Drug trafficking is a criminal offense that refers to the importation or selling of illegal substances. While this particular offense is mostly punished when the drugs are exchanged for money, trafficking may also refer to manufacturing, transportation, and distribution. These actions are less noticeable and can remain fairly private, which is why most drug trafficking charges are based on selling the substances. Drugs often come from countries with higher poverty rates, corruption, and criminal potency. Moreover, criminal groups often become incredibly powerful due to the trafficking connections and the subsequent financial gains.
An individual that became globally infamous for his drug-related charges and the significant income from trafficking illegal substances was Pablo Escobar. Pablo Escobar created the largest drug cartel in the world, and the criminal activities affecting the population at the time still negatively impact the community (Naef 1). Currently, the more strict approach to such issues does not facilitate the highlighted presence of drug lords. However, this does not mean that the problem of drug trafficking has disappeared. Pablo Escobar has left a negative footprint on his hometown and on all the territories where the cartel was operating. This exemplifies the legal, social, political, and moral connotations of drug trafficking.
While manufacturing, importing, exporting, and selling drugs is illegal and may lead to a significant prison sentence for the perpetrator, the issue remains present and relatively concerning. Drug trafficking, like any other drug-related offense, is most often addressed with severe punishments, yet drugs keep coming into the country from various continents. The severity of the problem is illustrated through the influence of the industry itself and the empires built on such criminal activities, as exemplified by Escobar.
Works Cited
Naef, Patrick. “‘Narco-Heritage’ and the Touristification of the Drug Lord Pablo Escobar in Medellin, Colombia.”Journal of Anthropological Research, vol. 74, no. 4, 2018, pp. 485–502., Web.