According to a UN report released on Sunday, the worldwide demand for cocaine and the trafficking of methamphetamine are witnessing an unprecedented surge.

The report, presented in the annual World Drug Report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC),

In 2021, the most recent year for which data is available, coca bush cultivation and total cocaine production reached record highs. The number of cocaine users globally, estimated at 22 million, is also steadily growing. While the report acknowledged that cocaine seizures have increased at a faster rate than production, it warned that new markets are likely to emerge beyond the traditional strongholds.

“The world is currently experiencing a prolonged surge in both supply and demand of cocaine, which is now being felt across the globe and is likely to spur the development of new markets beyond the traditional confines,” stated the UNODC report.

While the Americas, Western and Central Europe, and Australia remain the primary regions where the global cocaine market is concentrated, the report noted that the fastest growth is occurring in developing markets in Africa, Asia, and South-Eastern Europe, albeit from initially low levels.

The report also shed light on the methamphetamine market, indicating that almost 90% of global seizures were reported in East and Southeast Asia and North America. However, it pointed out that trafficking has increased in other regions, including the Middle East and West Africa, suggesting a shift in the dynamics of the drug trade.

Notably, there are reports and seizures of methamphetamine produced in Afghanistan, signaling a changing drug economy in the country, which is already responsible for 80% of the world’s illicit opium poppy production.

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“Questions remain regarding the linkages between the illegal manufacture of heroin and methamphetamine in Afghanistan, and whether these two markets will develop in parallel or if one will substitute the other,” the report stated.

The UNODC report serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in combating drug production and trafficking worldwide. Governments and international organizations will need to enhance cooperation and implement comprehensive strategies to address this growing crisis.

“We must take urgent and concerted action to tackle these alarming trends,” said the UNODC spokesperson. “Efforts should focus on prevention, treatment, and law enforcement cooperation to disrupt supply chains and protect communities from the devastating impact of illicit drugs.”

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