The geo-politics of globalization has affected the state’s capacity to govern and catalyzed the rise of non-state actors. This has altered the nature of criminals and crimes. Organized criminals have found new allies among drug traffickers. This nexus presents a challenge for policy makers and law enforcement agencies. The trend was visible since the 1970s, but the crumbling of East-West barriers has provided a new opportunity for criminal organizations to engage in transnational drug trafficking and alien smuggling.

In many Asian countries cannabis and opium have been the traditional drugs for consumption. In India, herbal cannabis, popularly known as ganja, acquired religious sanctity due to its association with Hindu deities. Drug trafficking and drug addiction therefore has a historical context; in the era of globalization, however, porous borders and trade barriers has made it a problem of governance due to its nexus with criminals.

Organized criminals, indulging in illegal and violent activities over time with the motive of profit making have changed their strategies with the changing times. They are using modern technology, and highly specialized forms of organization. Most importantly, organized crime is not limited to the national boundaries but has acquired a transnational scope in terms of connections and linkages. Drug traffickers become their companions in breaching legal barriers. Today drug trafficking and organized crime has become the most profitable enterprise all over the world. According to an Interpol report the biggest wrongdoers are the Turkish syndicates and the Italian mafia, which control 80 per cent of the international drug trade.

The crime - drug nexus works at three levels. At the first level, criminals work as middlemen for drug trafficking. They purchase drug products from one country, use their own country as a transit point, and sell it in another country. Drugs being a rare commodity they work on huge profit margins. Indian criminals from northeastern India transfer drugs from the Golden Triangle of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand to the developed and affluent countries of Europe and America.

Secondly, criminals work as a link between drug and arms traffickers. As criminals require modern arms for committing heinous crimes they find drugs to be a useful exchange commodity. This is very convenient for arms traffickers as they get huge profits from selling illegal drugs. Most of the criminals from northern India work at this level, which provides them illegal arms from Afghanistan.

Lastly, criminals themselves indulge in drug smuggling and selling within and across borders. At this level drug trafficking provides a financial support system. Criminals on the western coast of India have specialized in this practice. One of the Dawood brothers is in charge of the drug trafficking business from South Asia to West Asia. This is the most dangerous trend, because control of all related illegal activities provides tactical advantages to the criminal group.

The impact of the crime-drug nexus is multidimensional. It leads to increase in drugs distribution and consumption in society, destroying productive human resources. In the transit areas of India like Nagaland and Manipur the drug addiction problem has assumed alarming proportions. Drug addiction also leads people to commit criminal activities. A study in the US has shown that the crime rate is directly proportional to drugs consumption, since drug addicts are available for criminal acts, as they need drugs at any cost. The crime - drugs nexus also increases weaponisation of society as these are smuggled along with drugs in transit areas. Illegal drugs smuggling has implications for the economy. In fact, drugs have become the backbone of the parallel economy along with gold and diamond. The most serious threat from this nexus is for national security. This nexus links criminals with transnational networks and out of the reach of enforcement agencies. Once part of the transnational networks, this nexus provides a base for other anti-national elements like terrorist groups. This became visible in incidents like the Bombay blasts where Dawood Ibrahim provided the logistics support to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and its agents, and also participated in executing these anti-national plans.

Unfortunately, no national or international agency is seriously concerned about this menace. The political classes have themselves become a link in this networked business. Educated public opinion, active non-governmental agencies and international cooperative measures are some of the ways to check this growing challenge to civil society.