RISING COCAINE PRICES CHEER U.S. DRUG CZAR

BOGOTA, Colombia - Interruptions of the flow of cocaine to the United
States is causing street prices to rise, a sign that the war on drugs
is working, the White House drug czar said. John Walters, director of
the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said that as a result of
interruptions to the flow of drugs through Colombia, Mexico and other
countries, U.S. cocaine street prices have risen to an average $136.93
per pure gram at the end of September, a 44-per-cent increase over the
average in January.

Price and purity data were supported by other measures, including
reduced evidence of cocaine use as measured in workplace tests, he
said.