The global cocaine market is experiencing an unprecedented boom, with production, seizures, and consumption all reaching record levels in 2023, making it the world’s fastest-growing illicit drug market. This alarming assessment comes from the annual report released today by the Vienna-based UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Illegal cocaine production surged to 3,708 tons, marking a staggering 34 percent increase from 2022 and more than quadruple the output recorded a decade earlier when production was at its lowest. This significant escalation is primarily attributed to an expansion in the area dedicated to illicit coca bush cultivation in Colombia, alongside updated data reflecting higher yields.
The unprecedented supply has been met with a corresponding increase in law enforcement efforts, as global cocaine seizures also hit a new high of 2,275 tons. This represents a dramatic 68 percent rise in seizures over the four-year period leading up to 2023.
Compounding the crisis, the number of cocaine users globally has swelled to 25 million in 2023, up from 17 million just ten years prior. Angela Me, UNODC’s chief researcher, noted a “vicious cycle” of increased use and production, observing that “cocaine has become fashionable for the more affluent society.”
While Colombia remains the dominant producer, the report highlights a disturbing trend of cocaine traffickers aggressively penetrating new markets across Asia and Africa. Organized crime groups, particularly those from the Western Balkans, are reported to be significantly increasing their influence over the illicit drug trade, further globalizing its reach and impact.
The UNODC report paints a grim picture of a drug market that is not only expanding in scale but also diversifying its geographical footprint, posing formidable challenges to international drug control efforts and global public health.
