Quote:
"During the debate, there was strong endorsement for the work of UNODC,
and calls for its work to be properly resourced."
End of quote.
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Is everyone blind to the built-in inconsistency or contradiction in UNODC, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime?
More funding and "proper resources" to "control drugs" can only further stimulate the spread of illegal drug markets, and thus of global crime.
Is it the main activity of the "drugs division" of UNODC to provide its own "crime division" with easy work for the next decades?
fp
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UNODC (UN Office on Drugs and Crime)
December 9, 2009

Security Council debates "devastating impact" of drug trafficking

States have been called upon to strengthen international cooperation "on
the basis of a common and shared responsibility to counter the world
drug problem and related criminal activities."

The United Nations Security Council, at its session on 8 December,
focused on the issue of drug trafficking as a threat to international
peace and security. Burkina Faso's Foreign Minister Bedouma Alain Yoda,
whose country holds the Presidency of the Council in December, stressed
the "devastating impact" of drug trafficking, particularly in Africa.

The Security Council unanimously adopted a presidential statement that
called for greater action to combat drug trafficking as a threat to
international security. It stressed, in particular, the need for
regional cooperation to counter this trans-national threat. In the
statement, "the Security Council invites the Secretary General to
consider mainstreaming the issue of drug trafficking as a factor in
conflict prevention strategies, conflict analysis, integrated missions'
assessment and planning a peacebuilding support".

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that "drug
trafficking is evolving into an ever graver threat that is affecting all
regions of the world", not least in areas where the United Nations is
involved in building peace (like Afghanistan, Haiti, Guinea-Bissau,
Liberia and Sierra Leone).

"Drug trafficking does not respect borders", said the Secretary-General.
He stressed that "the trans-national nature of the threat means that no
country can face it alone". However, "so far, cooperation between
governments is lagging behind cooperation between organized crime networks".

The Secretary-General also called for a more balanced approach to drug
control characterized by "reducing demand for drugs and the harm done by
them; on promoting alternative development and the rule of law at the
source of the supply; and on disrupting trafficking routes".

In his address, UNODC Executive Director Antonio Maria Costa focused on
the growing threat of drug trafficking to Africa. "Today, under attack
from several sides, the continent is facing a severe and complex drug
problem: not only drug trafficking, but also production and
consumption.  Serious consequences in terms of health, development and
security are inevitable," said Mr. Costa.

He described how cocaine trafficking from the West and heroin from the
East are creating instability and spreading addiction. He said that "we
have acquired evidence that the two streams of illicit drugs -- heroin
into Eastern Africa and cocaine into West Africa -- are now meeting in
the Sahara, creating new trafficking routes across Chad, Niger and
Mali."  He warned that, like in the Andeans and in West Asia,
"terrorists and anti-government forces in the Sahel extract resources
from the drug trade to fund their operations, purchase equipment and pay
foot-soldiers." He also said that drug trafficking in the region is
taking on a whole new dimension - becoming larger, faster, and more
high-tech.

He urged Member States to create a Trans-Saharan Crime Monitoring
Network to improve information, monitor suspicious activity, exchange
evidence, facilitate legal cooperation, and strengthen regional efforts
against organized crime.

During the debate, there was strong endorsement for the work of UNODC,
and calls for its work to be properly resourced.

Related Information:

UN Security Council Presidential Statement 8 December 2009
http://www.unodc.org/documents/frontpage/SC_President_Drug_Trafficking.pdf

UN Secretary General Speech to Security Council 8 December 2009
http://www.unodc.org/documents/frontpage/SG_SC_Drug_Trafficking.pdf

UNODC Executive Director Speech to Security Council 8 December 2009
http://www.unodc.org/documents/frontpage/UNODC_ED_SC_Drug_Trafficking.pdf

Maps: Illicit Drug Trafficking across Africa (ppt)
http://www.unodc.org/documents/frontpage/Illicit_trafficking_across_Africa_ppt.ppt
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