Topic: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Biden in Honduras: US drug policy under scrutiny

Even staunch US allies in the Americas are urging a debate on drug policy – including legalization – amid spiraling violence in their countries.

Bolivia drops out of UN drug pact to protect its coca chewers

Bolivia intends to reapply to the UN Convention on Narcotic Drugs, but with a reservation that it does not recognize the ban on chewing the coca leaf, a practice with a long national tradition.

In extradition of Walid Makled, Colombia weighs ties with US, Venezuela

Both Venezuela and the US seek the extradition of suspected drug kingpin Walid Makled from Colombia. President Santos must decide whether to placate Chávez or Washington.

Afghanistan poppy production could skyrocket due to spike in prices, drought

Afghanistan poppy farmers see 'cash bonanza' due to price spike, says United Nations, forewarning of increased planting of the opium-producing crop that pads insurgents' wallets.

Landmark Kenya ruling could see dozens of Somali pirates set free

In a blow to efforts to combat Somali pirates, a senior Kenyan judge said Tuesday that courts here have no power to prosecute crimes that took place outside Kenya’s territorial waters.

Drug wars in Mexico, Colombia push drug trade to Dominican Republic

As authorities in Mexico and Columbia crack down on the drug trades in their countries and the US-Mexico border becomes harder to sneak across, drug rings are moving their operations into the Caribbean.

Peru wants more US aid for drug war; new ambassador hints 'no'

Peru, the world's second-largest cocaine producer, has asked for more US aid in combating drug trafficking and blamed Washington's policies for driving coca plant production in Peru.

In Afghanistan, drug rehab for children

Children in Afghanistan are often fed opium to stop their crying, and many are born to addicts. A few clinics offer drug rehab for youths, but they are scarce and socially taboo.

At last, a court to try Somali pirates

Most navies catch and release Somali pirates. But Kenya's new pirate court, funded by the UN, aims to bring legal clarity to a complex international crime.

A three-pronged approach to confront Afghanistan’s corruption

Corruption is not inevitable. Afghanistan should focus on technical, legal, and cultural areas to ease the tyranny of corruption.

Did US law spur Mexico's meth sales?

The US slowed production of meth by cutting off key ingredients. But a blow to US methamphetamine labs became a boon to La Familia drug gang in Mexico.

Legalization of drugs spreads in Latin America. Will the US follow?

The 'war on drugs' has failed, some Latin American leaders say. But legalization of small amounts of marijuana, cocaine, and other narcotics may not curb violence.

Report: Big drop in Afghan opium production

But the Taliban, who use the drug trade to fund their insurgency, may have two years’ worth of opium stockpiled.

Kyrgyzstan weighs opium as industry

As an election nears, a presidential candidate promotes the idea that the opium trade could bring cash to the impoverished Central Asian republic.

Obama drug policy encourages activists in developing world

At Bangkok meeting, they cheer support for needle exchanges but urge further steps toward 'harm reduction.'

NATO commanders in Afghanistan wary of antidrug effort

The opium trade helps fund the insurgency but also provides farmers livelihood.

Rumors of cocaine money taint Ghana vote

The West African nation's status as a drug-trafficking hub has led to allegations of political corruption ahead of Sunday's presidential vote.

Bolivians worry spat with US could kill jobs

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice suspended a trade deal with Bolivia last week for failure to rein in coca growing. Some 50,000 jobs could be lost.

Former US official accuses Afghan government of stymying anti-opium efforts

Thomas Schweich charges that President Karzai is protecting drug traffickers within his power base, and says the US Defense Department and some NATO allies have also resisted antiopium efforts.

World

Afghanistan's soaring drug trade hits home

It faces one of the world's fastest rising rates of drug use.

Reporters on the Job

As drug trafficking revives, Thais back another harsh crackdown

In 2003, a violent government antidrug campaign resulted in more than 2,500 deaths.