Chasing the dragon – an overview of heroin trafficking

O'Hagan, A. ORCID: 0000-0001-5361-8320 and Carvetta, C.A., 2015. Chasing the dragon – an overview of heroin trafficking. Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal, 1 (4): 00021. ISSN 2469-2794

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Abstract

There are many problems encountered during the attempt to tackle the heroin trade on a global level. Afghanistan is largely responsible for the production of heroin, providing a global distribution amount of 75%. The trafficking of heroin has continued using the traditional Balkan and Northern routes, however due to the increase in intelligence and border force controls, alternative routes are being established. This demonstrates a key issue being faced by law enforcement agencies. The development in strategies and techniques being used for undetected smuggling are growing, causing a lapse in the effectiveness of detection techniques currently being used. The failure in the success of tackling heroin production and trade towards Europe is being increasingly recognised, which has resulted in a shift in focus onto the organised crime groups involved in the heroin trade within mainland Europe and the United Kingdom. An estimated 5,300 organised crime groups are believed to be active within the United Kingdom with an annual cost of in the region of between £20-40 billion. The complexity and level of intelligence within organised crime has evolved rapidly, and this, along with the increasing levels of corruption within heroin trading countries, give reason for the continual loss of the war against heroin. Concluding that until corruption and the highest hierarchical levels within organised crime groups are overthrown, positive results against the heroin trade will remain unseen, demonstrating that these key areas require further attention by governmental agencies and policies if the war is to be won.

Item Type: Journal article
Publication Title: Forensic Research & Criminology International Journal
Creators: O'Hagan, A. and Carvetta, C.A.
Publisher: MedCrave Online Journals
Date: 2015
Volume: 1
Number: 4
ISSN: 2469-2794
Identifiers:
NumberType
10.15406/frcij.2015.01.00021DOI
Rights: © 2015 O’Hagan et al. An international open access journal.
Divisions: Schools > School of Science and Technology
Record created by: Jill Tomkinson
Date Added: 01 Mar 2016 11:50
Last Modified: 23 Jan 2019 09:16
Related URLs:
URI: https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27073

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