Political Committee
Combating drug trafficking in West
Africa and The Golden Triangle region
Kelly Lin
Co-Chair
Introduction
The Golden Triangle Region
In the past The Golden Triangle region is famous for it’s
opium trade. After UN has successfully reduced the
amount of opium produced methamphetamine is
planted to fill in the gap for opium. Methamphetamine
has lots of side affects. Farmers and workers in the
region often take methamphetamine to increase energy
to help them work. Methamphetamine is highly
addictive withdraws are often painful.
West Africa
West Africa has become a major transit hub for cocaine.
Broad sectors from young citizens to policies have been
affected. The impact of the exploding cocaine trade is the
weakened country boarder and West Africa’s economy.
Where does the cocaine go?
The cocaine transported to West Africa then goes to
Europe on commercial flights, cargo ships, and speed
boats. Upon arrival cocaine are mostly distrusted through
criminal system.
Definition of Key Terms
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC): UNODC is established in 1997 through a merger
between the United Nations Drug Control Program and the Centre for International
Crime Prevention. Today UNODC deals with problem regarding illicit drugs and
international crime.
Cocaine: Cocaine is an extremely addictive drug that can be taken by snorting, dissolved
in water then injected and also by smoking. All three methods of cocaine abuse can lead
to severe health problems including increasing the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other
infectious diseases. Cocaine’s effect includes increased energy, reduced fatigue, and
mental alertness.
Definition of Key Terms (2)
Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine is a drug that is closely related to
amphetamine. It is commonly known as speed, meth, chalk, ice, crystal, and glass.
Methamphetamine increases wakefulness, physical activity, blood pressure and body
temperature. It produces rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, blood pressure and body
temperature. Long-term usage of methamphetamine made lead to severe health issues
and mental problems such as anxiety, confusion, insomnia, and also severe dental
problems. Methamphetamine can be taken by orally, snorting, injecting, or a rock
"crystal" that is heated and smoked.
Topic Summary/Overview
Drug trafficking has become a major issue today, this year in the Political committee
we will be focusing on two region that is both famous for its drug trade.
West Africa has become a major transit hub for
cocaine. Each year at least fifty tons of cocaine enters
the region, and the amount had doubled each year.
From 1,323 kilograms in 2005, to 3,161 in 2006, to
6,458 in 2007. The exploding cocaine trade is affecting
both the country’s security and its economy. Not only
is the country affected, most importantly the health of
the people.
Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand makes up the Golden
Triangle Region. The region both from its past and now
days are famous for its drug trade. In the past the
region was famous for its opium trade. After UN
successfully reduced the opium, methamphetamine
are used to fill in for opium. Farmers on weekends
usually take methamphetamine to increase strength
and energy, but methamphetamine is highly addictive
and leads to serious health issue, and withdraws are
often painful.
Major Party Involved
UNODC The Globalization of Crime a Transitional Organized Crime Threat Assessment
In 2010, UNODC presented an assessment on the globalization of crime. The report
includes major cocaine seizures in West Africa, how it has affected the region’s security
and the people in the region. Today West and Central Africa still accounts for a large
share of global seizures of non-specified amphetamines. The region still is the primary
concern in terms of the drug issue.
UNODC Myanmar Situation Assessment on Amphetamine –Type Stimulant
Myanmar is the largest country geographically in South-East Asia. Myanmar produces
the largest amount of methamphetamine pills in the region. The report includes the
impact of methamphetamine trade, the production in the recent years and also the
treatment that UN has done.
Major Parties Involved(2)
West Africa Coast Initiative (WACI)
WACI is a joint program that is built to target on both national and regional level, in the
areas of law enforcement, forensics, border management, anti-money-laundering and
the strengthening of criminal justice institutions, also contributing to peace building
initiatives and security sector reforms.
Timeline
1997- UNODC Formed
The Golden Triangle
Region
West Africa
2001- Alternative Development:
Sharing Good Practices Facing
Common Problems
“ Alternative Development is a journey
towards freedom from illicit drugs, from
armed violence in isolated communities,
from feudal and fragmented rural
systems
towards community based sustainable
agricultural economies”
Sandro Calvani, Representative, UNDCP
1998- Laos ranked third in
the world opium production
Laos was ranked third in 1998 for the
world opium production, throughout
these years UN successfully reduced the
amount of opium produced in the
region.
