Europe targets Colombian drugs

The aim of the policing network, announced by French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, is to hit the traffickers where the drug originates and prevent it reaching Europe.

Mr Sarkozy is due to travel to Colombia with European colleagues on Tuesday.

In an interview with RTL radio he unveiled plans to set up a special police centre on the French Caribbean island of Martinique - "a veritable axis of drug trafficking".

"We are going to create the basis of a veritable police network with our British, Spanish and Colombian friends to eradicate and wage the most effective war possible drug traffickers in Colombia," Mr Sarkozy said.

"The key to it all is hitting the traffickers where the drug originates - not waiting for the drug to arrive in Europe."

'Brave efforts'

This was the first time Mr Sarkozy had divulged a co-operation plan between European countries and Colombia to stop the flow of drugs into Europe from South America.

He said Colombia was the main producer of cocaine in the world - producing 750 tonnes a year.

Mr Sarkozy said that "luckily" Colombia had a "very brave government that wanted to co-operate with us to eradicate the production of cocaine where it starts".

Last month Colombian President Alvaro Uribe set out his policy to end almost 40 years of civil war in Colombia - including measures to combat the drugs trade, which fuels the conflict.

The key point of the new peace plan is the establishment of police forces in all parts of the country.

The government also wants to destroy all drug crops in Colombia - one of the main sources of revenue for the illegal armies.

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