:: THE FACTS ::
Routes
Cocaine is produced from the coca plant. Cultivation of the coca plant is concentrated in three South America countries: Colombia, Peru and Bolivia.
Cocaine is trafficked to Europe via a number of different air and sea routes. It can pass through countries including Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico and certain Caribbean islands before reaching Europe.
In recent years, it is also being transported to Europe via West Africa.
The Iberian Peninsula, especially Spain and the Low Countries and in particular, the Netherlands appear to be the main points of entry for cocaine being smuggled into Europe.
Cultivations of coca bush, the source of cocaine, continue to be concentrated within Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. The area under cultivation in 2009 was estimated at 158,000 hectares (the average sixe of a UK football pitch is one hectare) down from 167,000 hectares in 2008. This is a decrease of 5% largely attributed to the reduction of the area under cocoa in Colombia not offset by increases in Peru and Bolivia.
Colombia Environmental Wealth
The piece missing from the images represents the impact and size of damage that cocaine use is having on the country.
Colombia has a coastline twice the size of Spain. There are 257 protected areas
The Amazonian rainforest produces 15% of the world’s oxygen and covers 35% of Colombia.
Colombia has ecosystems ranking from tropical rainforest to perpetual snow and is the second most bio diverse country in the world.
Fauna and Flora
Colombia has 18% of the world’s bird species and over 3,200 butterfly species. There are 35,000 plant species, 13% of the world’s amphibians and 10% of the world’s fresh water fish.
Each cat requires hundreds of hectares to survive.
The world’s largest rodent, the Chiguiro lives in lakes and rivers in Colombia.
Cocaine use – the impact it’s having
The damage to wildlife caused by the production of cocaine.
The environmental destruction in Colombia has an impact all over the world. Consuming 2 grammes of cocaine equals the destruction of 8 square metres of Colombia’s rainforest (the equivalent of a dance floor)
Ammonia and sulphuric acid are dumped in the rivers. Half a ton of pesticides, cement, petrol and other chemicals are used to transfer one hectare of coca into cocaine.
Ten times more chemicals are used in illegal crops which is why you never know what you are getting.
Cocaine Factsheet:
Legal Status
Cocaine is a Class ‘A’ controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. All possession and supply of the drug is controlled under Schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Penalties
Possession - can lead to a prison sentence of up to 7 years and an unlimited fine.
Supply - can lead to a life sentence and an unlimited fine.
Availability
Cocaine is available in the UK across the entire spectrum of social classes. There is a two tier supply with better quality cocaine being supplied to those who can afford the higher prices and very low purity cocaine in general circulation.
Profit margins have been increased with some Serious and Organised Criminal Groups adulterating cocaine on a ratio of 1:7 and sometimes even more. This results in profits going up and purity going down.
There have been upstream recoveries of cocaine abroad resulting in arrests and the disruption of SOCG’s in Scotland.
The trend of trafficking in drugs ‘little and often’ is more commonly used for cocaine and SOCG’s are continually resorting to more sophisticated concealments. The effort put into planning is in itself testimony to effective law enforcement techniques as SOCG’s become more fearful of detection.
What does it look like?
Cocaine is most commonly recovered in a white coloured powder form. It can also be pressed into blocks and has to be crushed down before it can be adulterated or used.
How many people in Scotland use cocaine?
Research shows that Scotland has some of the highest levels of cocaine use in Europe (UN World Drug Report) 3.8% of Scottish adults use the drug regularly compared with 2.8% in America.
Exact numbers are not known and even the best research methodology ultimately relies on estimations.
There are far more cocaine users than heroin users.
Purity
Cocaine purity levels are generally at their lowest ever. In Scotland the current average weight for weight percentage purity of ‘street level’ cocaine is in single figures (5%) and in some cases has been identified being as low as 1%.
The most common adulterant used to bulk out cocaine is benzocaine.
The most common ‘street deal’
The most common street level deal of cocaine in Scotland is a gram, however, there will be some regional variations and availability meaning purity is an issue and can impact on price.
Average use of cocaine
The average amount of cocaine taken per day by an addict will vary dramatically and can often be controlled by finances. General use can be confined to social events when more than one user could share a gram however some users and in particular addicts will binge on the drug and use one or two grams a day. When found in possession of multiple gram deals or larger single quantities this normally infers the drug is unlawfully intended for supply.
Methods of use
Cocaine is most commonly cut into lines and snorted up into the nasal membrane through a rolled up banknote or a drinking straw from a non-porous surface. The drug can be injected and it can be converted into crack cocaine and smoked.
Effects
The effects are physiological arousal accompanied by exhilaration, feelings of well-being, decreased hunger, indifference to pain and fatigue and feelings of great physical strength and mental capacity.
The effects of cocaine last for 15 to 30 minutes while the effects of crack cocaine last for 5 to 10 minutes.
Large doses or binging on the drug can lead to an extreme state of agitation, anxiety and paranoia.
Risks
The after effects of cocaine use include fatigue and depression. Large doses can cause death from respiratory or heart failure and result in increased body temperature, extreme agitation and convulsions.
Regular users can quickly develop a psychological dependency.
In reality, nobody buys a kilo of cocaine without the intention of adulterating it further and even a 5% pure kilo would be ‘bulked out’ to make a profit.
You never know what you are buying
For more interesting facts on Colombia, please go to shared responsibility link on:
