Media Reaction, Jornal do Brasil Newspaper, Brazil: Between

UNCLAS RIO DE JANEIRO 000161 SIPDIS STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD DEPT PASS USTR USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD XM XR BR SUBJECT: Media Reaction, Jornal do Brasil Newspaper, Brazil: Between Advances and Regressions (on drugs) On June 25, center-left Rio daily Jornal do Brasil writes, "Brazil is the country that consumes the most cocaine in South America, even though it is not a large global producer of the drug. This fact was included in the UN's global report on drugs that was released yesterday. In absolute figures, the Brazilian market leads the continent in cocaine consumption, with close to 890,000 users (the equivalent of .7% of the population between 12 and 65). A worrying increase when compared to 2001, when drug users represented .4% of the population. Based on questionnaires filled out by governments, the United Nations survey was released simultaneously in various cities throughout the world on the eve of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The number of drug seizures increased along with the rise in consumption. In the Southern Cone countries (Brasil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chile),seizures went from 10 tons in 2000 to 38 tons in 2007. According to the National Secretary for Drug Policy, Paulo Roberto Uchta, "Brazil doesn't bother the world in terms of production. It is a bother because of the drug transit that takes place in the country. In 2007, South America contributed with 45% of the world's total drug apprehensions, the equivalent of 323 tons. More than 60% of this amount comes from Columbia. 17 tons of cocaine were seized in Brazil- which places it 10th in the world ranking. The Secretary emphasized the fact that Brazil shares a border with the three largest worldwide producers of cocaine, but avoided speaking about failures in vigilance. According to the Federal Police, the main objective is not to intercept narcotics, but to break up the criminal organizations responsible for the illicit trade. According to Uchta, Brazil is fully compliant with international commitments regarding the drug trade. In spite of the official optimism, Brazil is one of the four countries with the most users of intravenous drugs (along with China, the United States, and Russia, they make up an estimated 45% of the world's users). This practice ends up pushing Brazil into another sad ranking: that of countries with the highest rate of HIV contamination on the planet. According to the report, 48% of those infected by AIDS virus in Brazil are users of intravenous drugs. Public policies directed towards these groups would be more than welcome... Another dark scenario is laid out [in the report] in relation to crack. Seizures in Brazil almost quadrupled from 2006 to 2007, going from 145.3 tons to 578 tons. In the time period covered by the survey, which starts in 2002, the year with the least seizures of crack was 2004, with 101 tons apprehended. Cheap and powerful, the drug became a favorite among the less-favored classes, with large penetration among youth and children. State support for addicts- when it exists- is still far from ideal. More than just a compilation of numbers and charts, the diagnosis laid out that in the 314 pages of the report could serve as a basis for governments' public policy towards the fight against drug trafficking and the prevention of addiction." MARTINEZ