VIETNAM
The result of the first war against drug traffiking lead by the Government are 8 death penalty sentences for heroin trafficking.
Vietnam, after having been an isolated country for decades, is now a crossway for the heroin produced in the so-called Golden Triangle.
(EL PAIS, FINANCIAL TIMES, LIBERATION 15/5, LE MONDE 17/05)
GREAT BRITAIN
The great diffusion of the use of heroin during the 1960s and 1970s has provoked, after years, an increase in hepatic cirrhosis and hepatitis deadly cases. The relation between the use of drugs and the increase in liver diseases has been studied by the Office for National Statistics, but have been questioned by some drug-ad assistance groups.
(THE TIMES 16/05)
ALBANIA
Albania - the first example of a Nation destroyed by the international money laundering mobs - is the new drug-way in the Balkans. Traffickers can count on many desperate people used to atrocities and violence.
(IL MESSAGGERO 17/05)
FRANCE
Crack is again the ultimate drug, particularly in the Parisian hood Goutte-d'Or. It costs less then heroin and cocaine, but has the same "heavy" effects. The alarm was given in a public report presented during France Formation Toxicomanie.
(L'EVENEMENT DU JEUDI 21/05)
GREAT BRITAIN
A "Confidential" Government inquiry shows that one in every five people arrested has used heroin. The Secretary of State, Mr. Straw, will use these data to justify the decision to test all people arrested no matter why.
(THE TIMES 18/05)
THAILAND
Methamphetamine, a new drug derivative from amphetamine, also known as "yaa baa" is challenging heroin. According to official fonts it is used by 1 million Thais. More than half of the users are truck and cab drivers taking it to avoid fatigue. The Prime Minister has spoken of a true "National Crisis".
(LE FIGARO 19/05)
SPAIN
According to a recent research by the Agency on Drug-addiction, some 20% of the Basque students between 13 and 18 smoke hashish on a regular basis, another 8% sporadically uses hallucinogens or amphetamine.
(EL PAIS 19/05)
US
The judiciary is inquiring on the activities of the CONASUPO, a Mexican company nationalized by President Solinas, run by Raul Salinas, brother of the former President. The company is suspected of having been used for money laundering activities. DEA officers, who do not share the Clinton's favorable attitude toward Mexico, are showing their disagreement in this way.
(THE ECONOMIST, LE MONDE 17/05)
COLOMBIA
Mr. Pastor Parafan, considered one of the last drug barons, will be extradited by the Venezuelan authorities that have him under custody, and will be judged in the US. The extradition was made possible by the adoption of a parliamentary amendment that reintroduces extradition to the States for drug dealers.
(LE MONDE, LIBERATION 16/05, SUDDEUTESCHE ZEITUNG 24/05)
US
Four months after the death by overdose of Davide Sorrentino (20), the story of the Italian photographer reaches the headlines all over the world. The viewpoints against what is called "heroin chic" (the style portrayed by Sorrentino's fashion photos) are unanimous.
(CORRIERE DELLA SERA 21/05, INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE 21-24/05, IL MESSAGGERO 22/05, FRANKFURTER ZEITUNG, THE TIMES 23/05, LE MONDE 24/05)
US
The Government has set new rules against money laundering. From now on, all companies - nobody excluded - that deal with international money transferring should inform the government of their transactions exceeding $750. The previous amount was $10,000.
(INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE 20/05)
US
The Californian newspaper "San Jose' Mercury" that denounced the CIA's involvement in the crack dealing in the "black ghettos" of LA, has admitted that their denounces weren't based on evidence.
(THE TIMES 14/05, LE MONDE 15/05)
CHILE
The President of the Supreme Court has been forced to go on a non-predicted vacation after having defended a colleague suspected of being involved in some money laundering activities. The case, that sees the whole national bank system involved, is the first in Chile.
(FINANCIAL TIMES 21/05)
GERMANY
In order to have a better and more efficient service, the Berlin administration has decided to unify therapeutic services and counseling offices for drug addicts. All public medical care will be regrouped into seven regional centers, which should provide assistance within the region. The new centers will cure and help drug addicts as well as alcoholics.
(FANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG 15/05)
GERMANY
The political parties of the Government coalition do not agree on important issues regarding Germany's drug policies. The spokesperson of the FDP has criticized the CSU representative of the Government for stopping the necessary measures, the latter has replied that the "restrictive" policy of the German Government is not a failure. In 1996, there was an increase in the number of deaths by drugs.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG 15/05)
EUROPE
According to Ms. Anita Gradin, European Commissioner for Justice, the increase in the consumption of synthetic drugs like XTC is alarming. During the International Conference on Drugs in Tromsoe, Norway, Ms. Gradin stated that the consumption by youngsters of such substances is particularly worrying. Ms. Gradin also announced that the Commission would soon undertake "concrete initiative" by next October.
(FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG, SUEDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG 17/05, NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 21/05)
SWITZERLAND
NAS - an organization that includes professional organizations that deal with healthcare, drug-ads, schools, perishes and the community at large - has launched a campaign against the initiative called "Youth Without Drugs" that will be voted in September by the Parliament. NAS favors a more repressive policy that should target drug trafficking and "drug-parks".
(NEUE ZUERCHER ZEITUNG 20/05)
AUSTRIA
Fight drug addiction in prison through the creation of "Drug-free Zones" is an example that should be followed. The principle is simple: detainees that voluntarily renounce to drugs, and are able to demonstrate it, are transferred to the "Drug-free Zones" and can have a different treatment.
(DIE PRESSE 22/05)
US
American researchers are experimenting on guinea pigs the possibility of neutralizing cocaine. They are trying to intervene when the substance is already in circulation but has not yet reached the brain. Interesting are the so-called catalytic antibodies, which do not link themselves to the cocaine molecule, but resolve it into components with no effects.
(NEUE ZURCHER ZEITUNG 21/05)
GERMANY
XTC has the purpose of provoking ecstasy to partygoers. Nevertheless, XTC provokes cerebral damages to monkeys; this is the reason why it was outlawed in 1986. "Ecstasy & Co." a book recently published, uncovers what is behind the cliché.
(DER SPIEGEL 26/05)
SPAIN
The Basque Izequierda Unida (United Left) has asked the permission to import cocaine derivatives that have less than 0.1 % of the substance. The reasons for this request are linked to the medical properties of the product. The IU say that farmers from the Andes have the same right to grow cocaine that European farmers that grow grapevine have.
(EL PAIS 26/05)
PAKISTAN
Pakistan fights drug dealers thanks to an agreement with the American DEA. 70 % of the supply for the European drug-market and 10% of the American one are produced In Pakistan and Afghanistan. After a number of arrests for illicit trafficking among the military, DEA has been suspected to have spies within the Pakistani troops.
(TIME, 02/06)
GREAT BRITAIN
Crack addicts usually spend around 200,000 pounds a year for their doses. The money comes often from criminal activities. The links between drug-addicts, crime and the black market have been recently pointed out in Manchester by a governmental research.
(THE TIMES 27/05)
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