A study published in the journal Science of the Total Environment, cocaine use in cities in Switzerland is among the highest in Europe.
Everyday, up to 1.5 grams of cocaine is consumed by every 1,000 citizens in the Swiss cities of Bern, Geneva, Lucerne and Zurich.
In other European cities such as Barcelona, London, Milan and Paris, between 0.5 to 1 grams of cocaine is used by every 1,000.
Norther European cities had the lowest reported levels of cocaine use, with Stockholm, Oslo and Helsinki registering 0.15 grams of cocaine use daily per 1,000 residents.
Across Europe, up to 356 kilograms of cocaine is consumed each day, which is 10 to 15 percent of the total global cocaine consumption.
Source: AFP, “Cocaine use in Swiss cities among highest in Europe: report,” Google News, August 6, 2012.
In 2011, authorities in Finland launched 25 cases related to human trafficking, a record high.
In previous years, an average of 10 cases of human trafficking were investigated within the country. Officials in Finland attribute the rise in cases due to increased police activity into the crime, rather than an actual increase in human trafficking activities.
Source: “Surge in investigations for human trafficking,” Helsingin Sanomat, December 23, 2011.
In 2010, one-third of all organized crime activities in Finland involved some aspect of financial crime.
The National Bureau of Investigation also reported that hundred of companions in Finland, ranging from construction firms, restaurants and debt recovery companies were victims of criminal gangs.
Source: “Hundreds of firms trapped in organised crime,” YLE, August 6, 2011.
Along with the Czech Republic, Nordic countries have a high rate of addicts receiving drug treatment for use of amphetamines.
The Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and Finland have between 57 percent of 82 percent of all drug treatment residents being addicted to amphetamines, according to the United Nations.
Source: “World Drug Report 2011,” United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, June 2011, page 133.
