A flood of cheap cocaine smuggled through Mexico could create major problems in Europe, the Taoiseach has warned following briefings from Mexican officials.
The cost of a cocaine "hit" has fallen to just 30 cents in many parts of Mexico. "This has happened only since last November, and it has causing huge problems," Mr Ahern said.
Drug traffickers in Mexico are now targeting 13-14 year olds. "On the face of it, cheaper cocaine is going to go across to Europe," he told The Irish Times.
On the last day of a week-long trade mission, Mr Ahern said leading Mexican politicians expressed great alarm at Britain's plans not to prosecute marijuana users.
Mexico has just completed a major study into drugs use: "They found that marijuana is the most addictive drug of all. They are quite shocked by the UK's liberalisation law," the Taoiseach said. "This study has gone on for several years. They were warning me very clearly. Marijuana is used to get young children addicted and then move them on to other drugs."
The Mexican drugs crisis has worsened sharply since September 11th because increased security on the United States border has made it more difficult for traffickers.
The Irish party had time for some tourism also. Visiting the world-renowned pyramids in Tehotihuan, outside Mexico City, Mr Ahern and his partner, Ms Celia Larkin, were offered a guide to life 250 years before the birth of Christ.
The Tehotihuanos placed great store in offering women as sacrifices to the god of the earth and the bird serpent. "They used to take out their hearts. It was considered a great honour for woman to be chosen. It would not exactly encourage you to come to Mexico, would it?" an interpreter said jokingly to Ms Larkin as the delegation toured the giant pyramids of the moon and the sun.
Told that the two temples to the Tehotihuan gods took 200 years to build, Mr Ahern could have been forgiven for worrying that it may take that long to realise his own ambition of a national stadium back home.
Pressed for time, the Irish delegation refrained from climbing the steep 267 steps to the top of the pyramid of the sun. "If you did that every day, you would be either fit or dead," Mr Ahern said.
While the Tehotihuanos may have been slow builders, they clearly knew a thing or two about drainage - a subject close to Mr Ahern's since the flooding which ruined houses in his constituency recently.
