Saudi Arabia where can I buy cocaine

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Saudi Arabia where can I buy cocaine

Western Asia has long been a hotbed for various illicit drugs, including hashish, methamphetamine and Captagon. Cocaine, by contrast, has not gained a foothold in the region, despite continued increases in supply and demand worldwide. However, in recent years, there have been signs that Turkey may be becoming the next key cocaine transit hub. Although Turkish officials reported a 44 per cent increase in cocaine seizures between and , data on domestic consumption did not show a parallel increase, suggesting that the country is likely to serve as a drug corridor. In Western Asia, the infrastructure needed for cocaine to spread is already in place. However, it remains to be seen whether the drug will flood the regional market. This is especially true given that there is no shortage of alternatives. For cocaine suppliers from Latin America and Turkey to establish a significant presence in Western Asia, they would need, at a minimum, to align themselves with established drug traffickers in the region. This has been the case in Turkey, where Latin American groups capitalized on their expertise, resources and networks to establish a cocaine corridor stretching from Turkey to Europe, the Caucasus and Russia. This operation involved close collaboration with Turkish heroin traffickers and Balkan criminals , allowing them to leverage existing networks and knowledge from the long-standing heroin trade. It remains to be seen, however, whether cocaine suppliers can exploit such connections to reach the broader Western Asia region. Volatility in the region may well drive a quick need for cash, with the funding of conflict through drug trafficking becoming a vulnerability. Although cocaine may not be the preferred illicit substance among drug users in the region, there are some notable exceptions. In the Gulf states, as well as other hotspots in Lebanon and Israel , there are some vibrant consumer markets. In the Levant, cocaine use has reportedly increased among the growing middle and upper classes, and particularly young people. It is in these niche wealthy markets that the impact of a Turkish cocaine corridor would probably be most felt. However, UNODC findings do not reflect this, suggesting instead that smuggling activities appear to involve mainly foreign nationals with no apparent connection to Turkey catering to foreign individuals and expatriate communities. Similarly, seizures of cocaine being shipped from Turkey to Western Asia in have so far been remarkably low. Nevertheless, the Gulf remains the most likely candidate for an expanded cocaine market. In West Africa, high-ranking members of the group have been implicated in the cocaine trade between Latin America and Europe. Western Asia not only exports cocaine criminals, but also appears to afford them some protection. These individuals escape prosecution in their home countries and find opportunity for freedom in Gulf states. As the Gulf experiences an influx of cocaine expats, it is also witnessing the inflow of illicit proceeds from the drug trade. The real-estate boom in Dubai in recent years has been linked to the influx of illicit funds derived from the drug trade and other illicit activities. Even if Turkey were to further establish itself as a major cocaine corridor, it is unlikely that this would lead to an immediate surge of the drug in Western Asia. However, in the current context of instability and the drive for resources that come with it, this development may set the stage for the drug trade to introduce new dynamics and challenges to the region. The series explores, from a regional perspective, how drug trafficking is influenced by instability and broader geopolitics, the effects it has on local dynamics throughout illicit supply chains and its wider global impact. Sign up to our Western Asia mailing list. Author s Sarah Fares Laura Adal. Posted on 13 Oct Western Asia is perceived as playing a relatively minor role in the global cocaine trade. However, claims that Turkey may be emerging as a major cocaine corridor to Europe raise questions about a potential influx of the drug into the rest of Western Asia. Too many stakeholders For cocaine suppliers from Latin America and Turkey to establish a significant presence in Western Asia, they would need, at a minimum, to align themselves with established drug traffickers in the region. Opportunities in the Gulf? Related analysis.

