GS3 PYQ 2018 (Mains Answer Writing): Internal Security Concerns | UPSC Mains: Internal Security & Disaster Management PDF Download

India’s proximity to two of the world’s biggest illicit opium-growing states has enhanced her internal security concerns. Explain the linkages between drug trafficking and other illicit activities such as gunrunning, money laundering and human trafficking. What countermeasures should be taken to prevent the same? (UPSC MAINS GS3 2018)

India is wedged between the world’s two largest areas of illicit opium production, the Golden Crescent and the Golden Triangle. This proximity has traditionally been viewed as a source of vulnerability, since it has made India both a destination and a transit route for opiates produced in these regions.
This proximity has also enhanced India’s concern of internal security as once the route for trafficking drugs are created they also act as the route for gunrunning, money laundering and human trafficking. These drug traffickers form cartels and enter into organized crime once they get familiar with the ways to bypass the authorities and security to traffic whatever gives them profit.
India has 3 main routes for trafficking: 

• Eastern border: India has porous border with many neighbouring countries in the east like Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. These countries are major illicit opium growing states or are part of the route to traffic them into India. We have seen large number of human trafficking from these states and also the gunrunning in the North-Eastern states to aid the naxalites and tribal people. 
• Western Border: Due to tough terrain and lack of proper fencing, border with Pakistan also acts as a route for trafficking of drugs, humans (mostly terrorists), guns and money to aid infiltrations and secessionists in Kashmir and other parts of India. 
• Sea Route: India has a vast coast and tough to secure moreover these route and traffickers create corruption and make the sea ports vulnerable for trafficking. Nexus between drug traffickers and custom officers on the ports help these organized criminals to let other things pass too. Even terrorist have used sea route as we have seen in 26/11 Mumbai case. Money laundering also takes place with the help of these routes and Hawala transactions to pay for the trafficked items i.e. drugs, guns or humans. Sometime drug trafficking and other illicit activities act as barter system to pay for one with the other. 

Countermeasures that can be taken are: 

• Coordination among various agencies needs to be improved. 
• Information/intelligence gathering regarding trafficking, its analysis and dissemination capabilities need to be strengthened. 
• The issue of corruption among the border guarding forces as well as in other concerned agencies has to be dealt with in a pragmatic manner.. 
• Various domestic laws enacted for the control of trafficking should be implemented stringently and severe punishments should be accorded to drug stockists. 
• Agencies such as the SDOMD should be reinvigorated. Capacity building of personnel involved in prevention of trafficking in India and its neighbouring areas should be enhanced. 
• Above all greater cooperation with neighbours on matters of trafficking need to be forged.
• Borders need to be sealed properly as the issue has been raised time and again.

Topics Covered - Drug Trafficking and Illicit Activities Impact