Getting High with Bananas?

Cocaine exportation to the exterior have revealed a strange trend that involves using bananas to ship drugs to foreign countries from Colombia.

Recently the European authorities confiscated 11 tons of cocaine in a banana container sent from Uraba, Antioquia. These were meant to be sold around in popular areas throughout the continent. Although the Colombian government has warned banana producers about this tactic, policemen still believe there is a high probability this will continue to be an issue.

“Narcotraffickers are going to find whatever method they can to ship their product, whether it is bananas, whether it’s coffee…things like that. They find ways to get the drugs out to their customers and by drugs being seized it is only going to cause the price to go up in other countries,” said Brian Summers as an expert on the topic.

It is currently being debated whether drugs should be legalized in countries like Colombia. This country has been fighting a never ending war against narcotraffic, and it seems like it will never end.

“If we continue thinking the problem comes from the consuming of the drugs, and not the economy that has been created by them, there will continue to be narcotraffic in countries like Colombia…It is much easier to begin a process of legalization and then control the manufacturing and distribution, rather than prohibiting them for good,” said Luz Miriam Arango, Social Studies teacher in 8th grade.

Many exhort the legalization of drugs in order to regulate the industry, and on the other hand many condemn the idea. It has worked before with alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana, why not with cocaine?

“The government has truly done a lot in regards to the subject, it has been pursuing drug cartels from different places. However the power of the mafia reaches the highest ranks in society. From presidents, to businessmen and people of lower classes we can see how this industry benefits from everyone who is involved…” said Oliverio Alvarez, 11th grade spanish teacher, with concern.

There is no current solution and the world continues to battle the war on drugs. Meanwhile the Colombian government continues to look for possible solutions in regards to the problem.

“People are going to do, what they want to do, so…drugs are going to happen no matter what…drugs have been around  forever and they are always going to be here,” said Brian Summers to conclude the subject.