with some of the previous comments posted I agree it is very difficult to enforce drug smuggling without cooperation and strict border checks by both national governments. The sanctions on North Korea have limited not only its development but also it's interactions with the rest of the world. That is to often to deal with North Korea and especially in most forms of business will be illegal. Therefore making most business interactions extremely risky, and narrowing them to a range of illegal activities.
ReplyDeleteHowever I don't see the US or the rest of the world lifting sanctions from North Korea anytime soon, making cooperation and real commitment unlikely to occur. Although cooperation with North Korea is difficult there needs to be an increase throughout the international community. It would help although unlikely achievable if there could be some sort of consensus or policy.
This is really interesting because I also had no idea that North Korea was involved in the drug trade. As it always has been, the illegal drug trade has been an ongoing battle. Now with information that North Korea is involved makes the area of drug trade that much larger. This is a problem that is constantly being worked on by the international community and it is one that will continue to be a struggle. Also, love Breaking Bad so this post was awesome.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that the drug trade coming from North Korea isn't more heavily monitored by the country itself. I would expect that a country with such high government control would be able to easily track drug manufacturing in their country. I wouldn't think that a government that wants to have tight control would allow it's citizens to get their hands on an addictive drug. But who knows, maybe they know all about it and it is just another way to get more revenue flowing into the country.
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