News briefing – week beginning Monday 11 August

•California Assembly votes  to reduce penalties for the sale of crack cocaine •South African cabinet minister under investigation for alleged involvement with cocaine-smuggling syndicate •Argentine Supreme Court Judge announces national rise in drug-trafficking operations •An international drug-smuggling and money-laundering ring was dismantled in the Dominican Republic •A 78-year old US doctor was found guilty of…

News briefing – week beginning Monday 21 July

Kentucky senator proposes tougher US cocaine-sentencing laws UK government survey shows significant increase in domestic drug use over 10-year period •A Puerto Rico-based cocaine trafficking ring faced drug charges in the US • Bulgaria’s State Agency for National Security announced the dismantlement of a major heroin-trafficking group • In Los Angeles, a smuggler was sentenced…

Peru: A Softening of Drug Policy?

Peru has rarely been vocal on the drug policy debate. Yet the countries approach to cocaine production and trafficking may be softening. Following his election in 2011, president Ollanta Humala announced intentions to reconsider antinarcotics policy – even decriminalising coca farmers, low level cocaine processors and smugglers. Since then though, the focus has continued to…