Smugglers switch to planes

Smugglers switch to planes - and Africa

South American drug smugglers increasingly are buying older freighters to fly drugs to Africa for subsequent on-flight and distribution in Europe.

The smugglers formerly relied on ocean freight but seagoing crackdowns mean airfreight now is faster, cheaper and more reliable.

The African countries used are without the sophisticated detection equipment used in European countries.

"The quantity of cocaine distributed and the means employed to distribute it have been extraordinary," say US prosecutors.

Smugglers switch to planes - and Africa

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Thursday, 18 November 2010

South American drug smugglers increasingly are buying older freighters to fly drugs to Africa for subsequent on-flight and distribution in Europe.

The smugglers formerly relied on ocean freight but seagoing crackdowns mean airfreight now is faster, cheaper and more reliable.

The African countries used are without the sophisticated detection equipment used in European countries.

"The quantity of cocaine distributed and the means employed to distribute it have been extraordinary," say US prosecutors.