The cocaine trade is booming in Europe’s Caribbean territories
The overseas possessions provide an easy route into the EU
Back when the United States was the world’s hottest market for cocaine, the drug was flown into places like Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, then taken to Florida by boat. Today the fiercest demand for cocaine comes from Europe, where its wholesale price is some 40% higher than in the United States. To meet this demand, smugglers have woven a different set of Caribbean islands into their supply chains: Europe’s overseas territories.
This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “Keeping it in the family”
From the March 30th 2024 edition
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