Drug Policy
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 - 06:10
Representatives of 44 nations are participated at the 25th meeting of heads of national agencies responsible for struggling trafficking of illicit drugs in Latin America and the Caribbean on Monday.
Monday, October 5, 2015 - 06:27
Honduran officials claim to have blocked nearly all drug flights through their airspace as part of improved interdiction efforts, a claim backed by their US allies. If true there must have been a switch in cocaine trafficking routes.
Monday, October 5, 2015 - 06:25
In a disappointing move, Ecuador increased penalties for small-scale drug sellers yesterday, reversing reforms approved last year that differentiated between possession of small amounts of drugs and larger quantities with intent to sell, where there had previously been no differentiation. However, yesterday the National Assembly voted to modify the criminal code and toughen penalties once again.
Friday, October 2, 2015 - 07:49
Heather Higginbottom, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, speaks about the Afghan National Drug Action Plan.
Thursday, October 1, 2015 - 06:19
Mexico extradited two drug kingpins and 11 other men to the U.S. Wednesday, fulfilling yearslong U.S. requests that had apparently stalled.
Thursday, September 17, 2015 - 06:52
The US has again "decertified" Bolivia over what it calls a failure to comply with international narcotics agreements, despite recent data showing the country has achieved an unparalleled decrease in coca cultivation compared to other Andean nations in South America.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - 08:14
The United States has secretly indicted top officials connected to the government of Bolivian President Evo Morales for their alleged involvement in a cocaine trafficking scheme. The indictments, secured in a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration sting called "Operation Naked King," have not been previously reported.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - 07:28
Pursuant to section 706(1) of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228) (FRAA), I hereby identify the following countries as major drug transit and/or major illicit drug producing countries: Afghanistan, The Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Burma, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Laos, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela.
Monday, September 14, 2015 - 09:20
A sweeping new report by 17 organizations across Latin America, the United States and Canada calls attention to how drug policies have infringed on human rights. The study covers a wide range of issues, from lengthy prison sentences for minor drug offenders to prohibitive drug policies that run counter to international human rights and highlights how harsh drug policies often have a disproportionate effect on the most vulnerable sectors of society.
Friday, September 11, 2015 - 06:01
Ecuador is to toughen up penalties for drug possession after President Rafael Correa launched a broadside against "impunity" for microtraffickers "poisoning the population," rowing back on previous moves to liberalize the country's drug policy and further confusing an already muddled system.