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Pandemic prompts narcotics shifts in Latin America

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Subject

Global pandemic and Latin American narcotics.

Significance

Supply and distribution activities within global drug markets have been affected by the limitations imposed on the movement of people, goods and finance. However, suppliers and consumers have found innovative ways to bypass lockdowns. These responses will reconfigure the drug trade and criminal organisations in the post-COVID-19 period.

Impacts

  • Their role in distributing food and enforcing lockdowns will strengthen the legitimacy of some criminal groups in local communities.
  • Shortages of precursor chemicals from China heighten the risk of new synthetic drug innovation localised in Latin America.
  • Latin American governments are missing an important opportunity to put drug strategy on a new, development-oriented footing.

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