UK

Europe targeted by cocaine traffickers

By team ⋅ March 29, 2008 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

The Times, 5 March

The cost of cocaine has dropped dramatically, after criminal gangs, operating with impunity out of new trafficking hubs in West Africa, start to target Europe. This comes after the saturation of the market in the US, leading traffickers to broaden their horizons.

According to government figures, the average street price of a gram of cocaine has fallen from £71 to £45 in the last decade. Today, the level of cocaine use in Britain remains one of the highest in Europe, along with Spain and Italy.

The annual report of the United Nations drug control agency has warned about the power of criminal drug gangs around the world. The report also made a point of condemning celebrities who glamorise drug-related lifestyles, because it sends the wrong message to young people. Criticism is also targeted at the leniency shown towards famous people, who are caught misusing drugs. This is particularly relevant after widespread media attention was turned towards stars like Amy Whinehouse and Pete Doherty, both with serious drug problems.

Celebrity drug offenders can profoundly influence public attitudes, values and behaviour towards drug abuse, particularly among young people’, the report says. ‘The authorities…should ensure that public celebrities who violate drug laws are made accountable.’

Cocaine is trafficked from Colombia through Brazil and Venezuela to West Africa on ships, private yachts, and private jets. Here it is repacked into smaller quantities before being smuggled to Europe, using locally recruited couriers. Sometimes, cocaine is exchanged for heroine from Afghanistan as it transits through India. Main airports used by drug traffickers include Dakar, Conakry, Freetown, Banjul, Accra and Lagos. New routes through North Africa and the Arabian peninsula are also emerging.

Britain has taken a lead in fighting the rising opium production in Afghanistan, which was figured at 8,2000 tonnes last year and has reached 61,000 tonnes in the last 12 months.