• Cocaine production reached 3,708 tons in 2023, a 34% increase from 2022.
• The number of cocaine users globally surged to 25 million, up from 17 million in 2013.
• Colombia accounts for over 67% of the world's coca leaf crops, driving the cocaine market.
• Record-high seizures of amphetamines and opioids were also reported.
• Organized crime groups are expanding into new markets in Asia and Africa.

The global cocaine market experienced unprecedented growth in 2023, with cocaine production, seizures, and consumption all hitting record levels. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported that illegal cocaine production reached 3,708 tons, marking a 34% increase from the previous year and over four times greater than a decade ago. This surge is primarily attributed to the expanded cultivation of coca bushes in Colombia, which alone accounted for over 67% of global coca leaf crops, indicating a significant uptick in production by approximately 53% year-on-year, according to trtglobal, dawn, and aa.

The rising cocaine consumption pattern aligns with this increased production, with an estimated 25 million users reported globally in 2023, significantly up from 17 million a decade earlier. This shift is partly illustrated by a statement from UNODC chief researcher Angela Me, who remarked that "cocaine has become fashionable for the more affluent society," highlighting a vicious cycle of rising use and production. Geographically, major cocaine markets are found in North America, Western and Central Europe, and South America, according to trtglobal and dawn.

The report also noted a substantial increase in cocaine seizures, which reached 2,275 tons in total, reflecting a 68% rise in the last four years. Additionally, the UNODC indicated that synthetic drugs like amphetamines have seen record-high seizures, comprising nearly half of all drug seizures globally, which saves further evidence of the escalating drug problem. The influx of organized crime from the Western Balkans into new markets in Asia and Africa has compounded these challenges, according to aa.

The implications of this crisis are significant for Colombia, especially as the U.S. State Department considers its annual certification regarding progress in combating drug trafficking. Colombian officials have stressed their commitment to reducing illicit crops, with initiatives aimed at maintaining U.S. support for their anti-drug efforts. Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia has underscored the hope that visible results from Colombia's fight against drugs will reflect positively in their certification, as reported by trtglobal, dawn, and aa.