European UpdateEMCDDA A definition of 'drug mules' for use in a Europeancontext. The trafficking of drugs and, in particular,the use of human carriers (often called ‘drug mules’)remains a relatively hidden phenomenon, on whichlimited information is available. This latest EMCDDAThematic paper explores whether a common defini-tion of ‘drug mules’ can be developed in the Euro-pean context and assesses the implications of thisfor data gathering and future research.http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/publications/thematic-papers/drug-mulesGreeceGreece will issue free condoms and syringes toheroin addicts to halt an alarming rise in new HIVcases, the health ministry said. The state organisa-tion against drugs (Okana) and volunteer groups willdistribute 30,000 condoms and 10,000 syringes aspart of the initiative to be initially launched in Athens.http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ineAxWGzg7a1Rcfv5Bk0HQS3VE6A?docId=CNG.ccdf1ed6f832ed0d931fd5b61ed86e72.181IrelandNumber of addicts seeking help rises in every coun-ty. South Tipperary, Kerry, Waterford, Roscommonand Cork City have experienced the sharpest rises inthe number of heroin addicts seeking help, figuresshow. Every county in the country has recordedsubstantial increases in heroin treatment, rangingfrom a minimum of 20% to as high as 3,000%.http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2012/0312/ireland/number-of-addicts-seeking-help-rises-in-every-county-186844.htmlItalyAn Italian passenger tried to smuggle 10kg of heroinfrom Pakistan and pass it through Dubai. He was enroute to Switzerland and from there to Rome, wherehe was finally arrested following a controlled deliveryoperation. http://gulftoday.ae/portal/9a91cd2c-42e8-4885-a568-3f9312c2befe.aspxRussiaDirector of the Federal Service for Drug Control ofRussia Viktor Ivanov paid a visit to Central America,visiting Mexico, Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador and

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Panama. There he met with foreign ministers, po-lice chiefs and the Attorney General. Ivanov pro-posed collaboration and a plan to combat drugtrafficking.http://english.pravda.ru/russia/economics/12-03-2012/120748-russia_latin_america_drugs-0/RussiaThe Russian anti-drug watchdog has prepared abill introducing criminal punishment of up to twoyears in jail for drug users.http://en.rian.ru/crime/20120319/172265311.htmlSweden A team of Swedish police officers are hoping toincrease their chances of tackling cannabis pro-duction in their own country following a visit to theUK. The contingent, from Stockholm, were im-pressed by Avon and Somerset Constabulary’sOperation Viscount, which allowed them to focuson cannabis factory production on a large scale.http://www.policeoracle.com/news/Crime/2012/Mar/20/Swedish-Officers-Have-Counter-Drugs-Masterclass_46357.htmlUnited KingdomA review of Class C drug ketamine has been or-dered by the Home Office. It follows concernsabout its increased use and the harm the drug cancause. Home Secretary Theresa May has askedindependent experts on the Advisory Council onthe Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to update their advice.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17344089United KingdomGuardian/Mixmag drug survey reveals a genera-tion happy to chance it. Data shows predominantlywhite, educated and relatively healthy users willingto take significant risks with their health.http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/15/respondents-guardian-mixmag-drug-surveyUnited KingdomPutting Full Recovery First - the RecoveryRoadmap. This document outlines our roadmapfor building a new treatment system based on ourcommitments made in the Drug Strategy: to restrictthe supply of drugs; reduce the demand for drugs;and support individuals to be free of dependence.http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/alcohol-drugs/drugs/recovery-roadmap

