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18.05.2008 Editorial

STOP THE DRUG LORDS

By africanecho.co.uk
STOP THE DRUG LORDS
18.05.2008 LISTEN

THE RECENT arrest of two teenage girls in Accra Ghana allegedly on drug charges has focused attention on the complex nature of the war against drug trafficking.

Well, because the case is in court we will not want to discuss it but the fact that drug Lords are insensitive at all and will use even teenage girls (with or without their knowledge) in this dangerous circumstances implies that, they will go at all lengths to do anything possible to get on with their business.

There have been many cases of arrests in which pellets of drugs were either swallowed or inserted into various unmentionable parts of the body with the aim of avoiding detection at airports..

The love of making quick money often lures hitherto innocent African men and women into this dangerous practice. Not even the fear of the drug busting or getting arrested and jailed deters the couriers from this risky business. To them the end justifies the means. It is very disheartening and unfortunate that most of the beautiful long coastlines of Africa are now becoming the target of drug lords from mainly South America.

We applaud the efforts of Interpol to device measures of curtailing this evil practice. African echo will want to urge all the governments on the continent to team up to first stop the drugs from getting unto the continent. Research has shown that as your country continues to serve as a transit point a consumption culture also develops. That is the state a nation like Guinea Bissau has evolved into. Adding drug related diseases, conflicts, crime etc to add up to the HIV-AIDS, malaria, bilharzias; tuberculosis and the like will be too much for the continent.

Finally Europe and the United States must know that until they are able to stop glorifying the use of illicit drugs by especially musicians, film stars and show business people, the unguided ordinary man will fall into the same trap.

Morality has fallen flat on the ground in this world and there is the need for a conscious unrelenting campaign by faith groups, community groups and smaller family units to separate what is good from what is not right.

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