Saudi Arabia is becoming the drug capital of the Middle East

Saudi Arabia where can I buy cocaine

Insufficient research exists on drug trafficking and abuse in Saudi Arabia. This paper aims to uncover how drugs are trafficked to Saudi Arabia, what factors contribute to an ever-growing drug use in the Kingdom, and what the life of illegal drug use looks like in such an Islamic environment. Documentary methods and in-depth interviews were adopted to associate drug problems with social environments. It is discovered that drug trafficking is correlated to economic disparity among regions and social strata in the Kingdom, methods of drug purchase differ regionally, and drug use is an unintended consequence of social changes. The study concludes that drug offenses, countering traditional associations of Saudi society, creates a double life in the Kingdom. As Islam is associated with strictness and conservatism, people perceive Saudi Arabia as a drug free society. The Saudi government spared no expense to combat this issue. However, research shows that drug trafficking and substance abuse are surprisingly prevalent in Saudi Arabia. The discrepancy between the public perception of a drug-free Saudi society and the reality of drug-based crimes intrigues readers. This paper tries to solve this puzzle through an examination of the relationships between drug trafficking, substance abuse, and social environments in the Kingdom. Saudi Arabia is the largest sovereign state in the Middle East. For years, the Saudi government has denied drug abuse to decrease foreign associations with crime in the Kingdom. With the advent of the internet and social media age, the problem has become increasingly exposed to outsiders. Drug trafficking in the Middle East is always found to be interwoven with terrorism \[ 4 \]. It is also discovered that drug abuse is associated with local politics in the Middle East as many ethnopolitical organizations are involved in the drug trade \[ 5 \]. Drug abuse in Saudi Arabia has only been explored partially in some descriptive studies and health studies \[ 6 \]. For instance, a recent study with geographic information systems techniques shows that most drug offences occur in Saudi Northern and Southern Borders \[ 7 \]. Drug abuse is found to be geographical and associated to age in the Kingdom \[ 8 \]. Drugs get popular in the Kingdom for various reasons, including a reputation of sexual stimulant \[ 9 \] and easy access \[ 10 \]. Limited studies from a criminological perspective show peer influence and media influence are the most consistent predictor of substance use in the Kingdom \[ 11 , 12 \]. Islam Wahhabism is a predominant feature of Saudi culture. Islamic nations including Saudi Arabia practice Sharia law which is an Islamic legal system derived from religious precepts of Islam. There is no clear verse about prohibition of narcotics and tobacco use in Quran, neither does it express clearly whether the narcotics are halal legal or not \[ 13 \]. The lack of a clear and definitive ruling on drug use leaves a space for disputes among Muslim jurists. The qualitative approach fits the study because of the illusive nature of drug trafficking and abuse. Documentary method is adopted to develop an understanding on the relationship of social background and the latest drug cases in Saudi Arabia. In-depth interview is chosen to best probe tricks and motives in drug trafficking and abuse. Drawing on the qualitative data, the study tries to shed light on the hidden dimensions of drug trafficking and abuse in the Kingdom through its diversity, complexity and richness. Participants are sampled via snowball method from a Saudi university in Eastern Province. Eighteen participants are finally recruited. All participants are male for the sake of sex segregation and the unavailability of female subjects. Among them, 10 have personal experience of drug use. Information about the interviewees is as below Table 1. Twelve interviews are done face to face, while six are conducted through Whatsapp because of coronavirus Each lasts about one and half hours. All interviews are conducted in English. Participants are thoroughly informed about the aim of research, the contents of the interview, and confidentiality. The interviews are semi-structured with questions on three broad topics, drug trafficking, drug sale, and drug abuse. The interviews are transcribed and analyzed using a narrative method \[ 15 \]. The grounded theory approach \[ 16 \] is followed to comprehend the themes emerging from transcripts, and develop a theoretical framework which explains drug offences in Saudi Arabia. Three kinds of drug natural narcotics, semi-synthetic narcotics, and synthetic narcotics range in popularity among Saudis based on region, age, and social strata \[ 17 \]. The most popular drug in the Kingdom is hashish. It is particularly popular among the younger generations, as discovered in other studies \[ 8 \]. It is so common among Saudis that it gives people the false impression that hashish is legal in the Kingdom. For an interviewee who is a senior, there is a social reason for the popularity of hashish. The pressure encourages the youth to either use hashish or face continual ostracization. For adults, hashish is usually mixed with tobacco or Shisha in hookah bar in Saudi Arabia, which de facto deprives attributes of illegal drugs and explains its popularity \[ 19 \]. Correlations with gender and hashish use are found to be weak. I heard from my sister that her friends