Shared Responsibility
Shared Responsibility is an initiative launched by the Office of the Vice President of Colombia in 2005. We operate under the simple but steadfast belief that if cocaine consumers were made aware of the atrocious ways in which their drug money is put to use in Colombia, they would not only rethink their cocaine habit but actively support the eradication of coca crops from Colombia.
Shared Responsibility's mission is twofold:
- Educate consumer nations about the illegal landmines, deforestation, armed violence, kidnapping, terrorism and many other consequences of the illegal drug trade.
- Encourage consumer nations to support the sustainble eradication of coca crops by contributing to specific Colombian social development programs
The Facts
October 03, 2007
In 2005, 210 clandestine cocaine laboratories were destroyed. Not surprisingly, most were located in South America (163 in Colombia and 33 in Bolivia and Peru). Of the remaining 14, 11 were found in Spain, 1 in France, 1 in the U.S. and another in South Africa.
SOURCE: UNODC's Coca Cultivation in the Andean Region 2007
17% of Canadians smoked marijuana in the last year -- the highest usage in the industrialized world.
SOURCE: Newsweek International. August 13, 2007
10.5 billion euros ($14.5 billion) of Italy's welfare and health budget are spent treating drug addiction. The sum equals 0.7 percent of Italy's gross domestic product.
SOURCE: Italian Parliamentary Report, 2007
2.2 million hectares of tropical forest, an area equal to the size of Slovenia, have been clear cut to grow coca in Colombia
SOURCE: Colombian Drugs Observatory
In 2006, erradication work in Colombia prevented 1.643 tons of cocaine from reaching the streets of the world and $41.073 billion dollars from reaching the coffers of drug traffickers.
SOURCE: Colombian Anti-Narcotics Police, with information from the Colomiban Drugs Observatory (DNE)
The market price of one kilogram of cocaine sells for somewhere between 24,000 and 40,000 euros in France. Drug traffickers can obtain the same kilo for some 300 to 400 euros.
SOURCE: France's Central Office for the Repression of the Trafficking of Illicit Substances (OCRTIS) 2006 Report
Reportedly, for each dollar of cocaine sold in any of the streets of the world, 10 to 15 cents end up in the hands of Colombia's armed groups to continue financing the war.
SOURCE: Sandro Calvani, Director of the Colombian UNODC, in a 2006 statement before the U.S. Congress
168.5 tons of cocaine were seized by Colombian authorities in 2005, the largest seizure in six years.
SOURCE: Colombian Ministry of Justice and of the Interior
Glyphosate, one of the herbicides used by Anti-Narcotics forces to kill coca plants, is also commonly used by coca growers themselves to protect coca plants from weeds and pests.
SOURCE: Colombian Anti-Narcotics Police Department
During 2005 in Colombia aerial aspersion was used to eradicate 138.000 hectares and 32.000 more were manually eradicated.
SOURCE: Sandro Calvani, Director of the Colombian UNODC
Colombia possesses 60% of the illicit crops in the Andean region, but only 21% of international cooperation for alternative development is given to Colombia.
SOURCE: Sandro Calvani, Director of the Colombian UNODC
Approximately 68,000 Colombian families are dedicated to growing illicit crops.
SOURCE: Colombian Drugs Observatory
Spanish authorities seized at least 50 tons of cocaine in 2005. Spain is the main entrance of cocaine into Europe.
SOURCE: Spanish Government
World production of cocaine diminished by 27.6% from 1999 to 2004.
SOURCE: Colombia’s Drugs Observatory
Between 2002 and 2003, the amount of cocaine seized in the EU nearly doubled (from 47 tons to over 90), suggesting a growing demand for this drug.
SOURCE: EMCDDA 2005 Annual report
In Europe, around 1.5 million people are classified as current users of illicit drugs.
SOURCE: EMCDDA 2005 Annual report
Spain and the UK consume more drugs than any other nation in the EU.
SOURCE: EMCDDA 2005 Annual report
97% of the world’s cocaine is produced in just three countries: Colombia (50%), Peru (32%), and Bolivia (15%).
SOURCE: UNODC 2005 World Drug Report
In 2005 some 200 million people used drugs at least once.
SOURCE: UNODC 2005 World Drug Report
Cocaine plays a ‘determining role’ in around 10% of all drug-related deaths in Europe.
SOURCE: EMCDDA 2005 Annual report
The global street market sales of illicit drugs in 2003 were higher than the GDP of 88% of the countries of the world.
SOURCE: UNODC 2005 World Drug Report
To produce one kilo of soluble cocaine, it is necessary to grow a hectare of coca plants and use more than 200 kilos of environmentally harmful chemicals.
SOURCE: Colombia’s Drugs Observatory Report 2005
Cocaine is now the stimulant drug of choice for young Europeans.
SOURCE: The Guardian. 'Drawing the line' 2006
Although cocaine is seen as an expensive drug associated with the rich lifestyle of music and fashion celebrities, prices have dropped and it is increasingly a street drug.
SOURCE: The Guardian. 'Drawing the line' 2006
Most of the cocaine seized in Europe comes directly from Colombia and Bolivia or via Central America and the Caribbean. New transit routes are being opened up in west Africa.
SOURCE: The Guardian. 'Drawing the line' 2006
Treatment services for cocaine, unlike heroine, are poorly developed across Europe.
SOURCE: The Guardian. 'Drawing the line' 2006
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