International

New Delhi a transit point in heroin trafficking: U.N. report

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

United Nations Feb. 27. <152>The International Narcotics Control Board in its report for 2001 has focussed, among other issues, on cyber crime calling on nation states to regulate the web in a sensible fashion. While globalisation and new communication technologies have brought innumerable benefits to society, it has also provided opportunities "for new and traditional forms of drug related crime'', it says. "The International Narcotics Control Board has decided to address the theme of globalisation and new technologies...not in a spirit of rejection but because of the danger that the beneficial effects of these phenomena on society are being undermined by individuals and criminal groups for illicit gain'', the INCB argues. "For the Internet there is the real danger that its benefits might be seriously undermined by criminals for illicit gain. Governments must address the challenges that new technologies pose to drug law enforcement in an era of increasing globalisation'', the chairman of the Board, Hamid Ghodse remarks.

The INCB while detailing its case on different aspects of cyber crime is calling on governments to take action with a view to preventing organised crime from continuing to exploit the technological advances as also to consider developing a United Nations Convention on Cyber-crime. "Such a Convention would provide a global classification and definition for high tech and computer related crime and a framework for legislative harmonisation and international cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of cross border crime committed or facilitated by electronic means'',the INCB argues.

Thorough and extensive in its preparation and presentation — especially as it deals with different regions of the world — the INCB has also made the point that Afghanistan clearly has a capacity to become the world's largest producer of heroin next year and has urged the international community and the United Nations Security Council to help prevent that .This could come by way of alternative crop substitution and assistance to stop the trafficking of opiates. With nearly 90 per cent of heroin from Afghanistan hitting the streets of Europe, there is the increasing danger of shifting markets to Russia,Iran and Pakistan. Officials here are making the point that although the interim government of Hamid Karzai has issued a ban on the cultivation of opium, questions are being raised on the effectiveness of the ban.

"Afghanistan is a very, very tough problem'', says U.S. Ambassador, Herbert Okun, a member of the INCB. Mr. Okun who briefed mediapersons here on the Board's report argued that even if the ban on poppy cultivation is effective in Afghanistan, the country has a three to six year supply of heroin, some of which had been unloaded since the outbreak of war last October. South Asia, according to Mr. Okun, is "very vulnerable'' because it sits between the Golden Triangle of South East Asia and the Golden Crescent of South West Asia.

The region is vulnerable for two reasons: to transit and to traffickers who are trying to increase their markets.Although India has been largely successful, South Asia has reasons to be concerned, Mr. Okun remarked. The INCB has said that the southern parts of West Asia continue to supply most of the heroin smuggled into and through India and Nepal.

"New Delhi has become a major transit point for heroin trafficking; most of the heroin is smuggled into countries in Europe and North America, occasionally through Sri Lanka'', the report says. Staying in the realm of trafficking the INCB points out that maritime routes leading from the coast of Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka and Maldives are used for transhipment. "Ports in Southern India are increasingly being used for smuggling drugs as evidenced by the sharp increase in the number of seizures made of consignments of narcotic drugs being smuggled by sea along routes leading from India to Sri Lanka'', it says.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Saudi plan flexible: Peres
• Bush welcomes initiative
• Hasina's residence under siege?
• Concern over British detenus at Camp X-ray
• No clear winner for the top Oscar
• `Refugees afraid to return home'
• Bangladesh charge against BSF
• 10 held for attack on Pak. mosque
• Chandrika denies threat to cancel pact
• New Delhi a transit point in heroin trafficking: U.N. report
• Army gets two advanced light copters
• `Pak. not against extradition of Omar Sheik'

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu