It has been five centuries since geopolitics has been closely tied to drugs and drug trafficking. The history of drug trafficking can be traced back to ancient times, evolving over the centuries into a complex and well-organized network. This network has become deeply entangled with political and economic systems, making it difficult to dismantle. Some narcotics have been known for over 5,000 years, but they were not used in trafficking or as addictive substances that corrupted populations, according to journalist Benjamin Sire on Sud Radio. Other products, such as coffee, sugar, and tea, were legal but became addictive. Tea, for instance, played a significant role in the history of the United Kingdom, which later began trading opium, Sire notes. A major shift occurred in the 1980s with the rise of cocaine, when the American mafia took control, marking a geopolitical turning point, he says. Today, the drug trafficking business is at an all-time high, with some states playing ambiguous roles that cross ethical and legal boundaries. The United States, for example, has used drug trafficking as a pretext to target leaders like Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela. However, this focus on drug trafficking may overshadow other issues, such as when the U.S. granted oil licenses to American companies. Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump, who was seen bombing drug trafficking boats, also granted clemency to the former president of Honduras, who had been sentenced to 45 years in prison for involvement in drug trafficking worth hundreds of millions of dollars, Sire explains. In France, the so-called "French connection" remains active. According to the latest reports, the drug trafficking business in France reached six billion euros last year. This situation reflects a business model with supply and demand dynamics, says investigative journalist Jean-Michel Vergne. However, these estimates are based on drug seizures, which only represent the visible part of the problem. The figures can vary dramatically from one year to the next, Sire concludes, emphasizing the challenges of accurately measuring the scale of the drug trafficking business. The global nature of drug trafficking highlights the difficulties in addressing it through traditional political and legal frameworks. It involves not only criminal organizations but also state actors whose interests may align with the illicit trade. This complexity makes it a persistent challenge for international cooperation and law enforcement. The interplay between legal and illegal markets continues to shape the geopolitical landscape, with far-reaching consequences for economies, societies, and international relations.