Current Issues in Law Enforcement, Essay Example

Globalization and the emergence of new technologies have increased the challenges to law enforcement in the area of illegal drug activity.  Restriction on international commerce and finance have been eased  and this has aided the movement of goods transferred between countries.  This has helped in the concealment of drugs and assisted drug trafficking  in moving illegal goods to the marketplace.  The Internet has been providing a forum for the exchange of information on illicit drug use.  In addition, Internet pharmacies have been offering the sale of uncontrolled substances without prescription.  This act violates article 10 of the psychotic substances convention in 1971.

Organized crime is now become much more transnational attempting to operate on legalized business basis.  This promotes the concept of drug abuse.  Drug trafficking groups have been embracing new technologies like the Internet and using items like prepaid telephone cards, broadband and radio frequencies, cloned cell phones and Internet chat rooms.  All means of communication to help facilitate  the storage and distribution of drugs.  Narcotics police in Hong Kong  have reported that the detection of drug-related funds has become much more difficult with the advent of electronic banking facilities.

The new trend is Internet gambling and this is a reported to be the  generator of $200 million per year.  It has been estimated that this may soon build to a $10 billion a year business.  This presents a number of legal challenges because.  [1] the potential for fraud exists.  [2] children’s access to gambling sites.  [3] increasing gambling addiction to the more vulnerable people in society.  [4] the need to preserve the legitimacy of the gambling and the revenue is generated to the states.  At least two states have gone to court over this Minnesota and Missouri — State vs. interactive gaming Corp.