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Five Kilos.
- Source :
- British Journal of Criminology; Mar2011, Vol. 51 Issue 2, p375-393, 19p
- Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Current and proposed sentence guidelines for drug-trafficking offences in the United Kingdom are underpinned by the neo-liberal ‘commonsense’ assumption that greater quantities will yield a greater profit, which deserves greater punishment. At present, this is achieved through the use of weight to determine the maximum sentence available (five kilos for Class A drugs). Drawing on ethnographic research with drug traffickers imprisoned in Ecuador, this paper problematizes the use of weight as a measure of seriousness. This research finds that mules often carry greater quantities than professional traffickers and that therefore sentence guidelines premised on weight will punish mules disproportionately. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Subjects :
- COCAINE industry
DRUG traffic
NEOLIBERALISM
CRIMINOLOGY
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00070955
- Volume :
- 51
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- British Journal of Criminology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 59528526
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1093/bjc/azr006