The decrease in price and increase in purity of cocaine in the markets of America and Europe clearly indicate the ineffectiveness of U.S. military efforts to combat drug trafficking networks. Despite intensified military operations against these networks in Latin America, the supply of cocaine continues and its price is decreasing.
Intensification of Military Operations and Failure to Reduce Supply
The government of Donald Trump has increased its military and security operations against drug traffickers in Latin America since returning to the White House. The U.S. military announced on October 15, 2026, that 239 people were killed in 71 airstrikes on speedboats. Additionally, the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, the President of Venezuela, and military operations in Ecuador have been part of these efforts. However, recent reports indicate that despite these efforts, the widespread supply of cocaine in the markets of America and Europe continues.
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Traffickers have managed to circumvent the limitations imposed by military operations by changing routes and methods of transporting shipments. In "Port Buenaventura," Colombia's largest port, military divers have reported an increased use of metal containers by traffickers that are attached to the hulls of cargo ships. This method allows for the transport of drugs without relying on speedboats, which have been targeted in military attacks.
Expansion of Smuggling Routes and Increased Production
Reports indicate that trafficking networks have expanded their maritime routes, with shipments passing through not only Colombia and Venezuela but also Guyana and Suriname. Transporting drugs via rivers to other coastal cities, including Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay, is also a common method used by traffickers. Colombia produces about 70% of the world's cocaine, and global production of this substance reached approximately 4,100 tons in 2024, a figure that is more than four times the production level a decade ago.
According to data from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, the purity of cocaine at the retail level in the European Union has increased by 44% from 2014 to 2024. Additionally, the price of a kilogram of cocaine in Miami reached about $16,500 in the summer of 2026, which is one-third lower than the usual minimum price in the city. This trend is also evident in Europe, where prices in some markets are described as about two-thirds lower than the usual level.
Laurent Laniel, a senior analyst at the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, has warned that the sharp decrease in cocaine prices could attract new consumers who previously could not afford to buy this substance. Thus, the abundance of cocaine and its decreasing price may expand access to this drug.
Despite the intensification of U.S. military operations, the supply of cocaine in global markets remains extensive, and the price of this substance has decreased. Increased production in source countries and changes in smuggling routes indicate that trafficking networks are still able to transport shipments to consumer markets despite military pressure. The question now is whether the military strategies of the Trump administration can have a long-term impact on the volume of supply in the global market or if only the smuggling routes will change.
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