Antonio Costa

Antonio Maria Costa

In a HARDtalk programme broadcast on December 2 Stephen Sackur talks to the Executive Director, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Antonio Maria Costa.

With opium production in Afghanistan still high and a new front for drug trafficking flourishing in West Africa, is the international community really making any progress in stopping the flow of illegal drugs?

Antonio Maria Costa is the head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. His office is tasked with making the world a safer place from drugs and drug-related crime.

Zeinab Badawi asks him if his agency is fighting a losing battle.

HARDtalk is broadcast on the BBC World News channel Monday to Thursday at the following times; 0430, 0930, 1430, 1830 (Middle East and South Asia only), 2130 and 2330 (except in the Asia Pacific region).

HARDtalk is also broadcast on the BBC News Channel Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 0430 and 2330.

All times are GMT.