Paco, a highly addictive smokable form of cocaine residue, has flooded the streets of Argentina.
This influx in cocaine flow is due to easily penetrated borders, economic hardship and the weakened restrictions for growing coca.
Brazil is now the second largest consumer of cocaine, preceded only by the United States.
Cocaine flows freely because less than 200 federal police officers patrol Brazil’s 2,100-mile border with Bolivia. Drug traffickers have free rein in Argentina’s airspace; radar only covers 10 percent.
“Cocaine is no longer the drug only of the elite, of high society,” said Luiz Carlos Magno, a Brazilian narcotics officer in the São Paulo State Police Department. “Today kids buy three lines of cocaine for 10 reals,” or about $6. For about $1 in Brazil and about $1.50 in Argentina, users can buy enough of the cocaine for a 15-minute high.
Paco is extremely addictive, especially because the high only lasts a few minutes. The high is so intense some users smoke 20 to 50 cigarettes as day.
Paco is more dangerous than its more natural form. It is composed mainly of chemicals and is usually less than 30 percent pure.
Most of Europe has rejected this cocaine because of the drop in quality; because of this the majority of the drug goes to Argentina and Brazil.
Dealers cut the cocaine with agents such as baking powder, boric acid or lidocaine. This process leads to severe health problems like blood clots and all types of infections.
Cocaine Takes Argentinian Streets
Paco Is No Friend
Paco Devastates Country
Saturday, February 23, 2008
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