CAN chief worried about exclusion of Bolivia, Ecuador from anti-drug reward act

[Judi Lynn]

UPDATED: 13:12, December 07, 2006
CAN chief worried about exclusion of Bolivia, Ecuador from anti-drug reward act

The Andean Community of Nations (CAN) General Secretary Alfredo Fuentes, said on Wednesday that he was worried about a U.S. plan to disqualify Bolivia and Ecuador for a Congress act awarding anti-drug efforts by Andean nations, according to the local media.

The Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) aims to reward Andean nations for their work to reduce illegal drug production, by offering free access to U.S. markets. The law expires on Dec. 31.

Republican congressman Bill Thomas on Tuesday presented a bill to extend the act's provisions for Colombia and Peru, for six months, while the two nations complete the ratification process for free trade agreements with the United States.

"The fact that there is a bill under discussion with different terms is not appropriate. It creates significant uncertainties for Bolivian and Ecuadorian exports," said Fuentes, speaking to the Peruvian media in Washington. "CAN has sought ... equal treatment of all four Andean nations," Fuentes said.
(snip/...)

http://english.people.com.cn/200612/07/eng20061207_329601.html

http://inside.c-spanarchives.org:8080/cspan/Pictures/Persons/002599/002599-193084.jpg

[MrPrax]

1. Need anymore proof...

that the War on Drugs is bogus...

U.N. Predicts Rise in Cocaine Prices

March 15, 2005

BOGOTA, Colombia - A top United Nations anti-drug official predicted cocaine prices in the United States and Europe will rise next year, reflecting the fruits of a six-year, U.S.-funded effort to eradicate drug production in Colombia.

Last year was a record-breaking year in the fight against drugs in Colombia. Authorities destroyed more than 340,000 acres of coca, the plant used to make cocaine; nearly 150 tons of cocaine were seized; and 1,098 clandestine cocaine-making factories were discovered and burned down, according to the Colombian government.

"Considering Colombia supplies 80 percent of the world cocaine market, we think prices are going to rise starting in 2006," said Sandro Calvani, director of the U.N.'s Office on Drugs and Crime in Colombia, in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday.

AP Story posted at Skyhen.org

(note that only criteria being presented by Mr. Calvani is some ideological market rationale based entirely on price fluctuation and supply...)

$4b later, drugs still flow in Colombia

May 21, 2006

TUMACO, Colombia -- Six years and $4 billion into the US-backed campaign to wipe out cocaine at its source, Colombia appears to be producing more coca than when the campaign started, according to US government estimates.

As Congress opens debate this month on another $640 million for next year for Washington's most ambitious overseas counternarcotics effort, a growing number of critics say the costly program has neither dented the cocaine trade nor driven down the number of American addicts. Two of the program's major missions -- to dramatically reduce coca growing in Colombia and provide alternative livelihoods for drug farmers -- have fallen far short of hoped-for goals.

...

Onetime supporters, including some Republican lawmakers who championed the plan at its creation, are now demanding to know why the most expensive US foreign aid program outside the Middle East and Afghanistan is not winning the war on drugs.

...

But critics say the program for Colombia, which supplies 90 percent of the cocaine and half the heroin consumed in the United States, has not lived up to the high hopes. Growers and narco-traffickers have adapted to the crackdown, drug enforcement officials say. While coca was concentrated in three provinces at the start of Plan Colombia, it has spread to at least 23 of the country's 31 provinces.

Boston Globe

Also "NYT: Six-year, $4.7b effort to slash Colombia's coca crop has left price, quality, availability of cocaine on US streets unchanged" Raw Story - NY Times



Cocaine use among young reaches shocking levels

19.11.06

"...Use of cocaine has more than doubled among 16 to 24-year-olds over the last seven years. While over the last decade use of the drug has almost tripled among UK adults.

Seizures of the worst form of the drug - crack cocaine - have increased by 74 per cent since 2000 - reflecting its availability within society.

Other statistics confirm this frightening picture. The number of people arrested or cautioned for cocaine offences rose to 8,1655 in 2003. While in 2005 cocaine caused the deaths of 171 people, an increase of 300 per cent in five years.

A significant drop in price has fuelled the problem and surveys indicate cocaine is fast replacing ecstasy on the club scene..."

Thisislondon

Deaths rise eightfold as Britain tops European cocaine list

November 25, 2005

"...It suggests that Colombian cartels are targeting Europe after realising the market in the US had become saturated. Cocaine abuse appears to be entering from the western and southern fringes of the continent with Britain, Spain and Italy the hardest-hit. Cocaine seizures in the EU nearly doubled from 47 tonnes to 90 tonnes between 2002 and 2003 and more Europeans are now seeking treatment for cocaine-related problems..."
...

"...A Home Office survey has shown that British manual workers are now more likely to take cocaine than professionals, a trend blamed on falling prices as availability soars..."

Times Online

Cocaine, heroin cheaper than ever in Europe: report Reuters - Yahoo

IRAQ: Health official note sharp increases in drug abuse

"...Officials at Ibn Rushd Psychiatric Hospital in Baghdad - the only medical facility in the country that treats drug addicts who have also exhibited psychological problems - pointed to a worrying increase in the use of drugs such as cocaine, marijuana, valium and amphetamines. Officials went on to point out that the main source of drugs like cocaine and marijuana was Afghanistan, via Iran.

Pharmaceutical drugs, meanwhile, such as valium and amphetamines, come by way of Syria, Jordan and Iran. "With no controls, anyone can get products containing amphetamines and codeine - which is derivative from morphine - from any pharmacy," said Ali. Such drugs can be found in Iraqi pharmacies for as little as US $0.5 per bottle of valium or codeine, while a gram of cocaine can be purchased in some suburbs for between US $2 and US $7...

Health Now

Soldiers in 'guns for coke' scandal

BRITISH soldiers have been caught smuggling stolen guns out of Iraq and allegedly exchanging them for cocaine and cash on the black market.

TimesOnline