CROSS BORDER DRUG FLOWS BETWEEN CHINA AND PROXIMATE STATES. Shelley Torcetti

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1 CROSS BORDER DRUG FLOWS BETWEEN CHINA AND PROXIMATE STATES Shelley Torcetti

2 Abstract Cross border drug flows between China and its proximate states The drug flow between China and it proximate states is juxtaposed with existing economic development corridors and cross border ethnic travel along highly porous international borders. Yunnan province in Southern China is a clearing house for drugs from the Golden Triangle while Xinjiang province operates in the same capacity for drugs coming from the Golden Crescent. These drug flows are problematic not just regionally but globally and are highly resistant to efforts of eradication at a national level. Although the illicit trafficking of drugs constitutes a direct threat to state security, due to undermining rule of law and destabilizing society, realist theoretical frameworks are inadequate to address the problem. This paper posits that non-traditional security frameworks better shape the issue. International multilateral collaborative strategies, dialogue and the support of NGOs and CBOs allow for transformative, innovative methodologies. Moreover, multilateral exchanges of information, surveillance and law enforcement may expedite reaction times leading to the apprehension and conviction of criminal networks. In South East Asia change is occurring to regional structures and institutions as non-traditional threats to security are elevated on security agendas.

3 Framing the Problem Illicit Trafficking of Drugs is a more effectively framed as a non-traditional threat to security Traditional methods of dealing with the issue are no longer sufficient Transnational collaboration and cooperation is essential Strategies to deal with the problem and effect long-term change need to incorporate empowerment, education and treatment initiatives in addition to more traditional law enforcement approaches

4 Areas of production Tanner, Murray S. (2011) China Confronts Afghan Drugs: Law Enforcement Views of The Golden Crescent. No. CNA-CRM-D A1. CENTER FOR NAVAL ANALYSES ALEXANDRIA VA.

5 Illicit Drugs in China China is both a transit and destination country End of 2012: number of registered drug users in China has reached million The number of synthetic drug users has increased to 798,000 or 38 percent of all drug users in China. 305,000 of these are new drug users China s domestic use of drugs such cocaine and heroin continues to rise. Use of synthetic drugs, or amphetamine type stimulants is becoming a public health threat China is a major source country for drug precursor chemicals smuggled by criminal enterprises China is emerging as a major producer and exporter of synthetic cannabinoids

6 Drug Flows The Golden Triangle remains the primary source for foreign drugs in China The Myanmar Yunnan Guangdong route from the Golden Triangle is a well-recognized route preferred by drug traffickers. Golden Crescent smuggling routes are highway, air and rail routes through Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Kazakhstan into Xinjiang Drugs are shipped primarily into Kashgar and Urumqi before they are either transhipped to Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing, or are sold in western China

7 New Markets/Terrorism The dark net is a virtual marketplace that is not accessible by a web search and operates in anonymity Uses an untraceable cryptocurrency called Bitcoin Sophisticated concealment methods make it extremely difficult for law enforcement officials to identify users and owners Global niche market for cannabis, heroin, MDMA (Ecstasy), cocaine and other synthetic type stimulants a perfect storm of drugs, crime and insurgency swirling around the Afghanistan/Pakistan border

8 Current Practices Regional efforts to respond to the threat posed by illicit drugs need to improve their data generation, intelligence and analysis both at national and regional levels Current intelligence work considered to be inadequate to meet the requirements Criticism of weak bureaucratic cooperation among public security departments within China Current policies (Premature eradication of drug crops, interdiction too narrowly preoccupied with stopping illicit flows, and imprisonment of drug users) are not highly effective and may be detrimental to key policy objectives

9 Recommendations A reconceptualization of counternarcotic activities to expand upon inadequate human rights policies, capacity building and public health initiatives may strengthen existing, and identify new, frameworks for regional and global regimes to counter illicit drug flows Studies have shown that every $1 spent on good prevention programs can save governments $10 in subsequent costs (Felbab-Brown 2013) In addition to border control practices, multifaceted state-building approaches addressing reasons for populations turning to illicit activities are needed to address the problem Rather than simply reacting to the criminality of illicit drug flows opportunities should be sought to strengthen bonds between populations and civil society institutions in an attempt to reduce demand