The trade has a profoundly negative effect on the area. Smugglers are paid in cocaine rather than cash and have created local 'addict' markets to offload their merchandise. Gangsters have sought to influence local governments using dollars and bullets. Single mothers with hungry children to feed have been imprisoned for trying to traffic drugs into Europe. All because drug users in London or New York are prepared to pay so much for their 'fix'.
Drugs are big business.
The United Nations estimates there are more than 50 million regular users of heroin, cocaine and synthetic drugs like 'ecstasy' world-wide. Farmers, security guards, chemists, accountants, pilots, lawyers, bankers, dealers, policemen and health-workers are all kept busy supporting or combating the trade. The economics of the drugs business function like any other industry. If there's a shortage of raw material, be it coca leaf or opium, the price of the drug goes up. If there's too much, the price goes down.