meet together and smoke hashish….. Arabs always smoke shisha mixed with hashish. You know, women smoke shisha too; it should be common that they smoke shisha with hashish. But it may not be as popular as it among boys. Look like drug-taking is more common in the city. But city residents and villagers take similar drugs. Studies \[ 20 \] show that amphetamine mainly a nonprescription drug named Captagon is the second most common drug among both adolescents and adults in Saudi Arabia. CNN reports that narcotic manufacturers including home laboratories in South-Eastern Europe produce counterfeit Captagon tablets mainly for Middle East market, especially Saudi Arabia \[ 1 \]. Amphetamine is more prevalent among young citizens for several reasons. Unlike old people, young people like to try and accept new things. Second, it is popular because of its convenience. My school mates and I like it more than hashish. Not like hashish, we can buy in tablet……Once we get 25 Riyals from parents, we can buy one tablet and enjoy it. According to interviewee H, older generations prefer hashish to amphetamine because they are more conscious of strong adverse effects of amphetamines. They may lose all of them if take amphetamine. But young people have no such fear. Derived from the leaves of a specific tree and classified as a natural drug for producing psychological dependence by the WHO, khat is the third popular drug in Saudi Arabia. Khat started to enter Arab history in the fourteenth century when Yemeni Sufis used khat as a tea in religious ceremonies. It has proliferated among elites and become popular amongst Arabs over the last 30 years \[ 21 \]. Although the khat is illegal in Saudi Arabia, khat chewing is still significantly common among college students \[ 22 \]. Research confirms that khat has negative effects on abusers such as anorexia, depression, delusional behavior, violence, hallucinations, and paranoia \[ 23 , 24 \]. However, Interviewee A seems to be ignorant of these adverse effects. Besides geographical difference in khat use, there used to be a class difference in khat use. Hashish and amphetamine are about four times as expensive as khat, therefore are more popular among the rich. Khat is used for several purposes. First, it works for refreshing or keeping some awake. Later, people find it can stimulate to a great deal, then use it very often……lots of my classmates use khat during the final exam because we need to study for the whole night. All my friends chew khat, no need to hide. Since chewing khat is kind of a secret thing, treating each other with khat can certainly bring participants closer. Tramadol and opioids are also popular to some extent in Saudi Arabia. Some studies report that two thirds of those who take drugs use tramadol as their first choice drug, after tobacco, as it is readily available no prescription needed and sold at a low price \[ 12 \]. Tramadol is fashionable, first of all, because it is easier to hide and its effect lasts longer than others. Second, it helps escape justice. When drug users get caught, they would be less likely to be charged due to medical function of Tramadol. Besides khat and hashish, I once asked doctors to prescribe Tramadol for me, and had no fear because it is medicine for pain-killing. This is particularly important for the youth who have no job or are from working class. Some Saudis smoke tramadol for he has no money. I know lots of middle school students smoking tramadol. The way drugs are trafficked to Saudi Arabia is interwoven with economic, political, and religious factors, as well as relative to drug suppliers currently active in the Kingdom. Having the largest population in the region and largest oil reserve in the World, Saudi Arabia is the most lucrative market for drug traders. Consequently, drugs flow to Saudi Arabia from different ways. There are three main routes through which drugs are trafficked to Saudi Arabia. These routes are either established by the people from poor tribal areas, or interwoven with migration and pilgrimage. Smuggling via the three routes goes more smoothly than that among Non-Arab countries because there is no linguistic barrier in the Middle East. The first, called the North Eastern route, starts from Afghanistan- the main supplier of cannabis in the World. It is an old route which can be traced back to 20 years ago when donkeys were used for drug trafficking. The route is controlled by tribes in the Areas and has been part of local shadow economy. In many cases, such tribes are strong enough and sufficiently armed to intimidate police from interfering in drug trafficking \[ 26 \]. Those people are very tough, and may kill police……because it is about their income. For policemen, it is just a job. They may go easy on these tribes for there is no need to sacrifice life for combating drug trafficking. Also, it is very possible those police are local. They have to protect their own tribe; otherwise his family cannot survive in the region. The second route, regarded the primary supply route, starts from Yemen or from Morocco, another main supplier of cannabis in the World and ends in Najran Province of Saudi Arabia. Some drugs are trafficked to Saudi Arabia by illegal immigrants from North Africa who look for jobs in the Kingdom. These migrants carry drugs to the Kingdom with the help of international smuggling networks in exchange of a free passage \[ 27 \]. That is why both academic research and official news show that rate of non-Saudi drug offences is higher than