Illegal drug use and production falls globally

"So only one province, three times as important as the whole of Myanmar, the second-largest opium-producing country," Mr Pietschmann says.

As the drug trade continues to boom in places like Afghanistan, Reuters reports that Africa may be at risk of becoming the "crossroads of international drug crime."

"There are warning signs that Africa is also under attack, targeted by cocaine traffickers from the west – Colombia – and heroin smugglers in the east -- Afghanistan," the report said.

"This threat needs to be addressed quickly to stamp out drug-related crime, money-laundering and corruption, and to prevent the spread of drug use that could cause havoc across a continent already plagued by other tragedies."

The release of the new drug report coincides with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, a day created by the UN "as an expression of its determination to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drug abuse." In recognition of the awareness day, nations from around the world have renewed their pledge to continue fighting illegal drugs.

Vietnamese officials announced the start of a three-year antidrug campaign that will utilize a UN slogan to encourage citizens to consider negative consequences before they begin using drugs, reports Viet Nam News. Already, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has taken a hard line against drug users, ordering an intense crackdown from May 26 to Sept. 26.

The campaign is aimed at calling all people, including the 23mil students nationwide, to respond to the UN slogan "Do drugs control your life? Your Life, Your Community. No Place for Drugs."

The slogan will be used for three years for a campaign focused on different aspects of drug control: drug abuse in 2007, drug cultivation and production in 2008 and illegal drug trafficking in 2009.

The Sangai Express reports that in Imphal, India, the Committee on Anti-Drug and Alcohol organized a weeklong festival in honor of the UN day against drug abuse. Events will include a march, where locals will carry torches, as well as a motorcycle rally.

In Azerbaijan, the Azeri-Press Agency reports that Baku, the nation's capital, hosted a conference in honor of the UN-sponsored day, saying that it was important to raise youth awareness.

The Cabinet of Ministers' officer for military and administrative organs, Azim Piriyev, said the government has strengthened its activities against narcotics and hundred kilograms of illicit drugs were confiscated and burned. Besides, narcotics trade and illegal border trespassing were prevented. … The National Security Ministry representative Ramiz Hasanov noted that more than 253 kilograms of illicit drugs were confiscated in the six months.

Page: 1 | 2