News briefing – Week of 3 July
G20 leaders pledged during the G20 Summit in Hamburg to focus their efforts on
DetailsG20 leaders pledged during the G20 Summit in Hamburg to focus their efforts on
DetailsDrug-related violence has been on the rise in Mexico since the capture and extradition of
DetailsAccording to the World Drug Report 2017 from the UNODC, the global illicit drug market is
DetailsCentral American leaders from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras pledged to deepen their collaboration in order to
DetailsDuring a visit to Mexico City, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel offered support to Mexico on the renegotiation
DetailsA large-scale crackdown was carried out by Panamanian authorities who seized four tonnes of cocaine worth $400 million and which led to the detention of 64 people
DetailsThe medical journal Scientific Reports unveiled that cocaine was more addictive than first thought, the drug being able to cause addiction after just one use, even amongst recreational cocaine users. The study showed that dopamine release may trigger the same addiction on non-dependant users than on cocaine dependent users and way earlier than previous studies asserted.
DetailsSpanish and Ecuadorian authorities seized 5 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a cargo vessel at Santa Elena, Ecuador, and bound to Spain via Panama. The haul is estimated at $250m and is considered as one of the largest cocaine seizures to date. Twenty individuals were arrested on charges of drug trafficking.
DetailsThe government of Guatemala declared a state of emergency in the Ixchiguan and Tajumulco municipalities, at the border of Mexico, which have known a surge in drug-related violence, Guatemala being a transit hub for Mexican and South American drug cartels. Troops will be sent to the two cities to prevent criminal gangs from operating.
DetailsU.S. Coast Guard seized more than 1.700 kilos of cocaine with an estimated value of $56 million along the Central American coastline. The seizure was part of the international operation Martillo, launched in 2012 and which has so far intercepted about 700 metric tonnes of cocaine.
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