Maritime narcotics trafficking in the Western Indian Ocean: Threat to regional maritime security. (2nd January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Panneerselvam, Prakash
• Is Part Of: Maritime affairs. Volume 17:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 110
• Page End: 115
• Publication Date: 2021-01-02
• Subjects: Illicit drug trade -- Makran coast -- Western Indian Ocean -- regional maritime security initiative; Merchant marine -- India -- History -- Periodicals; Navigation -- India -- Periodicals; Merchant marine; Navigation; India; History; Periodicals; 387.50954
• DOI: 10.1080/09733159.2021.1963044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0973-3159

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Maritime narcotics trafficking in the Indian Ocean has increasingly become a major security concern for India and other countries in the region, with the Afghanistan–Pakistan corridor being the primary conduit facilitating illegal drug trade via the sea-route in the Western Indian Ocean. However, there is a gap in understanding the extent and manner of the criminal syndicate involvement in the maritime narcotics drug trafficking in the region. This commentary looks at the emerging maritime-bound illicit drug trafficking in the region and also analyses the modus of operandi of the criminal syndicate in Pakistan to evade detection from the law-enforcement. It also examines the role of Combined Maritime Force (CMF) and regional navies in detecting and tracking the maritime narcotics trafficking in the Western Indian Ocean.