Heroin and Morphine Trafficking
Heroin trafficking, in the United States and Europe, is facilitated by smuggling from areas such as Southeast Asia (the “Golden Triangle”) and Afghanistan (the largest heroin exporter). It was estimated that 93% of opiates that were marketed worldwide, in 2007, originated in Afghanistan. The sale of this export had a market value of approximately $64 billion, with about a fourth of this paid to the opium farmers and the remaining three quarters paid to drug traffickers, district officials, insurgents and drug warlords.
Drug Smuggling
The smuggling of heroin is made easy by the fact that a vial, about one inch in length, can contain literally hundreds of doses. The infamous “French Connection” supplied the majority of U.S. heroin from the 1930s to the early 70s. It was also rumored that drug lords, during the Vietnam War era, smuggled a large quantity of heroin into the U.S. inside coffins of American soldiers killed in combat. Since that time, heroin smuggling has been made more difficult – yet the drug smuggling activities have continued, none-the-less. According to a recent DEA report, North Eastern cities have the purest street-grade heroin in the United States.
Penalties for Drug Smuggling
Most countries have very harsh penalties for heroin and/or morphine convictions. These penalties can commonly include life imprisonment and death sentences in some jurisdictions. It should be noted that both morphine and heroin are classified as “Schedule I” drugs, internationally, under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.
Heroin
Heroin is a powerful and highly addictive drug that will produce an intense state of euphoria which will gradually decrease as tolerance to the drug increases. After a period of time, the user is merely trying to feed the addiction, while avoiding becoming sick, instead of enjoying the original euphoric effects. Once heroin enters the user’s blood stream, it quickly converts to morphine and its’ administration can take a number of forms; including injection and snorting. Heroin vapors can also be inhaled when heated from below (usually on aluminium foil) – this is commonly known as “chasing the dragon”.
Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice.
You can find out more about felony legal defense from Attorney Michael Lowe located in the Dallas, Texas area.
