New trends and regional differences in the manufacturing of methamphetamine

The illicit manufacture of methamphetamine has traditionally been concentrated in North America (primarily in Mexico and the United States) and East and South-East Asia (China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand), close to the major consumer markets. The latest UNODC's Global SMART Update study, however, shows that it has recently spread to other countries such as Guatemala, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

The Update also reveals that some countries in Africa and the Middle East have recently emerged as important regions for methamphetamine supply, and that methamphetamine manufacture is also spreading across Europe, though at low levels.

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