Can Nation States response to dealing with illegal drug trade ever be effective - Essay Example

The governments are spending heavily on the war on drugs and terror, yet little can be determined a success. According to the NCA, the UK hosts a highly attractive illegal drug market, which the government’s organized crime strategy states that it costs the nation an estimated £10.7 billion annually (n.d.). The effects of the drugs moving around the streets of the world’s nations without well-known linked sources remain a devastating issue for the societies, where most families involved with the crimes of trafficking or use of the substances flourish at the expense of others or waste their health in addictions.

UK’s demand for illicit drugs, especially Class A consisting of heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, and ecstasy have a large market share; Matrix Knowledge Group (2007, p.11) earlier on revealed estimates as “300 importers, 3000 wholesalers and 70000 street dealers”. Countries like USA, Jamaica and UK are among well-established origins and routes linking the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, North and South America, where high demands for illegal drugs are found. The UK has adopted numerous policies and has been working in coordination with other foreign governments.

The fact is that drug smuggling and associated crimes is quite a complicated issue that cannot be solved by one nation state. Rather, it requires collective intervention and policies by governments, NGOS and good will individuals to offer an effective solution in reducing drug smuggling and production. Edwards and Gills argue that through international collaboration, these bodies can “pursue policies that reduce opportunities for successful organized crimes” and break existing criminal conspiracies (2003, p. 15). Drug smuggling into the UK has in the past been perceived to occur through different methods.

Criminals have proved capable of using various