NarcoLeaks has released a statement criticizing the U.S. government’s response to their report on international cocaine trafficking, for underestimating both cocaine distribution in the U.S. and Colombia’s level of production.
NarcoLeaks claims that the U.S. response, issued by their Office of National Drug Control Policy, is “highly insufficient and does not clarify the doubts that were raised” in their initial report.
Narcoleaks highlighted several main issues they had with the U.S. response. First, they claim that taken in context, their analysis would indicate percentages of purity of cocaine being distributied in the U.S. to be significantly higher than U.S. authorities have reported.
Further, they claim that world production significantly exceeds the estimates provided by the U.S., highlighting discrepancies in figures released by the Department of State in this regard.
They also took issue with the U.S. assertion that some circulating cocaine is a mixture of that produced during the year, and that stockpiled over previous years, stating; “Cocaine is produced to be circulated, not stockpiled”.
Regarding Colombia, they question the U.S. assertion that cocaine production in Colombia has dropped, when “all the available data say otherwise”.
NarcoLeaks is comprised of Italian journalists and researchers who monitor worldwide drug seizures, publishing their findings online.