Saudi national rate in Southern Provinces Jizan and Najran which is the location where illegal immigrants first arrive \[ 7 , 28 \]. Some drugs are trafficked by Saudi and Yemeni gangs on the border. But they may not be real mafia, but tribe gangs. Yemen used to be the main source of khat for Saudi Arabia, but it recently began providing hashish to Saudis \[ 29 \]. Numerous attempts at drug trafficking are foiled by Saudi border guards \[ 30 \]. In spite of these arrests and the resulting political tension, smuggling along this second route actually increases as both sides use drug smuggling for weapons recently \[ 31 \]. The third route starts from Lebanon the third largest supplier of cannabis and a major amphetamine supplier in the World or East Europe another key amphetamine supplier , goes to Jordon Abaqa Governorate , and then ends at the Saudi Province of Tabuk \[ 32 \]. The route grew rapidly because amphetamine can be easily manufactured even in a minivan without making any noise \[ 33 \]. I wish they could move machines to Saudi Arabia so the price will be lower and lower. Methods of drug trafficking are diversified in Saudi Arabia, depending on route, number of people involved, type of drug, etc. Some trafficking is carried out by individuals, while some drug trafficking is organized by gangs with plenty of people involved, supports, and high-tech facilities. There are several popular ways through which individuals smuggle drugs through customs. The first is to swallow capsules filled with heroin. In , one attempt of smuggling drugs involved 80 capsules of g of heroin and in another, capsules of g of heroin were foiled at the Jedda Airport \[ 36 \]. He thought it would be taking drugs with luggage, but it turned to be hiding drug in stomach. Drugs like amphetamine are usually hidden in confusing items, such as wooden stand or hollowed Quran with a wooden cover \[ 37 \]. Thirdly, some traffickers take drugs to the Kingdom by taking advantage of produce import. As a state covered by desert mainly, Saudi Arabia relies on imports for food \[ 38 \], but such imports are exploited for drug trafficking. One Saudi put drugs in onion during its growth, so the drugs are naturally covered by onion. Fourthly, using birds for drug trafficking is adopted on the border between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. One of my neighbors uses homing pigeon to carry drugs. Large quantities of drugs are commonly smuggled with vehicles. In the talk with interviewee E who has a classmate involved in such smuggling activities, he explains that smuggling drugs with vehicles is popular because of efficiency. When asked how to hide the drugs,. Interviewee E. Once the person can drive the new car safely into the Kingdom, the car will be his. The drug dealer is happy to give the driver the car……Sometimes, drug dealers drive the vehicles by themselves. If so, they have guns or other weapons in car. Bigger dealers even work with automobile import company and put tons of drugs in imported new cars. However, Saudi border guards haven been aware of such tricks very well. For instance, they foiled one smuggling attempt at the Northwestern border of Halat Amar, and discovered 4,, Captagon pills and That is why the risk increases transporting drugs to the Kingdom with this method. Once the drug is trafficked to the Kingdom, it goes to dealers at different levels in various regions. Dealers promote and sell it in his own way. Some approach youth in front of schools; some wait for customers at home; some try to find drug users on the coasts, like peddlers. There is a difference in ways of drug purchase among regions, because of cultural difference, demographic structural difference, etc. Two best places to buy hashish is Aramco camp and corniche. Hang out there and check out with adolescents hanging around. Be careful when you approach them because there are cops too. Usually SRs for a piece as long as your finger. There are also many foreigners there. The Aramco camp is segregated from Saudi society with the highest security level. It is very safe inside. So, young kids there could sell hashish for pocket money. His words are corroborated to some extent by the story of a year old boy who is arrested for selling drugs in Riyadh \[ 40 \]. Therefore, it is more possible for locals to get high quality hashish. As what happens in other countries, once a drug dealer and buyer complete a deal, a long-term deal relationship may be established. Drug dealers usually park their vehicles outside school waiting for customers when the school is finished. Interviewee J is from the City and shares his findings. They have developed a set of drug-selling culture. For example, when they park their vehicle outside school, they hang prayer beans on rear view mirror. The type of the bean and the way they hang the beans signal to potential purchasers, such as what kind of drugs available today, and how much the price is. That is why I only buy drugs from dealers I know well. My high school mates got drug from his older brother and sell to us. Amphetamine is small and can be hided and carried easily. When asked how much is the cost, interviewees imply that there is a class difference because drugs are too expensive for lower class, particularly after the war with neighbor countries \[ 41 \]. The money I used for drug is pocket money from my mom. I saved them and bought drug every month……My dad has a steady job, so I can have pocket money every week. Some classmates are poor and have