Drug-trafficking at a new high in Asia: Report

The drug traffickers are changing with the times. As are drug abuse habits. According to the annual report of the International Narcotics Control Board 2002, which was released in the Capital today, drug trafficking in Asia has seen a sea change over the past few years. Even as India continues to remain one of the major transit points, its neighbours have seen an increase in drug abuse as well as drug-trafficking.

Bhutan, for instance is a major cause of concern for the Board. The report says the country that never reported any drug abuse problems has now ‘‘voiced concern about the cultivation and abuse of cannabis, particularly by the younger members of the population.’’ Maldives, on the other hand, has seen a sudden rise in heroin addicts. The report has observed that ‘‘the abuse of heroin has been reported even in Maldives, a country that until recently had not experienced any tangible drug abuse problem.’’

There are concerns over these new developments as well as over the fact that China has become the main destination and transit area for heroin. The route which the heroin consignments take go via China, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Cambodia and Vietnam.