Philip A. Berry

Ecuador’s Cocaine Trafficking Crisis Is a Problem for the U.K., Too The increasing volumes of cocaine reaching the U.K. meet a soaring demand that has resulted in the country having the second-highest cocaine usage rate in the world.

I’m delighted to share my take for World Politics Review about the UK’s counter-narcotics support to Ecuador. The article highlights the scale of the drug problem in Ecuador and provides historical context about the UK’s anti-drug assistance to the country
www.worldpoliticsreview.com/uk-ecuador-c...

Jetzt handeln und Drogenkrise verhindern - Der Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Sucht- und Drogenfragen Prof. Dr. Hendrik Streeck: „Wir müssen schneller, systematischer und konsequenter reagieren auf neue, immer gefährlichere Drogen.“

There were at least 333 drug-related deaths involving #nitazenes in the UK in 2024.

This compares to 342 synthetic opioid, including #fentanyl, deaths in Germany in the same year.

www.bundesdrogenbeauftragter.de/presse/detai...

Jetzt handeln und Drogenkrise verhindern - Der Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Sucht- und Drogenfragen Prof. Dr. Hendrik Streeck: „Wir müssen schneller, systematischer und konsequenter reagieren auf neue, immer gefährlichere Drogen.“

In 2024, there were 2,137 drug-related deaths in Germany, 90 cases fewer than the previous year.

‘#Synthetic #opioids such as #fentanyl [has] been found in…342 cases, approximately 16 percent’.

www.bundesdrogenbeauftragter.de/presse/detai...

Russia the first to recognise Taliban government in Afghanistan The foreign minister in Kabul called Moscow's decision

Russia is the first country to recognise the Taliban regime. Will other repressive states follow suit?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Cocaine worth £76m found hidden in bananas at city port Cocaine worth more than £76m was found stashed inside bananas onboard a vessel at Southampton port

A massive 3,600 kilograms of #cocaine, worth £76 million, was concealed within bananas and transited the port of Southampton en route to Hamburg.

www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/2525345...

China to regulate all nitazene-related substances

China has announced it is scheduling the entire class of nitazene-related substances. It will be interesting to see how this, if at all, impacts #nitazene supply.

www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202506/19/...

This is disgraceful, but unsurprising given how Musk operates.

What is at stake in the US-UK trade talks? President Trump has raised the prospect of a deal that could help Britain avoid tariffs

What is at stake in the US-UK trade talks?

https://www.ft.com/content/ab671907-51a5-4826-9204-68fdd0bdbd67

Trump mineral deal with Ukraine offers hope but little in the way of security It’s a ‘very b ig deal’ says the US president. But will it bring peace and security to Ukraine?

It’s a ‘very b ig deal’ says the US president. But will it bring peace and security to Ukraine?

‘There has never been a more dangerous time to take drugs’: the rising global threat of nitazenes and synthetic opioids Unlike opium, nitazenes and other synthetic opioids can be produced anywhere in the world using precursor chemicals that are often uncontrolled.

I'm pleased to share my take for @uk.theconversation.com about nitazene supply & use in the UK & EU. It details the actors currently behind the trade, how the UK government has responded & offers some tentative conclusions about how this may develop in the future
theconversation.com/there-has-ne...

‘There has never been a more dangerous time to take drugs’: the rising global threat of nitazenes and synthetic opioids Unlike opium, nitazenes and other synthetic opioids can be produced anywhere in the world using precursor chemicals that are often uncontrolled.

Unlike opium, nitazenes and other synthetic opioids can be produced anywhere in the world using precursor chemicals that are often uncontrolled.

How Trump the ‘master deal-maker’ failed when it came to negotiating with the Taliban in Afghanistan The deal that Trump left for his successor Joe Biden was a recipe for the disaster that followed.

The deal that Trump left for his successor Joe Biden was a recipe for the disaster that followed.

How Trump the ‘master deal-maker’ failed when it came to negotiating with the Taliban in Afghanistan The deal that Trump left for his successor Joe Biden was a recipe for the disaster that followed.

I'm pleased to share my take for the @uk.theconversation.com comparing President Trump's disastrous deal with the #Taliban in 2020 with his early strategy for 'peace' talks with Russia over its illegal invasion of #Ukraine: theconversation.com/how-trump-th...