It is true that the illegal Drug trade generates significant revenue globally, and it often surpasses the turnover of legal industries like gambling. The exact numbers related to the drug trade are difficult to determine with precision due to its clandestine nature. While it is widely acknowledged that the illicit drug market is substantial and lucrative, the value of seizures or intersection effectiveness are often inflated beyond credibility.

The lack of accounting and security in the black market drug trade is a result of its illegal nature. Criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking operate outside the boundaries of the law and evade government regulations and oversight. This absence of regulation and oversight enables them to amass profits and assets without having to adhere to legal obligations like quality control, fit for purpose, age of consent, employment conditions and tax obligations.

Efficiency within the illicit drug trade can be attributed to criminal organizations that employ efficient networks and methods to transport and distribute drugs. The more 'condensed' the drug (ie: hash, crack, fentanyl) the easier it is to transport, disguise and distribute clandestinely.

As high demand for illicit drugs provides a strong incentive for these organizations to streamline and innovate their operations it should not be forgotten that the bulk of trade occurs at a much more personal one-on-one transactional level where consumers subsidise their own consumption by trading within their own networks. The drug trade may be efficient in certain aspects, it still perpetuates suspicion, violence, exploitation, and other harmful, often unintended, consequences including but not limited to a legacy of unaccounted mistruths and manufactured consent.

New Zealand's Law enforcement agencies, despite having deficit funding (spend it and account later) and technological advantages, often face challenges in combating the drug trade due to its clandestine nature and the tight networks involved. Efforts to disrupt the drug supply chain and apprehend those involved require significant resources, time and coordination all of which lacks accountability save the end justifies the means and allocated resources. These are resources that would be better invested in what works and what delivers.

Overall, the illicit drug trade represents a complex and multifaceted issue, to which addressing it requires a social ecology approach that embraces human rights, credible and enabled education, media that ceases to trade on if it bleeds it leads and electorates that see past dog whistle politics.

Critically, New Zealand plays its part in the global manifestation of drug policy failure that on a scale of harms, makes Apartheid look good.

We have an election pending. Make it work for every Kiwi. Ask hard questions at every opportunity. Call media and demand an accounting.... and an earnest debate. It is the most effective reform 'action' we can take.... your media is a mere phone call, text and email away.

Blair Anderson http://mildgreens.blogspot.com