Drugs and Terrorism are a great menace that appear to be rampaging across today’s world. Owing to this, many countries of the world are facing the threat head on, and there have been remarkable links established between the two. Frankly speaking one supports the other and vice versa. One is the need and the other is a want. Both these have been a great setback to the tourism industry on the whole. Travelers, who travel frequently from one nation to another, are often warned by their tourism and foreign relation department on these imminent threats. There is also a fine line of demarcation done by US and many European countries to give its citizens a word of advice, before they plan to travel in central Asia, South East Asia, Africa and Asia pacific regions. The United States State Department keeps an up to date list of countries that are safe to travel in, and those that are not.

It is worth noting that there are many spectacular destination spots in these regions, but owing to drugs and terrorism, these countries are suffering an economic slow down. Today, tourism is a prolific sector and it is a lucrative one as well. The whole of the Asian belt, especially the Golden Crescent, is known for the opium trade activity. Of these, three nations, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan give the world’s maximum opium production. Furthermore, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Iraq, Morocco, Dubai, Italy, Cambodia and many CIS countries serve as breeding grounds for Terrorism and mafia.

The impact of terrorism alone has been widespread on the tourism sector. There have been instances, where tourists of many prosperous countries were kidnapped, and their respective governments were extorted for huge amounts of money in exchange for their release. Many were killed at point blank range. The most aggressive and stubborn form of terrorism is likely to be seen in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Nepal. You will find perfect example of the link between drugs and terrorism in Afghanistan. The Taliban rule in Afghanistan contributed to 57 percent of the world’s supply of opium. And by the end of year 1999, opium cultivation raised to 85 percent. The money generated through opium exports, helped the Taliban support their Terrorist activities. It was also a great deal of help to Taliban rulers when they were fighting US and allied forces.

For supporting Terrorism, it is essential that dollars are spooled in. And drugs are a potent medium to materialize this process. Moreover, you will also find many occasions, wherein, local police officials have made huge seizures from foreign tourists. Considering this, it can be inferred that Drugs and Terrorism work close together. And with Tourism adding a viable medium, the mixture is effective enough to take any peace loving nation in one go.

A strong link between Drugs and Terrorism can be seen in Colombia. The largest terrorist groups operating in the country are Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the United Self-Defense Groups of Colombia (AUC), and the National Liberation Army (ELN). These groups receive huge amounts of money through taxation, narcotics and other activities. There have been instances, where at three different times tourists from Europe and America were attacked, in Colombia, resulting in heavy causalities. Thereafter, a warning was sounded across the world for American and European citizens, not to visit these countries.

Of late, the latest situation is that Drugs and Terrorism has been ingrained in the roots of terrorist supporting countries to such an extent that it is considered a trade and strong business activity. New recruits are continuously added to the fully operational wings spread across nations and continents. A stringent plan of action needs to be implemented to uproot this ticking time bomb from the face of the world map, and make it the best place to live.