no money to buy. They borrow money from friends. We all know he is not going to pay back. We are the same as other countries……. If you have no income, government only gives you about riyals per month unemployment benefit, the author added which is only enough for food. Price went to up because of the war with Houthis and new virus covid, the author added. It is very expensive now. My classmates told me it costs 25 riyals for one Captagon tablet, riyals for hashish as long as a finger. Khat used to be relatively cheap, about riyals for one bunch or one kilogram, but it has been up to riyals. My parents are not rich; I have no pocket money. Interviewee N. When asked why not get quick money in bad ways, the interviewees seemed to be cautious and lawful. Apparently, there is a clear distinction between drug abuse and other crimes for them. While stealing, homicide, and burglar are regarded as crime by them, drug abuse is not. It explains why crime rate in Saudi Arabia has not been soaring while drug abuse case increased significantly \[ 42 \]. Western coast of Saudi Arabia is mixed in race and culture and more tolerant on drug crimes than other regions. A research shows that Jeddah residents have the most positive attitudes toward drugs in comparison to people from other regions \[ 43 \]. Interviewee H, growing up in Jedda but working at eastern province, considers it easier to get drugs on the west coast. For cheap ones, you can go to slum karanteenah or old town Al-balad. For best ones, you have to go to north part of Jedda. That the drug trafficking and dealing are pervasive is not mainly because of a huge market, but very much related to economic conditions in Saudi Arabia. Although it is perceived a wealthy country, Saudi Arabia is noted with economic disparity. Unemployment rate has been soaring for years. A latest report shows that it reaches up to For the unemployed and financially strapped Saudis, drug trafficking and selling are ways to make a living and sustain themselves \[ 46 \]. Interviewee B exposes that. All Saudis know that eight-seven percent of Saudi revenues is accounted for by the petroleum sector. It is good but also bad because there is an economic instability. Interviewee B. You may get a death penalty for drug trafficking, importing, exporting, distributing, manufacturing, or growing drugs even for the first offense. I think it is not because Saudis like drugs or have no fear of death, but because they need money; both high pay and low pay jobs are taken by foreigners; there are 31 million population in the Kingdom. Among them, foreigners reach up to 10 million. Governments went harsh on foreigners in recent years, but there are still a big number of them. Our life is not easy; otherwise nobody takes that risk. In the Kingdom, only a few are rich. Many Saudis are struggling on the poverty line. To make a living, they need to find something to do. Selling drug is a way to support family although it is risky…Not much discrimination from community if you sell drugs. The only way is to sell drugs. Because the drug trafficking is source of income, traffickers try all their best to protect it. Some people still do it; it means it is extremely important to them. So, just be blind and dumb when you see drug trafficking or dealing. They may kill you. There was a case in May. Saudi drug trafficker and dealers can always get around with wasta. If you check out news, you may find that majority of drug traffickers and dealers executed are foreigners. Entertainment is part of social life worldwide. However, Saudi life seems boring to the youth for Arabia practices Sharia Law which has many specific behavioral codes on followers, such as no alcohol, no smoking, no music, no dancing, etc. As interviewees expose,. In my understanding, the most common relaxation here is to chat with friends at a coffee shop. That is boring too. Taking drug is our choice of releasing pressure and depression. If there were other options such as singing, dancing or drinking, added by the author , we may not smoke hashish……I like smoking hashish while watching Facebook or Twitter videos. It is fun. Many videos over there are about drug taking……It is so much fun; people always forward to friends… For us, it is a way of relaxation. At least, there is cinema here. We can go and find something fun on weekend. Several years ago, nothing interesting for young people, but hanging out at coffee shop. When I was in the high school, my classmates and I always made circuits along shops again and again inside malls. Looks like stupid, but that is what we did at the time. Now, my younger brother has one more option, watching movie. They seem to be used to a boring life. There might be some Saudis in the middle age taking drug, but I think more young Saudis use drug. Although Saudi Arabia has relatively good welfare for her citizens such as free education and medical care, Saudi youth face many pressures, such as academic pressure, financial burden, gender discrimination, limited accessibility to higher education, and marriage. It is discovered that mental health problem is one of the 11 leading causes of reduced quality of life in Saudi Arabia \[ 47 \]. The prevalence of such negative emotional states as depression, anxiety and stress reaches up to A study on nearly Riyadh residents even shows that Another very recent similar study shows that Interviewees share similar experiences; some of them choose taking drug as a solution to the psychological stress. I know many Saudis feel