Context: Recently, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in its 2020 World Drug Report, has highlighted the possible consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic on Illegal Drug Production, Supply and Consumption.
Key Points

• Report analyzes the wide range of possible consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on illegal drug production, supply and consumption.
• The measures taken by governments to counter the pandemic inevitably had double-edged consequences on large-scale drug supply.

Positives of Covid-19 

• The lockdown could hinder the production and sale of opiates in major producing countries.
• The key months for the opium harvest in Afghanistan are March to June and given the fact that 2020’s harvest took place during the pandemic would have lead to major reduction in production and supply.
• Some countries, such as Italy, the Niger and countries in Central Asia, have experienced a sharp decrease in drug seizures, amid reports that drug traffickers have diverted their attention to other illegal activities, including cybercrime and trafficking in falsified medicines.
• Other countries, including Morocco and Iran, have reported huge drug seizures, indicating large-scale drug trafficking, while some have reported an increase in interdiction resulting from increased controls.

Maritime Routes:

• The recent heroin seizures in the Indian Ocean could be interpreted as an indication of an increase in the use of maritime routes for trafficking heroin to Europe along the ‘southern route’.
• While border measures appear to be hindering trafficking in opiates, large shipments of cocaine are still being trafficked but by alternative means, via sea routes.

Concerns

• The report expresses concern over the adverse impact of the economic hardship caused by the pandemic. This could lead to an increase in the number of people resorting to illicit activities linked to drugs to make a living.
• The 2008 economic crisis resulted in reductions in drug-related budgets of the governments and there was an overall increase in drug use, with a shift towards cheaper and more harmful drugs.

India and Illicit Drug Trade

• Major Hub of Illicit Drug Trade: According to a report by the United Nation Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), India is one of the major hubs of illicit drug trade ranging from age-old cannabis to newer prescription drugs like tramadol, and designer drugs like methamphetamine.
• Drug Trafficking Routes: India is in the middle of two major illicit opium production regions in the world, the Golden Crescent (Iran-Afghanistan-Pakistan) in the west and the Golden Triangle (South-East Asia) in the east.

Associated Challenges:

• Easy Borders: The borders are porous and difficult to control in the lower Mekong region so cross-border movements in many places are not significantly hindered by Covid-19 measures.
• Evolving Ways of Trafficking: The methods of containerised trafficking, couriers and body-packing have reduced due to shutting down of borders and trade. However, dealers might come up with other ways limiting the impact of reduced trade.
• Limited Control: There is limited government control in the Golden Triangle, trafficking would continue at high volumes.
• Unaffected Supply: The supply of precursor chemicals is not likely to be disrupted because major organised crime groups source chemicals through direct diversion from industry and not diversion from illicit overseas trade channels.

Road Ahead

• The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on illegal drug production, supply and consumption and there have been reports on change in strategy of the drug trafficking organisations.
• Therefore, use of maritime trafficking routes from Myanmar along the Andaman Sea, some of which cross Indian territorial waters must be strategically observed by India to curb the trafficking.
• Appropriate corrections in government policies are necessary to counter the threat posed by drug trafficking.