Illegal drug trade in Alconbria

**Illegal drug trade in Alconbria** involves the trans-shipment of hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin and marijuana through the country.

## History

During the early stages of the Alconbrian War of Independence, the National Front for Alconbrian Liberation worked with drug cartels from Central and South America to smuggle marijuana into the United States. In the early 1970s, the NFAL helped Colombian drug cartels to ship cocaine into the US, and later the NFAL began growing opium poppies in territories under their control.

The partnership came to an end in 1979 when NFAL Chief Paul del Santé promised to end drug trafficking in Alconbria. Despite this, drugs still continued to flow through Alconbria. In the 1980s, the NFAL initiated a successful anti-drug campaign aimed to combat drug consumption among civilians and soldiers.

Drug trafficking began to sharply increase during the later stages of the war, as many returning soldiers joined criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking. Due to the war, resources were spent on developing the military, and as a result the police forces were underfunded and unorganized. This led to high levels of corruptions, and allowed drug traffickers to thrive in the 1980s and 1990s. Criminal gangs such as the Berkrozerk, Kinzel gang, Socialist Guard, Mayan Liberation Front and the Relvaslukto engaged in drug trafficking.

Alconbria launched the First Alconbrian-Malpuro War, and one of the prime reason was to combat drug trafficking perpetrated by Malpuro paramilitaries. As the police were still underfunded, drug violence still continued to see a massive rise throughout the 1990s, resulting in various crimes committed by drug traffickers, including the 1998 Carfo massacre and the murder of prominent anti-narcotics activist Jorge Elmono. The Alconbria People's Party advocated strong measures to curb drug trafficking, and accused Paul del Santé of aiding drug traffickers.

In 2001, Ernesto Titeriez decriminalized marijuana after coming to power. In September 2001, the Alconbrian police launched Operation Clean Sweep targeting drug traffickes, primarily the ones involved in the Alconbrian Crisis. Critics have alleged the operation's leader, Lianne Lepage worked closely with pro-APP drug trafficking paramilitaries Berkrozerk and Relvaslukto, and only attacked anti-APP groups like the Socialist Guard. The operation resulted in the expulsion of the latter organizations from the drug trafficking business, and the pro-APP groups taking over and monopolizing the drug trade in Alconbria. This resulted in a complete drop in drug-related violence, and an increase in bribes paid to the APP-led Government of Alconbria. The Second Alconbrian-Malpuro War led to the Alconbrian Armed Forces takeover of the drug-producing regions of the Metsarbarros. This led to the complete eradication of drug production in the Metsarbarros.

Beginning with 2008, government-allied groups restarted the production of illicit drugs with support from the government, police and armed forces. Detractors allege the drug production was started by Augustin Voimer to earn money to bribe high ranking military leaders and voters. Drug production continued throughout the 2009 Alconbrian humanitarian crisis, with many speculating that drug money was used implement populist welfare programs to quell the 2009 Alconbrian protests. According to Altivebrian intelligence officers, Alconbrian drug traffickers under First Lady Zervana Voimer trafficked drugs to Zvakana, from where they would springboard drugs into Europe, Africa and Asia. Alconbrian opposition leaders maintain that the Voimer family maintains close relations with Mexican drug cartels.

In 2011, Opposition leader Daniel Rubens claimed that Chief of Defense Staff Carlos Lluch, Police Director-General Lianne Lepage, Interior Minister Fernando Cartonna, Prime Minister John Roberts and First Lady Zervana Voimer were the leaders of the country's drug ring. In 2019, leaked documents revealed that Alconbrian Prison Services Director Glory Davies allowed imprisoned criminals like Victor Vargas to use their men to smuggle drugs for the government.

Facing international pressure, the Voimer regime began to clamp down on illegal drug trafficking beginning from 2019. Speaking to the media in 2020, Prime Minister Rerdi Llovez said the government would completely eradicate narcotics trafficking by 2024.