$90 Million in Meth Seized—and You Still Think “The War on Drugs” Isn’t a Lie?

Let’s get this straight: another mountain of crystal meth, more than two tons of misery, worth an obscene $90 million, just got swiped off the black market by Thai authorities. Cue the headlines, the photo ops, the politicians flexing for the cameras about “winning the war.” But here’s an easy question: If we’re always hauling in this much poison, why are we never any closer to victory?

The War They Want You to Believe In

For half a century, world governments have milked the “war on drugs” for everything it’s worth—a propaganda cash cow to stir up votes, tighten borders, pad police budgets, and distract from their spectacular failure to deal with what really breaks people: poverty, trauma, alienation. They strut and preen over seized drugs, and meanwhile, more addicts overdose, more families are torn up, and cartels throw parties because, let’s face it, this is all just the cost of business.

We love our bogeymen. Crystal meth—easy target. Dealers—hang ‘em high. Users—shame them into oblivion. But what about the bankers laundering cartel money? The politicians bankrolled by “security contractors”? The pharma execs who made opioid addiction an everyday tragedy? Crickets.

Self-Congratulation is a Symptom

Every drug bust press release should come with a warning: “May cause mass delusion.” If we’re confiscating literal tons of meth, that means tons more slipped through. Seizing $90 million worth is like bailing out a sinking ship with a coffee mug and celebrating you found some water.

Ask yourself: Would anyone manufacture two tons of meth if there weren’t an army of desperate buyers? Would the supply chain even exist if societies weren’t so hollowed out that numbness is the only viable escape? We’ve got universities cranking out chemical geniuses and entire tech sectors dedicated to distraction, yet we can’t figure out how to offer people hope, dignity, or a sense of purpose.

Who Actually Wins?

Each seizure is a minor inconvenience for kingpins, a minor detour for users, and a major photo opportunity for people in power. What never changes: the incentives. Demand never dries up, because you can’t police away loneliness or trauma. Supply never dies, just adapts—new routes, new labs, new pawns.

Let’s not pretend: if this was a real war, one side would’ve surrendered or been wiped out. Instead, it’s a choreographed perpetual stalemate, sustained not by failure but by design—a war without end because it keeps too many powerful people in business, and too many uncomfortable truths out of sight.

Your Comfort Is Collateral

While you’re congratulating yourself for not being “one of them,” remember: entire communities and countries have been gutted to keep the world’s well-off safely numb, self-righteous, and detached. The next time you gasp at a headline about a massive drug bust, ask who benefits from this endless, bloody theater. Are you complicit in wanting the illusion of “action” over the pain of actual change?

If you’re relieved, you’re part of the problem.

This article was inspired by the headline: 'Thai authorities seize more than 2 tons of crystal methamphetamine worth over $90 million - AP News'.