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Global Cocaine Production Hits Record 3,708 Tons: UNODC
Global cocaine production soared 34% in 2023, hitting a record 3,708 tons—over 4x higher than a decade ago. Cocaine use surged to 25M users. UN warns of rising drug use & organised crime worldwide.
ND
by News Desk
2025-06-26
Global Cocaine Production Hits Record 3,708 Tons: UNODC

Global cocaine production soared to a record 3,708 tons in 2023, marking a 34% increase from 2022 and a fourfold rise over the past decade, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) annual World Drug Report released on Wednesday.

The sharp increase has been largely attributed to a widening area of coca bush cultivation in Colombia, the world’s top producer, and updated yield estimates, the Vienna-based body stated.

Alongside a spike in production, global cocaine seizures also hit a record, reaching 2,275 tons, a 68% rise over the last four years.

Meanwhile, the number of global cocaine users has surged to 25 million in 2023, up from 17 million in 2013 — a rise of over 47%.

“Cocaine has become fashionable for the more affluent society,”
said Angela Me, UNODC’s chief researcher, highlighting a “vicious cycle” of increased use and supply.

New Trafficking Routes, Expanding Markets

The UN agency warned that trafficking networks are rapidly expanding operations across Asia and Africa, with Western Balkans criminal groups gaining increasing influence in the global drug trade.

While Colombia remains the primary source, rising demand in non-traditional markets is pushing criminal networks to develop new routes and supply chains.

A Growing Global Drug Challenge

The report paints a bleak picture of a world where organised crime is thriving amidst growing instability.

In 2023, approximately 6% of the global population aged 15–64 used at least one drug — a jump from 5.2% in 2013.

Cannabis remains the most widely used substance, followed by amphetamines, cocaine, and opioids.

Seizures of amphetamine-type stimulants reached a record high, comprising nearly half of all synthetic drug seizures, followed by synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which continues to fuel overdose crises, particularly in North America.

Captagon Trade Uncertainty Post-Assad

The fall of Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad in December 2024 has also thrown the future of the Captagon trade — a highly addictive amphetamine — into uncertainty.

The stimulant, which became Syria’s top illicit export under Assad, has continued to circulate in 2024–25 despite government claims that production sites were dismantled.

“The latest seizure data confirm that captagon is continuing to flow — primarily to the Arabian Peninsula,”
said the UNODC, suggesting either the release of hidden stockpiles or continued production elsewhere.

UNODC's Urgent Call to Action

UNODC warns that “a new era of global instability” is empowering cartels and criminal syndicates, making global drug control even more challenging.

The report urges governments, law enforcement, and civil society to respond swiftly with coordinated policies, education, treatment access, and international cooperation to stem the tide of escalating drug threats.
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