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Worldwide Cocaine Trafficking Trends

NCJ Number
101766
Date Published
1985
Length
22 pages
Annotation
Cocaine trafficking in 1984 and early 1985 remained widespread and was characterized by continued diversification of smuggling methods and transportation modes, increased cocaine conversion laboratory activity in the United States, and continued expansion of cocaine distribution into Canada, Western Europe, and Asia
Abstract
Increased drug law enforcement pressures in Colombia and continued adjustments to an oversupply of coca products contributed to the general expansion of the international cocaine traffic in 1984. Although the principal coca cultivation countries continued to be Peru, Bolivia, and Colombia, there were significant cultivations in Ecuador and Brazil. Cocaine conversion activity continued to spread outside of Colombia to Panama, Venezuela, Mexico, Canada, and the United States. Increased international and interregional cooperation in coca control was noted. Drug law enforcement pressures in the United States and South American source countries caused the prices of coca products and essential chemicals to rise in Latin America during the year, while wholesale prices for cocaine hydrochloride rose in a few key U.S. cities during the second half of the year. The outlook for 1985 is projected. Tabular and graphic data.