2005- Success of
reducing opium trade
in the Golden Triangle
Region
2005-2007- West Africa
cocaine trade doubled
each year
2012- UNODC West
Africa ATS situation
report
2010- UNODC Regional
Programme for West Africa
In this program UNODC will work
with all sixteen countries in the
West Africa Region
UN Involvement (West Africa)
Regional Programme for West Africa (2010-2014)
UNODC started a program in 2010, in this program In this program UNODC will work with
all sixteen countries in the West Africa Region. The program generally focuses on peace
building, and security sector reform. The partners and States will work to strengthen
action in the areas of organized crime, trafficking and terrorism, drug prevention and
health, both research and raising awareness in the region as well.
Political Declaration on the Prevention Of Drug Abuse, Illicit Drug Trafficking
and Organized Crimes in West Africa:
In this declaration, UN asks the member states in West Africa to strengthen enforcement
mechanisms. In addition, UN will also take action and help build frameworks to tackle
the issue or illicit drug trafficking. The declaration also recognizes the past measures
taken, and discuses about what additional actions that has to be taken.
UN Involvement (The Golden Triangle Region)
Resolution 49/3 Strengthening systems for the control of precursor chemicals
used in the manufacture of synthetic drugs:
The resolution assembled in 2006 discuses the past measures taken and new
strategies for preventing further elicit drug trade. The resolution also noted that
how the illicit drug trade is affecting not only the security of the region but also the
health of the people taking methamphetamine.
UNODC Myanmar Situation Assessment on Amphetamine –Type Stimulant:
Myanmar is the largest country geographically in South-East Asia. Myanmar
produces the largest amount of methamphetamine pills in the region. The report
includes the impact of methamphetamine trade, the production in the recent years
and also the treatment that UN has done.
Possible Solutions
•
Peace Building: Because of the exploding cocaine trade in West Africa the security
across the region is highly threatened Peace building had been included in the
passed resolutions and programs in the past. Peace building is a great way to
strengthen a region’s security.
•
Boarder Management: Drugs from different parts of the country leaves and enters
at a country’s boarder. It is important to have a good management on the
country’s boarder. In West Africa most cocaine leaves and enters the region on
commercial flights, cargo ships, and speed boats. Methamphetamine is produced
in The Golden Triangle Region are exported to different parts of the globe
including United States.
•
Education: Educating and spreading awareness in regions are extremely important.
Regions that are active in organized crime and drug trafficking, children of the next
generation should be educated to avoid joining criminal systems in the future.
Raising awareness on how drugs are highly addictive and harmful to people’s
health.
Possible Solutions (2)
•
Rehab centers: Farmers in The Golden Triangle Region often take
methamphetamine on weekends to help increase energy and endurance to help
them work on weekdays. Methamphetamine is highly addictive withdraws are
often painful. Farmers in the region are often poor and cannot afford to attend
rehab centers. Free rehab centers with volunteers should be placed in regions with
large amount of methamphetamine users.
Bibliography
UNODC Myanmar Situation Assessment on Amphetamine –Type Stimulant
• http://www.unodc.org/documents/eastasiaandpacific//2010/12/ops-myanmarats/Myanmar_ATS_Report_2010_lowres.pdf
West Africa 2012 ATS Situation Report
• http://www.unodc.org/documents/scientific/ATS_West_Africa_final_2012.pdf
Regional Programme for West Africa 2010-2014
• http://www.unodc.org/documents/westandcentralafrica//FINAL_CONSOLIDATED_nov22.pdf
Resolution 49/3
• http://www.unodc.org/pdf/resolutions/cnd_2006_49-3.pdf
Political Declaration on the Prevention Of Drug Abuse, Illicit Drug Trafficking and Organized Crimes in
West Africa
• http://www.unodc.org/westandcentralafrica/en/ecowaspoliticaldeclaration.html
UNODC
• http://unodc.org/
United Nations on West Africa
• http://unowa.unmissions.org/
WACI
• http://unowa.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=841