Trafficking/smuggling is a concern in many countries. But the involvement of political leaders in trafficking/smuggling — both within the national territory and between/among countries — including human trafficking, drug trafficking and gold smuggling, leads to a difficulty in addressing it. According to multiple sources including the BBC and CNN, political leaders are involved in trafficking/smuggling in different countries in Asia, Africa and other regions, including, but not limited to, Cambodia, Mexico, Thailand, Bangladesh and Nigeria. In addition to the difficulty in addressing trafficking/smuggling, such involvement results in far reaching consequences including undermining the rule of law, perpetuating a cycle of criminal activity and eroding trust in public institutions including the judiciary, leading to concerns.
It is notable that political leaders are involved with trafficking/smuggling gangs due to the desire for their financial gain and political support. But this involvement is facilitated by law enforcement-based and other reasons. A lack of effective law enforcement and oversight, corruption within government systems and a lack of accountability and transparency in governance create opportunities for many politicians to engage in such illegal activities without any fear of repercussions in many countries. Political leaders who exploit their power for personal gain use their influence in several ways including facilitating the movement of illegal goods across borders and protecting criminal organizations from legal actions. Among others, inadequate resources for successfully combating trafficking/smuggling, political instability and conflict facilitate such involvement many times.
Different countries definitely take legal, party-based and other steps to address politicians’ role in trafficking/smuggling. Many countries implement stricter background checks and vetting processes for political candidates and penalties for those including political leaders involved in trafficking/smuggling, leading to positive outcomes in many countries. Among others, involved political leaders are brought to justice by relevant laws and they face party-based measures including expulsion from the affiliated political parties in different countries in Asia, Europe and other regions. For instance, the former Governor of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, Mario Villanueva Madrid who received large sums of money in exchange for allowing cocaine to be smuggled into the United States, was brought to justice on drug trafficking charges.
But there are diverse flaws in the efforts of the governments to address the involvement of political leaders in trafficking/smuggling. There remains a lack of proper enforcement of laws and regulations, the political will of the government regarding justice and political party-based steps against the political leaders involved in trafficking/smuggling activities in many countries in Asia, Africa and other continents including, but not limited to, Mexico, Columbia and Venezuela. Additionally, there is a lack of efforts to establish the rule of law and inadequate steps to address corruption within law enforcement agencies in many countries — facilitating politicians’ involvement in trafficking/smuggling activities.
Unless the involvement of political leaders is addressed, it is difficult to successfully combat the menace of trafficking/smuggling in many countries. It is thus desired that strengthened steps be taken to address the involvement of political leaders in trafficking/smuggling activities in different countries. For this, thorough background checks, the enforcement of laws and regulations and bringing involved political leaders to justice are crucial. But the role of the political parties is also vital, along with the improved rule of law, in successfully combating the involvement of political leaders in trafficking/smuggling.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
