More Cocaine Is Snorted In London Than Barcelona, Amsterdam And Berlin Combined

There is more cocaine consumed in London than in Barcelona, Amsterdam and Berlin combined.

The market for the drug in the UK's capital is reportedly worth an estimated £1 billion ($1.2bn) every year.

According to the Metro there are more than half a million doses of cocaine taken in London every 24 hours, on average, which is twice the amount taken in any other European city. This amounts to an estimated street value of £2.75 million ($3.3m).

PA

A study carried out by King College London University tested waste water for benzoylecgonine - the compound produced when the body breaks down the Class A drug - found that Londoners collectively consumed an average of 23kg cocaine per day.

On average, people in Barcelona go through 12.74kg, those in Amsterdam take 4.62kg (I suppose they have much mellower options available there, though) while people in Berlin consume 4.62kg.

PA

Dr Leon Barron, a forensic scientist at King's College London, told Sky News that cocaine was an 'everyday drug' in London with the study discovering 'sustained cocaine usage across the week' and only a 'slight rise at the weekend'.

He said: "That is in contrast to other cities where you see a very marked recreational use at the weekend, and so cocaine is an everyday drug in London."

The amount of cocaine represents pure cocaine and doesn't include substances which the Class A drug is cut with - usually anaesthetics such as lidocaine and benzocaine.

PA

Tony Saggers, former head of drugs threat at the National Crime Agency, said: "I would say London has got to the point of saturation.

"The demand has gone up, the price has stayed stable, people are able to lay their hands on it freely, readily... but I would say, yeah, the other cities are catching up."

Sky News spoke to an anonymous bar owner who said that the surge in drug use had caused her to increase her spending on security by £1,000 per week.

She explained: "It's everywhere. I think it is because of austerity and cuts to public services and greater stress - people are taking more drugs."

Topics: UK News, News, Cocaine, UK

Rebecca Shepherd

I'm Becky - a journalist at LADbible. I graduated with a First Class BA in Journalism before going on to cover criminal court cases, medical tribunals and breaking news for the national media - which inevitably and eventually became as glum as it sounds. Can often be found rocking a bag for life - which I made a 'thing' way before Rihanna. You can contact me at [email protected]

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