Breaking bad broke country that you thought
Hopped up on meth malnourished North Korean workers zombies day and night to erect skyscrapers in the center of Pyongyang. This apocalyptic picture was painted in the air correspondents of “Radio Free Asia”, referring to some “anonymous sources”. North Korea is not a country that comes to mind first when it comes to “meth epidemic.” .ru” has decided to understand what is happening in this country, and at the same time found out that the “meth epidemic” was covered a few States, there is little associated with the craze of synthetic drugs.
Metasuche
A few days ago on the “Radio Free Asia” (RSA) sounded shocking report, which indicated that workers at the construction sites of Pyongyang’s perfectly legal to give methamphetamine. The goal is to increase productivity to the deadline to pass the famous “skyscrapers” in the North Korean capital.
This story disseminated by many Western media. However, there is reason to believe that the story of “arcobaleni”, tirelessly work hard in the construction of Juche to the glory of the Supreme Leader, the New stars and Brilliant comrade Kim is, to put it mildly, an exaggeration.
“In order to feed so many workers, you need a huge amount of methamphetamine,” recalls lead researcher of the Center for Korean studies Institute of far Eastern studies Russian Academy of Sciences Konstantin Asmolov. — Doubt, and the source: RSA is an American project, an attempt to do the analogue of “Free Europe”, but with far less than adequate leadership. It has been caught stuffing about North Korea. In this case, radio citing unnamed sources “knowledgeable about the situation,” and it can mean the real people, which RAMI does not want to “Shine” and the cover for written by the authors of nonsense.
Does this mean that the problem of meth in the DPRK does not exist? Not at all. Even when the father of the current leader, Kim Jong Il, the country produces drugs — though under strict state control, and they were mostly abroad. They were produced in a pharmaceutical factory in the city of Hungnam. During the famine of 1995-99, its employees moonlighting on the side to feed their families. During these years, methamphetamine has appeared in the markets of the country.
It is seriously concerned about Kim Jong-Il. According to some, the employees of the factory planned to send to the camps or to special settlements. But in the end the authorities were limited to simple closure of production — knowledgeable chemists in the DPRK in price. But it was too late — the technology has gone to the people. The locals are slightly familiar with synthetic drugs, found white crystals, quickly nicknamed “ice”, a wonderful drug that relieves pain and elevates mood. All attempts of Pyongyang to halt its spread failed. Prevented grassroots corruption: the ordinary police a small bribe or a portion of “ice” without problems produced caught drug dealers.
North Korean soldiers
Photo: KCNA / Reuters
Soon methamphetamine was exported to the Chinese border provinces, and in such quantities that the Chinese State Department for the fight against drugs has described the situation as “heavy disaster”.
Then “ice” crossed the ocean. Recently in the United States arrested several smugglers, trading in North Korean methamphetamine. American chemists were amazed by its purity from 96 to 98 percent. In Washington found that the drug is of such quality could not be manufactured in makeshift conditions, and therefore, the program of production of the drug still exists and is supported at the state level. The story of Arcobaleno” in Pyongyang were fitting perfectly in this canvas.
“This is a classic example of propaganda — said Asmolov. — The “evil Empire” is not able to do progress or positive activities. It can build a “death star” or a terrible concentration camp, and a 30-storey houses for local people — no. If it still builds, the builders are under the influence of drugs. To believe that people can sympathize with the regime and to work on construction sites with sincere enthusiasm, you cannot, because otherwise it will not be the “evil Empire””.
Methamphetamine and Ayatollah
Markets closed another state — Iran — methamphetamine was discovered in the early 2000s. at First, the drug (in Farsi it is called “Shisha” — “glass”) supplied from abroad, but the Iranians soon learned to cook it on the spot. Meth came on the second place in popularity, pushing on the third traditional Afghan heroin, which has long been was in transit through Iran to the West. Well, the leaders remained the usual opium.
The reason for this success of synthetic drugs told the Guardian explained one of the Tehran drug named Bijan: “Methamphetamine is a cheap (about $ 5 per gram) and easy to manufacture. And unlike heroin, it does not need to go to Afghanistan or deal with intermediaries. Less chance of getting caught, and fewer people involved in the scheme”.
But business not only in cheapness and availability. In Iran it is widely believed that methamphetamine is safer than heroin. Drug in Teheran can be bought at almost every street corner peddlers sell it to the drivers trapped in traffic jams, and employees of beauty salons offer to their clients. “It is much cheaper than liposuction, and I think much safer — confessed 26-year-old Secretary Roya. — Sise pills help to lose weight, but Smoking is really bad for your health. For me it’s just medicine.”