stressed. I am from a tribe. We are tough, so I got no depression. My classmates smoke hashish when he is anxious or depressed. Some professors are crazy; questions are very tough. We have to study very very late. No drug, it is impossible. Not much, but taking drugs can help you forget the problem temporarily. Saudi Arabia is noted for imposing harsh penalties on drug crimes. Trafficking, possession or use of drugs can be punished by public flogging, fines, lengthy imprisonment, or death, with smuggler, dealer and user distinguished and first offender and recidivist distinguished. However, Islamic legal system is also noted for a feature of restorative justice \[ 51 \]. Once found taking drug, Saudis face two options, imprisonment for 2 or more years or receiving medical treatment through a treatment program or specialized hospital. Students are treated more leniently with a punishment limited to discipline and monitoring. Actually, they are not. They always try to solve the problem peacefully. Why I dare to smoke hashish? Saudi government is very strict on drug smuggling, but easy on drug use. Also, we Saudis have wasta to get around rules once we are in trouble. You can always see news about foreigners executed for drug crimes because those foreigners take drugs to the Kingdom and have no wasta. After the discovering of oil in , Saudi Arabia has been on the road of industrialization and urbanization. Industrialization and urban development lead to migration inside the Kingdom \[ 52 \]. Traditional social fabric is therefore broken to some extent. Informal social control such as parental attachment turns out to be weak in such a mobile society. Their independent consciousness grows as time passes. But time is changing. Some young Saudis start to have his own opinion. It has been widely verified in various cultural contexts that deviant behaviors are possible to be developed or imitated in a situation of unattachment to parents \[ 53 \]. Saudis are no exception. He started to take drugs because of his friend. In contrast, traditional villages in which social fabric is not broken badly have fewer cases of drug abuse. Interviewee Q grows up in a village and settles down in cities after graduation. He starts to smoke hashish in college because of study pressure. For him,. Everybody knows each other and me. If I smoked hashish, they would tell my parents immediately……it brings a negative image to my family. We may be isolated. For instance, nobody is going to lend money to us; they think we spend money on drug…… You will feel you are in a giant net while living village, and there are hundred eyes watching you. But I have been free after I went to college. Nobody cares about you here. That is why I started to take drug. Saudi parents usually try to cover it up and send his kid to a specialized hospital for a treatment… Saudi population has been increasing rapidly for a long period. Such a social structure has a significant pressure on government for job creation. It is reported Saudi unemployment rate reached The situation of unemployment means no involvement in healthy activities for young generations. Given the substantial leisure times with few options of positive activity, Saudi youth tend to be engaged in drug abuse \[ 22 \]. As interviewees say,. For me, there is no time for such a thing; too much study and homework. No job, in some sense, means good for some people. On one hand, they can get some money from government unemployment benefits, about riyals per month, the author added ; on the other hand, they can have time to enjoy life. If there were somethings keeping them busy, their life would be different. With social structural changes comes cultural change, which is of great concern to the Saudi government as culture is viewed to be a strong control mechanism for social behavior \[ 56 \]. Studies \[ 43 \] show the more religious Saudis are, the more negative their attitude towards drug-related behaviors is. However, Saudi society is becoming increasingly globalized because of the dependence on foreign products and workers. Consequently, their collective Muslim identity has faded to some degree. Although Saudis are expected to be a good Muslim and social member, the young generation are less committed to it, compared to the older generations. As a result, they follow Islamic rule selectively, for their own convenience. I think most of us, no matter whether you agree or not, are multicultural. At least, I am such a person. I like foreign cultures. I am a normal person, and make mistakes. To be a good Muslim is very important for him……But most of young people like my friends have their own interpretation on Islam. As a matter of fact, the Saudi government is facing a worsening situation in which a subculture of drug-taking has been growing among the youth. The core part of such a subculture is neutralization of drug-taking. I remember that there are some verses talking about intoxicants and gambling in Chapter 5, but that is not drug. I know it is bad for health, but I only smoke hashish. Neutralized attitude towards drug spreads quickly among young generations when it is conveyed by fun stories, videos, and jokes which go virus among Facebook, Twitter, Tiktok users. I know he always watches funny videos about Mohashish recently. I worry about him very much. If he took drugs, our whole family life would be affected. I always have an eye on him. The new drug culture seems to have similar influences on men and women. No dramatic differences were observed