WAR ON DRUGS WORKING, DRUG CZAR SAYS

COLOMBIA -- Interruptions of the flow of cocaine to the U.S. are
causing street prices to rise, a sign that the war on drugs is
working, the White House drug czar, John Walters, said here Thursday.
He told reporters that interdictions in Colombia, in other countries
along cocaine transit routes and on the open seas were reducing supplies.

His assessment was based on price and purity data from 37 major U.S.
cities. Street cocaine prices rose 44 percent, to an average $136.93
per pure gram, from January to September, he said. Others say it might
only reflect the fact that more Colombian cocaine is being shipped to
Europe, where it can fetch higher prices.