Global cocaine production increased by 35% between 2020 and 2021, writes “Rossiyskaya Gazeta” with reference to the UNODC report.
It is noted that against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, there was a decrease in production. In the last two years, it has started to grow again.
The management document specifies that the area of cocaine plantations in 2021 reached 300,000 hectares.
According to researchers, in the 21st century, the demand for cocaine has increased significantly in the United States and some European countries. In total, in the states EU 3.5 million adults used the drug on a regular basis.
Drug cartels are inventing new routes to deliver drugs to consumers. In particular, routes through Central America and Africa have appeared, experts explained.
Experts noticed that cocaine is also imported through South-Eastern and Northern Europe. They specified that Hamburg and Rotterdam had become major new entry points for the drug.
The FDA estimates global cocaine production as a whole has risen to 2,000 tons in 2020. In subsequent years, it continued to grow. The UN concluded that there is great potential for expanding the drug market in Africa and Asia.
