U.N. reports record high global cocaine production.

Global cocaine production has reached a record high, increasing by 35% between 2020 and 2021 due to expansion in coca bush cultivation and improved techniques in making cocaine, according to a report from the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The main markets for cocaine remain in the Americas and Europe, but there is potential for expansion in Asia and Africa. New hubs for cocaine trafficking are emerging in Southeastern Europe and West and Central Africa, with North Sea ports overtaking traditional entryways to Europe. Law enforcement has intercepted a record 2,000 tons of cocaine in 2021.