Transcontinental Express: Asia’s law enforces face synthetic drug proliferation

Abstract

The development of new synthetic drugs, not dependent on variable opium, cannabis, or coca crop yields, has transformed important aspects of the criminal drug trade. Producing and distributing synthetic drugs has become easier and cheaper than for traditional illicit drugs, and harder to detect. The result is an efficient, profitable, and global illicit market that has revitalised traditional crime groups and further challenged the ability of law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies to identify and control the misuse of these drugs.