between genders. I know my daughter and son smoke hashish……. She faces study problem and cannot focus……My son is bad because he uses drug for fun……. I sent them to a rehabilitation center and thanks to Allah, it works a bit. There are some options of fun for boys at least, but for girls, it is very limited…… girls are more likely to have psychological depression. Many of them turn to drugs for a solution. Gradually, they have their own opinion on drugs. That is their fun. They do it like a fashion show. After the show, they dance and smoke shisha, and probably with hashish. It is popular culture among them. The above analysis shows that rampant drug crimes in Saudi Arabia are an unintended consequence of global and industrial social changes. First, economy plays an important role in drug trafficking and selling. Given the lack of fully developed industrialization and a well-developed job market, income inequality is inevitable in the Kingdom. Saudi society is economically stratified to a great extent. A large percentage of citizens still live at or below the poverty line. Poverty pushes some of them to take a risk in drug trafficking and dealing. The case is worse for marginalized tribal areas. Second, the needs for a social life contribute drug taking in the Kingdom. Drugs function as a way to vent, to relax, and to entertain themselves. Third, positive functions of drug-taking encourage Saudi youths to try it out. Saudi youth, particularly college students, face psychological stress due to a heavy study load. The insufficiency of psychological services pushes them to seek drugs for help. Since income and psychological problems are the main causes of drug trafficking, drug dealing, and drug use, drug crimes mainly happen among middle-aged and young Saudis. The influencing process of such economic, social, and psychological factors on drug crimes is moderated by the condition of social fabric in community and neutralization techniques among Saudi youth. Social fabric has been strained by migration caused by industrialization. Once social fabric is broken, Hirshian social control through attachment is weakened. The more broken the social fabric in community is, the more drug crimes there are; also, the more popular the neutralization techniques there are, the more drug crimes there are. Collective pressure is always on Muslims in an Islamic cultural environment. Although actual institutional punishment is not harsh enough to deter drug crimes, it can force them go underground, since a drug-user may lose job, marriage, and life. As interviewees tell,. Otherwise, I may be suspected. If so, it brings a big problem to my family. My sister may not be able to get married….. Do you still dare to pray with them? If others know and gossip, it is going to influence his family a lot. Nobody knows I take drugs. Actually, I am a really good man except taking drug. Therefore, Saudi drug traffickers, dealers and users try to conceal their criminal behavior and show their religiosity to the public, by engaging in such behaviors as praying five times per day, reading Quran in public, and donating to the needy. Apparently, they have a double life, with both a public and underground life. On one hand, drug crimes have been a part of their life, but are exposed to only their closest friends; on the other hand, their public life is always religious and disciplined. Such a discrepancy suggests that they have a Goffmanian presentation of self in daily life \[ 58 \]. Particularly, drug trafficker, dealer, and abuser use impression management skills to control or shape how society view them. Although Saudi Arabia seems to be politically and culturally unified, there are cultural differences and institutional differences in law enforcement among regions. Islamic cultural and institutional control moderate the relationship between drug crimes and Saudi double life. Such a phenomenon is also applicable to other culturally illicit behaviors such as drinking, dancing, singing, and gambling among Saudis. The logic can be illustrated with following graph Graph 1. Drug trafficking, dealing, and use are serious crimes in Saudi Arabia. Common drugs are hashish, amphetamine, and khat. Drugs are trafficked to Saudi Arabia mainly through three routes, namely Eastern route, North route, and South route. Drug trafficking is not a result of Islamic culture, but a response to economic conditions in Saudi Arabia. Drug use is a consequence of social pressure, psychological needs, fun-seeking, peer influence, and loose informal social control which are led to by structural change, globalization, and cultural change, etc. Given the strict Islamic rules and social pressure, Saudi drug wrongdoers have to hide their illicit behavior and present to the public a religious life, resulting in a sort of double life. Therefore, prevention of drug crimes in Saudi Arabia should take a systematic approach, focusing on the economy and job creation, and then focusing on a leisure industry to foster healthier lifestyles. The study tries to shed light on how drugs are trafficked, sold and abused in Saudi Arabia, but also faces limitations. First, subjects are recruited via snow-ball sampling, and male only, therefore it should be cautious to generalize to the whole Saudi population. Second, drug trafficking faces a death penalty, therefore no drug traffickers are successfully interviewed due to the problem of trust. First-hand data on drug trafficking is missing. Given these limitations, future studies can help further understand the drug problem in Saudi Arabia by obtaining data from females, uncovering the mechanisms by which drugs are delivered from upper-level dealers to lower-level dealers, and exploring how drug problems are connected to other social problems such as violence, burglar, homicide, and corruption, and divorce. Tutton, M. Accessed 10 August Arab News. KSA population: Sanderson, T. Transnational terror and organized crime: Blurring the lines. Article Google Scholar. Asal, V. When politicians sell drugs: Examining why Middle East ethnopolitical organizations are involved in the drug trade. Terrorism and Political Violence, 24 2 , — Alhajoj, S. Epidemiology of antituberculosis drug resistance in Saudi Arabia: Findings of the first national survey. 