Tehran youth
Photo: Vahid Salemi / AP
All this led to the fact that Iran came out on the import of pseudoephedrine, a precursor for the production of methamphetamine is on the fourth place in the world. The interior Minister of the Islamic Republic of Abdulreza Rahmani Fazli has officially announced that drug addiction in the country affects more than 6 million people in the statistics of causes of death drug use ranked second, behind only accidents.
Methamphetamine consumed in all sectors of society: the Golden youth, peasants, prostitutes, clerks. A lot of drug addicts among young, educated women find it difficult to find a job in the Iranian economy only recently emerged from under the sanctions. If they fail to marry, that is their fate — depression and drug addiction. In General, they, like other members of the wealthy strata and the middle class, are rarely included in the statistics — families prefer to keep their relationship a secret.
“Shishe buy everything. The majority, regular guys, students or office workers. But get it rich — they either order home delivery or come in cool cars. Sise among young people is a luxury item, fashionable thing,” explains petty drug dealer payvand Tehran.
The government fights with drug dealers as he can. For drug trafficking death penalty sentences are carried out quickly and ruthlessly. According to official statistics, eight out of ten of executed criminals — drug dealers, according to unofficial — nine out of ten.
Authorities are trying to combine carrot and stick. For drug addicts open to private and public rehabilitation centers, but the benefits are dubious: according to Iranian officials, relapses have been reported in 85 percent of patients, and some pass through rehabi 15-20 times.
The police conduct raids, but on each closed laboratory, as acknowledged by the us guards, we have two new. As in North Korea, all because of petty corruption: small bribes, the police are willing to inform about the raids and investigations.
“In our country, everything rests on relationships. As long as you have patron, you are safe. For the rich one rule for the rest of the population. Fortunately, I have money and useful contacts,” says Bijan.
Meth traffickers in Iran are not going to take the position. On the contrary, they are looking for contacts in South-East Asia, hoping to expand exports — indeed, in Thailand and Malaysia gram of methamphetamine is five times more than in Iran. But a look at Iraq — trade with a neighbor promises though smaller, but nearly safe income.
Epidemic in Basra
Until recently, the Iraqis got along just fine without meth. Traditionally there was selling hashish comes from Afghanistan. From Syria imported amphetamine (Captagon). In 2008, the Americans discovered that the farmers in Diyala province, famous for its pomegranates and oranges have turned to opium poppy.
A few days ago, the British press raised the alarm. A reporter for the Guardian visited the border of Basra, which was once part of the British zone of occupation, and found that the city is gripped by an epidemic of meth addiction.
Although the moment by the coalition forces led by the US overthrew Saddam Hussein, it’s been 13 years, the economy of Iraq still lies in ruins. In a poor country millions of people are unemployed. The sale of alcohol is prohibited, and harsh reality helps to reconcile some cheap meth. As in Iran, buy it all: the unemployed and the homeless trying to forget, and among the wealthy there is a belief that the drug increases the potency. It is smoked with the help of the device light bulb and tubes made from straws.
“All the kids in my neighborhood to smoke meth — says a local drug dealer Abdullah. — They used to drink and smoke now. Grams worth 20 thousand Iraqi dinars — a little over 17 dollars, and it can be spread throughout the day. It’s cheaper than four cans of beer, and no fume”.
Station Basrah
Photo: Muhannad Fala’ah / Getty Images
Why the epidemic struck it Basra? The city is located on the Iranian border for centuries through it was the convoys of opium from Afghanistan to the rich countries of the Gulf. Until recently, local bandits prefer to trade oil. But when the Iranian markets on the other side of the border three years ago were crystal meth, black gold was forgotten.
“You go to Iran and bring kilos of meth, spend a week and double their money,” explains Abdullah. No wonder smuggling traffic calculated in tons.
The local police are powerless. The city jail was full, and new detainees have nowhere to put. The money from Baghdad coming irregularly, so that the police are often forced to pay for the surgery out of his own salary. In poor neighborhoods controlled by Shiite militia fighters, whose ranks already full of relatives of criminals, the police are just afraid to meddle. The rescue volunteers. “Someone thinks it is their religious duty, others want to curry favor or to remove a rival dealer, but the majority of helps us for money, — explained one of the officers. — 95 percent of all security forces in Basra are corrupt, so if they find out that we are planning another operation, we can shoot in the middle of the street our colleagues”.
Problems adds a great policy. A few days ago, the police managed to ambush the dealer of the Iranian Khorramshahr. During surgery, Iranian border guards attacked Iraqi police, who returned fire. In the end, instead of gratitude for seized a batch of methamphetamine — a record 17 pounds — the police were reprimanded for the shootout.
In this situation, to understand Baghdad, does not want to strain relations with Tehran. Money in the Iraqi Treasury not to pay for police operations nothing. However, with this approach, the Iraqi leadership runs the risk of a meth epidemic is not one in Basra and across the country.
