March 14, 2023, 4:00 AM
March 14, 2023, 4:00 AM
The most recent global report from the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), a United Nations body that is in charge of enforcing anti-drug treaties, warned of historic increases in cocaine seizures in the United States and Europe. This happens, says the report, in the context of easing restrictions of covid 19.
“Particularly concerned about increase in the illicit production and trafficking of cocaine”explained the president of the INCB, Jagjit Pavadia, in the presentation of the document that is based on the analysis of the reports of the United Nations Organization (UN) and of the entities specialized in the control of narcotics of the countries attached to the Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961.
As part of global issues, the Board discussed “the increased availability of high-purity cocaine, which raises a growing threat to public health“, said the head of the organization.
The data were part of the talks that will take place in Vienna, until Friday when the 66th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs concludes.
According to information from the United States Customs Office, reported by INCB, there was a up to 70% increase in the confiscation of cocaine, especially in seaports. To this is added that European countries reported that from 215 tons in 2020, they went to 240 in 2021 and an upward trend.
The Belgian ports of Antwerp and the Dutch ports of Rotterdam are the sites where the largest operations were reported against drugs, but “other ports of entry are also being tested.”
“The substances seized in the period 2018-2020 were mainly destined for Europe and, to a lesser extent, Africa and Asia. In 2020 there was a change in the patterns of traffic destinations of cocaine indicating that the routes had diversified towards the east coast of Africa, Western Asia, Southeast Asia and, to a lesser extent, North America, although the main destination was still Europe,” the document reads.
Points out that the Brazil is still a “strategic” area for the exit of drugs produced in South America destined for international markets, but also notes that Paraguay is increasingly used as a transit country for cocaine headed for Europe. In January 2022, the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat and the Public Ministry dismantled a criminal organization that had been shipping cocaine to Europe via the Atlantic Ocean, arresting its ringleader and seizing 947 kilos of the substance.
Bolivia reported the seizure of 19.7 tons of cocaine in 2021, an increase of 26% over the previous year. Most of that seized drug came from Peru. According to the Bolivian authorities, the total drug seizures made in the country in 2021 caused a total loss of US$66 million.
In 2022, the Bolivian government reported an increase of 20.34 tons of cocaine going to European markets.
