Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vienna (Agenzia Fides)- “ As long as demand for drugs persists, weak countries will always be targeted by traffickers. If Europe really wants to help Africa, it should curb its appetite for cocaine”, said Antonio Maria Costa, Director of UNODC- UN Office on Drugs and Crime, when he presented an annual report on the production and consumption of drugs in the world (2009 World Drug Report. WDR). The Report was made public for World Drug Day, which is tomorrow, 26 June.
From the report it emerges that the flow of cocaine from Latin America to Europe, via West Africa, is ebbing. Nevertheless violence connected with drug-trafficking and political instability, continues to represent a serious threat for several countries in the region, especially Guinea-Bissau, whose President “Nino” Vieira, was assassinated in March by a group of military who accused him of being behind the attack in which the country's Army Chief of Staff was killed. An episode which is still not clear, and over which many see the shadow of South American drug traffickers who have turned Guinea-Bissau into a cocaine trafficking junction between America and Europe (see Fides 3/3/2009).
The UNODC Report offers some reason for hope, affirming that the market for cocaine, opiate substances and cannabis is falling, but at the same time, warns about the spread in developing countries of synthetic drugs, amphetamine, metamphetamine and ecstasy. Whereas abuse of these substances in developed countries is stable, in developing countries production and consumption is growing. A phenomenon little known due to scarcity of reliable information regarding many countries. The main producers of synthetic drugs in South East Asia, include the Grand Mekong sub-region, where large quantities of pills of Crystal Meth and Ketamina are produced, certain countries of the European Union are the main suppliers of ecstasy, and Canada, now the major trafficking hub of Meth and ecstasy. Areas where synthetic drugs are most widespread include the Middle East.
With regard to cocaine, Costa said "The $50 billion global cocaine market is undergoing seismic shifts," said Mr. Costa. "Purity levels and seizures (in main consumer countries) are down, prices are up, and consumption patterns are in flux. This may help explain the gruesome upsurge of violence in countries like Mexico. In Central America, cartels are fighting for a shrinking market," he said.”. In West Africa, a drop in hostage taking would seem to reflect an ebbing flow of cocaine, after five years of rapid growth. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 25/6/2009 righe 34 parole 513)
