Report: Little impact from Sept. 11 attacks seen on global pattern of drug trafficking

AP and Yahoo! ^ | Fri Jun 28, 9:45 AM ET | AP

[Destro]

AP World Politics

Report: Little impact from Sept. 11 attacks seen on global pattern of drug trafficking

Fri Jun 28, 9:45 AM ET

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States appear to have had not impact on global drug flows last year, the World Customs Organization said Friday in an annual report.

"The only effect noted was a drop in the number of seizures of drugs in air traffic bound for the (United States) in September and October," the organization said in its "Customs and Drugs" report, released at its annual meeting.

"But the figures for November and December were back to the 'normal level,'" it added.

The report said Afghanistan ( news - web sites) remained the biggest source of opium in the world, adding that trafficking in heroin and other opiates were little changed last year.

It noted it was too early to say what effect the collapse of Afghanistan's Taliban regime and the U.S.-led anti-terrorism war in the country would have on the smuggling of illicit opiates.

The WCO reported 17,792 seizures of illicit drugs in 2001, far below the 51,910 reported in 2000. However, U.S. data was not available for 2001, as it was for 2000.

It pointed to signs that the southern Balkan route for heroin smugglers — from Turkey through Albania into Italy and the rest of western Europe — "is becoming more significant."

It also noted an increase in the amount of South American cocaine being targeted at Mexico, apparently as a transit point for the U.S. market.

The annual meeting of the WCO, which represents 161 nations, focused this year on security ( news - external web site) of shipping containers, especially as related to threats from global terrorism.

At their summit in Canada this week, the Group of Eight agreed to seek ways to develop and implement an improved system for preventing terrorists from transporting dangerous materials into nations in shipping containers.

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On the Net:

World Customs Organization: http://www.wcoomd.org

(pfg)

[Destro]

It pointed to signs that the southern Balkan route for heroin smugglers — from Turkey through Albania into Italy and the rest of western Europe — "is becoming more significant."

This with 50,000 well armed NATO troops in Bosnia and Kosovo combined yet. Mexico's entry into NAFTA also has not stemmed any flow of drugs.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

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[mafree]

Might be because the "War on Drugs" has now morphed into the "War on Terrorism."

[brat]

With the Mexican military escorting drug runners into our country how can they expect a change in patterns? The last one was 5 miles inside of our borders.