Coca cultivation in Colombia increased 27 percent in 2007
Source: “The unstoppable crop,” The Economist, June 21, 2008, page 50.
Smugglers and refiners of heroin earn $3.5 billion in Afghanistan
Source: “No quick fixes,” The Economist, June 21, 2008, page 54.
Opium farmers in Afghanistan earn an estimated $500 million annualy
Source: “No quick fixes,” The Economist, June 21, 2008, page 54.
Feds seized $1.6 billion in drug money on US-Mexico border in 2007
The $1.6 billion is out of a total $12 billion that is estimated to be smuggled over the border.
Source: “The sheriffs stash,” The Economist, July 12, 2008, page. 42.
Tenfold increase in seizure of ecstasy on US-Canada border
Seizures of ecstasy increased tenfold between 2003 and 2005 on the US-Canada border.
Source: Jane Gross, “Rise Seen in Trafficking of Enhanced Ecstasy“, New York Times, January 9, 2008.
First-time users of ecstasy in US increased 40 percent in 2006
There were 615,000 first-time users of ecstasy in 2005, and 860,000 first-time users in 2006.
Source: Jane Gross, “Rise Seen in Trafficking of Enhanced Ecstasy,” New York Times, January 9, 2008.
Number of drug users worldwide
According to the United Nations, 208 million people or 4.9 percent of the world’s population aged 15 to 64 used drugs at least once in the last 12 months.
Source: UNODC, “2008 World Drug Report,” June 2008.
$23 billion annual revenue in drug trafficking in Mexico
Mexican drug cartels bring in as much as $23 billion a year in revenue, according to the United States Government Accountability Office.
Source: Manuel Roig-Franzia, “Mexican Drug Cartels Move North,” Washington Post, September 20,2007,(last accessed: October 6, 2007).
$15 billion annually from drug trafficking in Russia
According to the United States Department of State, “The annual revenue from illicit drug trafficking in Russia was estimated to be $15 billion”.
Source: 2007 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, “Europe and Central Asia: Russia,” United States Department of State (accessed: March 2, 2007).
$17 Billion spent on illegal drugs in China each year
A 1998 study stated that $17 billion is spent on illicit drugs in China every year.
Source: International Crime Threat Assessment, “Chapter III: Worldwide areas of International Criminal Activity, China,” December 2000, available from Federation of America Scientists, (accessed: March 9, 2007).
