Global and Interregional Levels of Combating International Drug Trafficking in the Focus of «Golden Triangle»

Abstract

The article attempts to analyze the global and interregional levels of combating international drug trafficking in the states of the “golden triangle”. Myanmar, Laos and Thailand - the states that in the field of drug trafficking have been called the “golden triangle” have a number of internal political, historical and geopolitical features that have become decisive for their involvement in the network of international drug trafficking - from the production of drugs to their transportation. The geographical location of the “golden triangle” on the border of South and Southeast Asia determines the development of cooperation in countering drug trafficking at the interregional and global levels.

The involvement of the leading states of the neighbouring regional subsystems - China and India introduced by cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking within the framework of joint declarations and agreements in different fields, especially economic and investments. For instance, cooperation of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand with the United States among the participation of the US Bureau of International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement.

The activities of the regional organizations of South and Southeast Asia - SAARC, BIMSTEC and ASEAN, which implement interregional interaction at the expense of joint regulatory and legal documents in combating drug trafficking involving the states of East Asia (signing of the “Mekong Memorandum”).

The global level of cooperation is embodied both in direct cooperation between the states of the “golden triangle” and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, as well as in various programs involving the above-mentioned regional organizations.

The authors concluded that the existing mechanisms of multilateral cooperation are a positive step towards countering drug trafficking in the “golden triangle”, however, a number of destabilizing factors in Myanmar, Laos and Thailand do not allow us to claim a sufficient level of effectiveness of measures to deal with issue.