8 Dec 2009

UN / AFRICA DRUG TRAFFICKING

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says drug traffickers undermine the rule of law and in some countries the huge profits generated through drug trafficking can rival their Gross Domestic Product (GDP). UNTV / FILE

Posted at: December 8, 2009 4:12 pm

Duration: 03:00

Available in: SD

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STORY: UN / AFRICA DRUG TRAFFICKING 
TRT : 3.00 
SOURCE: UNTV / IRIN / UNMIL 
RESTRICTIONS: NONE 
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 7 DECEMBER 2009 , NEW YORK CITY / FILE

SHOTLIST:

RECENT 2009, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior, United Nations headquarters

7 DECEMBER 2009 , NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council 
3. Cutaway, delegates 
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations: 
"These groups undermine state authority and rule of law. They spread corruption, compromise elections and hurt the legitimate economy. In some countries, the huge profits generated through drug trafficking can rival Gross Domestic Product ( GDP )." 
5. Cutaway, delegates 
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations: 
"The transnational nature of the threat means that no country can face it alone. This fight requires a comprehensive international approach based on a strong sense of shared responsibility. States must share intelligence, carry out joint operations, build capacity, and provide mutual legal assistance. So far, cooperation between governments is lagging behind cooperation between organized crime networks." 
7. Cutaway, delegates 
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Antonio Maria Costa, Executive-Director, UNODC: 
"The recent discovery of seven laboratories in Guinea ( Conakry ) is evidence that West Africa is also becoming a producer of synthetic drugs, amphetamines and of crystal cocaine, refined from pasta basica." 
9. Cutaway, delegates 
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Antonio Maria Costa, Executive-Director, UNODC: 
"On the other side of the continent, 30-35 tons of Afghan heroin are being trafficked into East Africa every year. This is causing a dramatic increase in drug addiction of the worse type, namely heroin injection. This is spreading HIV, as I witnessed two weeks ago in the slums of Nairobi and Mombasa . Drug treatment facilities are badly needed and I urge donors to help." 
11. Cutaway, delegates 
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Antonio Maria Costa, Executive-Director, UNODC: 
"Drug trafficking is only one illicit activity in Eastern Africa . Mainly because of the dramatic situation in Somalia , the region is becoming a free economic zone for all sorts of trafficking: drugs, migrants, guns, hazardous waste and natural resources, in addition to having the world's most dangerous waterways because of piracy."

FILE - UNAMA – APRIL- MAY 2008, BADAKHSHAN , AFGHANISTAN

13.Various shots, farmers in poppy field

FILE – 2005, KENYA

14.Various shots, intercepted drugs being burned

FILE – UNMIL – 8 OCTOBER 2008 , LIBERIA

15. Close up, bag of marijuana 
16. Med shot, police man standing next to bag of marijuana 
17. Close up, two parcels of marijuana

STORYLINE:

The Security Council today called for greater international cooperation in fighting drug trafficking, with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon terming it a leading threat to global peace and security.

"So far, cooperation between governments is lagging behind cooperation between organized crime networks," he told the 15-member body at the start of a day-long debate.

He said that drug trafficking is fuelling brutal insurgencies in Afghanistan, Colombia, and Myanmar, spreading violence in West Africa, Central Asia, Central America and the Caribbean and threatening to reverse UN peacebuilding efforts in Afghanistan, Haiti, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone and elsewhere.

"Drug trafficking is evolving into an ever graver threat that is affecting all regions of the world," Ban warned, calling for sustained political will and significant resources to counter the trade, which in some countries generates huge profits that can rival their Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ).

Ban said that the, "trans-national nature" of the threat meant that no country could face this problem alone and that the "fight" required a comprehensive international approach based on a strong sense of shared responsibility.

The United Nations Drugs and Crime (UNODC) chief Antonio Maria Costa underscored the, "new worrying development" in West and East Africa and across the Sahara .

He said the recent discovery of seven laboratories in Guinea showed that West Africa was also becoming a producer of synthetic drugs and crystal cocaine refined from pasta basica or base paste.

Costa said cocaine was pouring into the west and tons of Afghan heroin was  trafficked annually into the east, and that this was causing a dramatic increase in drug addiction, mainly heroin injections. This was spreading HIV, he said, and urged donors to help with badly needed   drug facilities.

And because of the dramatic situation in Somalia , the region was becoming a, "free economic zone" for all sorts of trafficking.