Ireland had seventh largest seizure of cocaine in Europe

THE seventh biggest seizure of cocaine in Europe in 2007 was made in Ireland, according to a new UN report.

Ireland also seized the ninth largest amount of ecstasy and had the tenth biggest haul of cannabis resin in Europe that year.

The World Drug Report 2009 said Ireland was one of a number of European countries to report a rise in cocaine use.

It said the annual prevalence of cocaine use among 15-64 year olds in Ireland rose from 1.1% in 2003 to 1.7% in 2007.

The report, published by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, said Ireland was ranked joint seventh out of 33 countries for lifetime cocaine use among 15-16 year olds.

In terms of other drugs, Irish 15-16 year olds are ranked ninth for lifetime use of ecstasy. But they are mid-table for cannabis and amphetamine and towards the bottom for heroin use.

The report said cannabis use appeared to have increased in some European countries, including Ireland, with the annual prevalence rate for 15-64 year olds here rising from 5% in 2003 to 6.3% in 2007.

The report said figures provided by Irish authorities indicated the wholesale price of a kilo of cocaine was almost €59,000 in 2007, compared with an EU average of €42,000.

The wholesale price doubled in Ireland in 2007 compared to previous years, with a smaller rise in retail price.

The retail price of a kilo of cocaine was almost €69,000, compared to an EU average of €67,000.

In relation to heroin, the wholesale price of a kilo was €24,300 in Ireland, compared to an EU average of €22,000.

But the retail price of a kilo of heroin is much higher in Ireland than elsewhere, at €196 a gramme, compared to an EU average of €72.

The report said there was an increase in the price of cocaine throughout Western Europe in 2007. It said falling seizures of cocaine in the area that year “were a consequence of lower trafficking flows”.

The report said European cocaine seizures fell by 35% in 2007, the lowest since 2004.

“Individual drug seizures reported by European countries suggest that the downward trend may have continued in 2008,” it said.

UNODC executive director Antonio Maria Costa said: “The $50 billion (€40bn) global cocaine market is undergoing seismic shifts. Purity levels and seizures are down, prices are up and consumption patterns are in flux.”

He said international law enforcement efforts in Columbia, Afghanistan and West Africa were “paying off” with falling production and trafficking levels.

He said while prohibition had resulted in unintended consequences – such as violence and corruption – that legalising drugs would be a “historic mistake”.

lSee full report on www.unodc.org