World UpdateUnited NationsUNODC Global SMART Update Volume 7The Global SMART Update is a brief update whichfocuses on developments in the fast changing syn-thetic drug marketUnited NationsStronger regional networks are vital for confrontingthe threat of illicit drugs, said Yury Fedotov, Execu-tive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugsand Crime (UNODC), at the opening of the 55thsession of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs(CND), "We face a transnational threat of extraor-dinary proportions that amounts to US$320 billionor some 0.5 per cent of global GDP, "he stressed.http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/press/releases/2012/March/un-drugs-chief-calls-for-stronger-cooperation-frameworks-and-attention-to-health-as-way-forward-for-international-drugs-policy.htmlAustraliaDrug use monitoring in Australia: 2009–10 reporton drug use among police detainees.http://www.aic.gov.au/en/publications/current%20series/mr/1-20/17.aspxBoliviaAt a UN meeting in Vienna Bolivian President EvoMorales defended Bolivians' right to chew cocaleaves, the main ingredient of cocaine, saying itwas an ancient tradition and the world's No. 3cocaine producer was working to fight drug traffick-ing. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/12/us-drugs-un-bolivia-idUSBRE82B0QH20120312CanadaA study contends medically prescribed heroin ismore cost effective than methadone for treatinglong-term street heroin users. The people given themedically prescribed heroin in the form of diacetyl-morphine were also likely to live longer than thoseon methadone maintenance, according to the studyby researchers at Providence Health Care and theUniversity of B.C.http://www.timescolonist.com/health/Heroin%20better%20than%20methadone%20addicts%20study/6293086/story.htmlGhanaThe Ghana Police Service has been hit by yetanother cocaine scandal with links to the nephew offormer President Kufuor and a possible underhanddealing and attempted cover up from some officersof the Police Command who are said to be de-manding a whopping $200,000 from the suspects.http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/artikel.php?ID=233064

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Guinea BissauSince emerging as Africa’s first narco-state in themid 2000s, Guinea Bissau’s slide toward instabilityhas been swift. Cocaine traffickers, mostly fromSouth America, first visited this West African coun-try almost a decade ago. Guinea Bissau offered abackdoor route into the European cocaine marketand was virtually risk free on account of its weak,easily corruptible government agencies.http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/13/opinion/narco-states-africas-next-menace.html?_r=1GuyanaA Caribbean Airlines employee and several work-ers at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport ques-tioned in connection with the discovery of 10kilogrammes of cocaine thrown over the fence.http://www.demerarawaves.com/index.php/201203113442/Latest/cocaine-laden-bags-thrown-over-airport-fence.htmlIndia15 kilos of heroin was seized by police Lalgola inMurshidabad district and four persons arrested inthis connection. Police also seized 146 kg of rawmaterial used for manufacture of heroin.http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/15-kg-of-heroin-seized-in-lalgola/973534.htmlIranUS Treasury designated Gen. Gholamreza Bagh-bani, who runs the Revolutionary Guards' Qudsforce office in Zahedan near the Afghan-Pakistanborder, as a narcotics "kingpin" for facilitating Af-ghan drug runners to move opiates into andthrough Iran. In return, the smugglers helped moveweapons for the Taliban from Iran "on behalf ofBaghbani," the US Treasury said in a statement.http://news.yahoo.com/us-says-iran-general-key-afghan-heroin-trade-154722562.htmlMexicoAround 3.6 metric tons of a dark liquid that con-tains heroin has been seized by police in Mexico,a record-breaking haul of opiates. Experts said theliquid may be opium paste being processed intoheroin.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/mexico/9144849/Mexican-police-seize-record-haul-of-opiateThailandSa Kaeo police arrested a Thai woman who hadentered the country from Cambodia and seizedabout a kilogramme of cocaine smuggled fromBrazil.http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/security/284018/cocaine-seized-in-sa-kaeo-yaba-in-south

Drug WebwatchConferenceA New EU Drug Strategy Post-2012Academy of European Law, Trier, Germany. 10-11 May 2012 Practical Experiences from the Fight Against Trafficking Cooperation between EU and National Law Enforcement Bodies

Key Topics Drug Trafficking into and out of the EU - latest trends and developments The EU Drugs Strategy 2005-2012, EU Drugs Action Plan 2009-2012, Action Plan for Western

Balkans and Candidate Countries The role of EU instruments and bodies: EMCDDA, Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre

-Narcotics, EUROPOL & EUROJUST Effective measures to reduce demand & supply Cross-border case studies in the areas of police and judicial cooperation The EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan post 2012

Who should attendLaw enforcement officers, ministerial officials, judges, prosecutors and NGOs.

For further information:Ute BeisselTel. +49 (0)651 937 37 320Fax. +49 (0)651 937 37 773E-mail: ubeissel@era.intOnline registration: www.era.int/?122870&en

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I would like to express thanks to those persons around the world who have contributedto this issue in particular to Jim Young at Substance Misuse. Items for inclusion infuture issues should be forwarded to paul@paul-cook.net

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Paul Cook

Issue 66 April 2012

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