Smuggling of Drugs of Abuse

Drugs of abuse have been linked to a number of social ills, from crime to the destabilization of economic and social development. In addition, a number of drug-related social issues are directly connected with drug smuggling, with increased levels of crime and corruption observed in areas where drug smuggling is a prominent phenomenon. In 2007, illicit substances cost U.S. society an estimated $193 billion, accounting for costs related to crime and loss of productivity. Substances such as heroin and cocaine annually claim the lives of approximately 200,000 people around the globe.

The smuggling of drugs of abuse involves the systematic breach of customs and other drug prohibition laws. Indirectly, this cross-border trade also involves the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, and sale of illicit substances. In addition, drug ...