Pubdate: Fri, 09 Nov 2007 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Copyright: 2007 CanWest News Service Contact: http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/walters.htm (Walters, John) 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake