A sea-bound cocaine shipment has obviously gone astray, resulting in a large number of packages containing the drug washing out on the shores of the Marshal Islands.
Marshall Islands are a picturesque group of atolls in the Pacific Ocean, but unfortunately the nation is positioned smack in the middle of a frequently used drug route from Colombia to China. That leads to frequent instances where packages with cocaine end up on the beaches after being lost at sea. The first recorded incidents of this kind started way back in the 1980’s and they are becoming more prevalent lately, with the same scenario repeated 6 times between 2002 and 2009. That’s why nobody was shocked when it happened again this year, although local police had some tough work to do.
Around 40 pounds of cocaine powder was accidentally deposited on the Enewetak Atoll in a total of 18 packages that recently hit the shore. The packages are typically found by local villagers, who sometimes decide not to report them to the police and instead push them into underground channels that eventually reach the capital city of the island nation, Majuro. This time, one resident was arrested for withholding the drugs he discovered on the beach, and he will face criminal prosecution for his actions. It is unclear what quantities of the drug were found in his possession, but it’s safe to say the man was looking to make some extra cash on the side.
This cute episode is indicative of a much larger issue – global drug trade is touching literally every corner of the Earth, affecting local economies and social life in unpredictable ways. Marshal Islands are neither a coca producer nor a big-time market, but that doesn’t mean they are safe from the corruptive influence of the dirty drug money. When the illegal cargo literally floats to your front door, it provides a temptation that is very difficult to ignore.
This article was originally written in English, If you see any errors please email us at words@The-TripReport.com
