Cocaine production is at record-high levels, UN says, but drug interceptions mean that less is actually available on the streets

• Cocaine production is at a record-high level, according to a new report by the United Nations.
• The surge in global cocaine supply should "put all of us on high alert," warned UNODC's chief.
• Demand for the drug is also rocketing, after a slump during the COVID-19 pandemic, it said.

Cocaine production is at record levels, with demand for the drug rebounding after temporarily slumping amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Almost 2,000 tons of the illicit drug were produced in 2020, continuing a sharp uptick in production since 2014, Thursday's report said.

It added that the surge is partly due to a rise in coca bush cultivation, which increased 35% from 2020 to 2021 — the steepest year-to-year incline since 2016.

UNODC executive director Ghada Waly warned that the surge in global supply should "put all of us on high alert."

The report also said that improvements in the process of converting coca bush to cocaine hydrochloride, the white powder form, have contributed to the rise in production.

The increase in supply is happening alongside an increase in demand, which temporarily slumped during the pandemic, per the report.

"The COVID-19 pandemic had a disruptive effect on drug markets," the report said. "With international travel severely curtailed, producers struggled to get their product to market.

"Night clubs and bars were shut as officials ramped up their attempts to control the virus, causing demand to slump for drugs like cocaine," it added.

But now, demand is up again, with most regions showing a rising number of users, the report said. 

In 2020, North America represented about 30% of the world's cocaine users, but the report warned of strong potential for a large expansion of cocaine use in Africa and Asia.

The UNODC said that there could be 24.5 million additional cocaine users if prevalence levels in North America extend to other regions of the world.

Though demand has been on the rise, so have interceptions by law enforcement agencies.

Interceptions and seizures have actually been increasing at a higher level than production, meaning the amount of cocaine available for consumption has been somewhat curtailed, the UNODC said.