THERE is no public sympathy for drug dealers, and not much more for drug addicts. In many countries, trade in illegal drugs is associated with corruption and violence by suppliers and petty crime by those who need money to feed their habit, so politicians who pledge to crack down on drugs and back their words with action can generally count on widespread public support.

No one has gone further in the recent past than Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, under whose leadership more than 10,000 alleged drug dealers and users have been gunned down by the police or vigilantes, who in many instances appear to be policemen out of uniform. Officially, the police shoot only when faced with the threat of violent resistance in carrying out their duties, but all the indications are that Mr Duterte gave them the green light to hunt down and execute alleged drug dealers without warning or trial.

Following in the Philippine leader's footsteps, Indonesian president Joko Widodo has authorised a shoot-on-sight policy by police towards drug dealers.