ABSTRACT
The high concentration of illegal drugs production stands in stark contradiction with common beliefs about the reasons why a country produces them. Coca production is concentrated in three countries: Colombia, Bolivia and Peru but Colombia has concentrated cocaine manufacturing during last century. Illegal poppy and opium production is also concentrated in Afghanistan, Myanmar and Laos and in the past it was produced in significant quantities in the Northwest Territories of Pakistan and in Thailand. Afghanistan and Colombia are remarkably different countries. Despite their large and important differences, both countries became "drug export tigers". The illicit drug industry tends to concentrate in countries and regions where the rule of law of the central state is weak and civil society tolerant of illegal economic activities. In other words, the "drug production problem" is not one of economics alone, but it is primarily one of institutions, governability and social values. Anti-drug policies in these countries are a part of the war on terrorism.
