The U.S. State Department's annual report on illicit drug trade worldwide, issued Thursday, said Afghanistan's opium production hit a record high last year while there was backsliding on anti-drug efforts in Venezuela and Bolivia. Iran's counter-narcotics efforts were commended.

A week after Mexico´s new president, President Felipe Calderon, sent over 7,000 troops to Michoacan, a state riddled with drug violence, the Mexican government announced the capture of a well-known drug lord. Susana Seijas has been monitoring developments and files this report for VOA.