Britain among fastest growing coke markets

BOGOTA, March 27 (UPI) -- Britain is rising quickly among the ranks of the world's consumers of Colombian cocaine, according to Colombian officials.

Colombian Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos also said that all of Europe was now rivaling the United States as the largest market for Colombian cocaine, The Times of London reported Friday.

"The drugs enter through Spain and Portugal mostly," Santos told The Times. "England is very important as a final destination."

The defense minister also said that several African countries had become important bridges from Colombia to the European market for the cocaine cartels.

Colombia is by far the world's largest producer of cocaine and in recent years has begun producing more heroin.