Rainforest drug trade report criticised

A government report which claimed that the international cocaine trade is leading to huge areas of rainforest being cleared has been blasted as "woeful".

Writing for the Guardian, Niamh Eastwood said that the new home affairs select committee study has a number of serous problems and is lacking in evidence to back up its "bold" claims.

"Release has previously pointed out that the environmental argument that cocaine use and production are destroying large swathes of the rainforest is a distorted view," she said.

Release is a drugs and drug law expert group and gives advice to the general public and professional organisations on substance use.

Ms Eastwood said that if the home office affairs committee wants the problem of cocaine production to be taken seriously, "it should have presented all the facts and evidence on this matter".

Large areas of the rainforest are often cleared so that land can be used for cattle ranches, palm oil plantations and other industry.

Written by Kimberley Homer.

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