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Migrant smuggling paths from the horn of Africa to Yemen and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Gazette. More than smugglers arrested last year. Hill, G. Yemen endures: Civil war, Saudi adventurism and the future of Arabia. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Weinberg, B. Yemen hashish pipeline thrives amid war. Basma, A. How good is Lebanese cannabis? Scientists seek herbal remedies. Jay, M. ISIS on viagra: Fighters popping super pill after launching multi-million pound drugs ring. Clarke, C. Alsulami, M. Saudi border guards seize kg of cannabis smuggled from Yemen. Toumi, H. Saudi customs seize 2. Taha, S. Traffickers caught smuggling tons of drugs into Saudi Arabia. Gulf Daily News. El-Setouhy, M. Impact of khat price increases on consumption behavior — price elasticity analysis. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy, 14 , 19— Crime rate of Saudi Arabia. Yousef, A. Master , Western Michigan University. Albakr, M. The impact of unemployment on crime: The case of Saudi Arabia. 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The presentation of self in everyday life. London: Harmondsworth. Download references. You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar. Correspondence to Guoping Jiang. Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Reprints and permissions. Drugs behind the veil of Islam: a view of Saudi youth. Crime Law Soc Change 76 , — Download citation. Accepted : 04 February Published : 11 May Issue Date : October Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:. Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article. Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative. Download PDF. Abstract Insufficient research exists on drug trafficking and abuse in Saudi Arabia. Use our pre-submission checklist Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript. Literature review Saudi Arabia is the largest sovereign state in the Middle East. Research methods The qualitative approach fits the study because of the illusive nature of drug trafficking and abuse. Table 1 Descriptives of the interviewees Full size table. Popular drugs in Saudi Arabia Three kinds of drug natural narcotics, semi-synthetic narcotics, and synthetic narcotics range in popularity among Saudis based on region, age, and social strata \[ 17 \]. Routes of drug trafficking to Saudi Arabia The way drugs are trafficked to Saudi Arabia is interwoven with economic, political, and religious factors, as well as relative to drug suppliers currently active in the Kingdom. Methods of drug trafficking to Saudi Arabia Methods of drug trafficking are diversified in Saudi Arabia, depending on route, number of people involved, type of drug, etc. Ways of drug purchasing in Saudi Arabia Once the drug is trafficked to the Kingdom, it goes to dealers at different levels in various regions. Drug trafficking and dealing as a response to economic conditions That the drug trafficking and dealing are pervasive is not mainly because of a huge market, but very much related to economic conditions in Saudi Arabia. Drug use as a response to social conditions A vent for boredom Entertainment is part of social life worldwide. Theoretical reflection: A double life The above analysis shows that rampant drug crimes in Saudi Arabia are an unintended consequence of global and industrial social changes. Graph 1. How drug crimes emerge in Saudi Arabia. Full size image. Conclusion Drug trafficking, dealing, and use are serious crimes in Saudi Arabia. References Tutton, M. Article Google Scholar Asal, V. Article Google Scholar Alhajoj, S. Article Google Scholar Algahtany, M. Article Google Scholar Hendricks, L. Article Google Scholar Bassiony, M. Article Google Scholar Negm, M. Article Google Scholar Sattari, M. Google Scholar Ali, M. Article Google Scholar Soulet, M. Google Scholar Freye, E. Google Scholar Nazaraliev Medical Center. Article Google Scholar Ward, C. Google Scholar Alsanusy, R. Article Google Scholar Cox, G. Article Google Scholar Balint, E. Article Google Scholar Marx, E. Google Scholar Alhusseini, H. Google Scholar Arab News. Article Google Scholar Numbeo. Google Scholar Evaluation, I. Article Google Scholar Alosaimi, F. Article Google Scholar Joseph, R. Google Scholar Perrons, D. Article Google Scholar Hirschi, T. Book Google Scholar Aldakhil, T. Article Google Scholar Alkhudair, D. Google Scholar Download references. View author publications. Rights and permissions Reprints and permissions. About this article. Cite this article Jiang, G. Copy to clipboard. Search Search by keyword or author Search. Navigation Find a journal Publish with us Track your research.

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