Mexicans consume drugs worth $800 mln annually - minister
MEXICO CITY. January 25. KAZINFORM Mexicans consume more than 550 tonnes of drugs worth over $800 mln annually, the country's secretary of public security said on Monday, Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.
Drug trafficking has been a major woe for the Latin American state. In his New Year's speech, Mexican President Felipe Calderon declared fighting drug criminality in Mexico a government's top priority for 2010.
"According to our estimates, Mexicans consume 515 tonnes of marihuana, 27.5 tonnes of cocaine, 3.9 tonnes of heroine, and about 5 tonnes of synthetic drugs annually. Spending on their purchase accounts for more than $811 million," Genaro Garcia Luna said.
More than 4.7 million Mexicans are drug addicted, he said, adding the number of those consuming synthetic drugs such as amphetamine and ecstasy has risen by five times in the past six years.
According to government estimates, there are 107.000 million people living in Mexico.
Felipe Calderon declared a fight against drug criminality in the country, which has been the main transshipment point for drug trafficking from Latin America to the U.S., after taking power in 2006.
However, the high profitability of the drug business has hampered government efforts, Garcia Luna said.
Annual drug supplies to the U.S. via Mexico are estimated at around $40 billion. Some 45,000 servicemen have been involved in anti-drug operations at the border between the two states, Kazinform cites RIA Novosti. See www.en.rian.ru for full version.