ADDRESSING MARITIME DRUG TRAFFICKING THROUGH REGIONAL SECURITY PARTNERSHIPS IN THE INDIAN OCEAN

Several of the busiest fishing grounds and shipping channels in the world are found in the 
Indian Ocean, which connects The Middle East, East Africa, and South Asia. Currently, the 
marine environment of the Indian Ocean lanes handles almost 80% of the world's seaborne oil 
and 50% of all container traffic. Oceans, on the other hand, are thought to have the largest 
crime scenes in the world because they are large, uncontrolled areas that provide ideal hiding 
places for illegal activity. Crimes committed at sea have detrimental spillover effects on 
society, such is the surge in drug addiction in tiny island underdeveloped countries that serve 
as major hubs for the smuggling of drugs and people. These crimes also jeopardise the safety 
of seafarers and threaten blue economies. For Indian Ocean States, marine security and 
combating maritime crime—also known as "Blue Justice"—thus become increasingly 
important, especially as the number and seriousness of crimes committed at sea rise. However, 
there is very no law enforcement in the Region, and apprehending someone presents numerous 
physical obstacles.