Drug trafficking has been a problem for Georgia for a while. Drug trafficking is the illicit distribution or delivery of narcotics that seriously jeopardizes the economy, safety, and health of a community.
Georgia’s proximity to the Mexican border makes it a popular destination for drug smugglers. They use its advantageous location and variety of features to further their illicit endeavors.
Atlanta: The Georgia State City Known as the Drug Smuggling Capital
In a recent report, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) stated that Atlanta is believed to be the main drug trafficking hub in the state. In 2022, law enforcement made the most number of cocaine seizures (1,567 kg) and drug-related arrests (1,234) in the state of Georgia in this city.
Numerous reasons contribute to Atlanta’s high drug activity, including the city’s large population, its status as a transportation hub, its proximity to Mexico and other Latin American countries, and its connections to international drug cartels.
The report lists a number of connected issues, including money laundering, human trafficking, violence, corruption, and public health issues.
It’s interesting to note that another report from 2023 names Eagan, a little city near Atlanta’s northern border, as the state’s capital of drug crime. This is because methamphetamine production and distribution have increased, the research claims, leading to an increase in crime rates and social problems.
The issue is exacerbated by Eagan’s rural location, the lack of law enforcement in the region, its proximity to Mexico and border states like Tennessee and Kentucky, and its involvement in local gangs.
Not just Atlanta and Eagan, but the entire state of Georgia is impacted by this issue. Between 2010 and 2019, Georgia placed twelfth in the US for the number of illegal substances that federal authorities were able to seize.
Because of its high murder rate and number of killings per capita, College Park has also earned the moniker “murder capital” of the country, according to Blue Streak News Online.
Read More: This City Has Been Named the Cheapest Place to Live in Alabama
Potential Remedies To Stop The Trafficking of Drugs
Handling the illegal drug trade is a complex issue requiring collaboration from multiple entities at different levels. The following are some potential strategies for reducing or ending drug trafficking:
1. Strengthening borders and collaborating closely with neighboring nations.
2. Strengthening information sharing and law enforcement capacities.
3. Increasing public awareness of the potential dangers of drugs.
4. Providing assistance and services to treat and assist drug users.
5. Improving employment options for drug-affected areas.
6. Supporting new ideas and research aimed at putting an end to drug use before it becomes a major issue.
Read More: This Ohio City Has Been Named the Drug Smuggling Capital of the State
To Conclude
Georgia has a serious drug trafficking issue that has an effect on the state’s towns and cities in many different ways.
Known as the drug smuggling or crime capitals of the state, Atlanta, Eagan, and College Park are just a few of the places that have earned this moniker due to their high rates of drug-related arrests, seizures, and violence.
A comprehensive and well-coordinated response from a range of stakeholders, including the government, law enforcement, corporate sector, and the medical community, is necessary to address the complex issue of drug trafficking.
If we collaborate to address the root causes and consequences of drug trafficking, Georgia can become a safer and healthier place for all of us to live.