In 2021, another record amount of cocaine was intercepted in the Netherlands. Up to and including Christmas, almost 68,000 kilos have been seized, compared to 49,000 kilos all of last year, according to an inventory by the NOS. The number of kilograms intercepted has been rising sharply for years. But whether that is only a success of more effective Customs is doubtful

Several mega consignments of thousands of kilograms were found this year, including the largest cocaine seizure in recent years. It is also striking that more cocaine was found among cargo at Airport Schiphol: from 700 kilos in 2020 to 1,800 kilos in the past year. 500 kilograms of coke were found in passenger luggage this year.

In Colombia, the number of kilograms seized is heading for a record, while prices there remain at the same level. In 2020 the counter came to 505 tons, in 2021 it was already above 622 tons by mid-December. There is now a lower harvest of coca leaves in the country, while production seems to be increasing in recent years, due to investments in better methods.

Since the start of the fight against the international cocaine trade (in 1945), production has only increased.

The UN Drugs Agency (UNODC) this spring signaled a worldwide steady increase in demand , spanning more and more countries, especially now in Asia .