A new report found that the added border security resulting from Sept. 11 had little impact on the global pattern of drug trafficking last year, the Associated Press reported June 28.

"The only effect noted was a drop in the number of seizures of drugs in air traffic bound for the United States in September and October," said the World Customs Organization (WCO) in its "Customs and Drugs" report. "But the figures for November and December were back to the 'normal level.'"

According to the report, 17,792 seizures of illicit drugs were reported in 2001, a drop from the 51,910 reported in 2000. However, United States data was unavailable for 2001.

The report found that Afghanistan remained the biggest source of opium in the world, with little change in heroin and other opiate trafficking last year.

In addition, the report noted that the southern Balkan route for heroin smugglers, which goes from Turkey through Albania into Italy and the rest of western Europe, "is becoming more significant."

The report also showed an increase in the amount of South American cocaine being sent to Mexico.

The report's findings were released at the recent WCO annual summit held in Canada.