Millonarios and Boca Juniors team up against drugs

Two great Latin American football teams, Los Millonarios of Colombia and Boca Juniors of Argentina, played a friendly match on 2 September 2005 to launch an international campaign against drugs and terrorism.

Under the slogan "A single team against drugs," the UNODC-sponsored campaign aims to make the general public aware that drug consumption funds terrorism and costs many lives.

Urging young people to stay away from drugs, Sandro Calvani, UNODC representative in Colombia, stressed the fact that drugs harm millions of people around the world and "mentally enslave" them. Given the magnitude of the problem, Mr. Calvani noted the importance of working as one team to "score a win against drug trafficking and terrorism".

According to Ricardo "El Gato" Pérez, Los Millonarios footballer and campaign spokesman, the match was the "perfect opportunity to send a message against a scourge that affects us all". Mr. Pérez added that athletes should continue to serve as examples to young people and encourage them to make healthy choices.

Millonarios and Boca Juniors were on the same side the night of the match in Bogotá. Although it ended 2 to 1 in favour of Los Millonarios, both teams fought against a common enemy: drugs.

The Club Deportivo Los Millonarios of Bogotá, 13 times champion of Colombia, was linked with drug trafficking a few years ago. Trafficker Gonzalo Rodríguez Gacha owned nearly 30 per cent of the Club's shares, which the government expropriated after his death. By court order, the National Narcotics Directorate (DNE) currently administers these shares. For its part, the Club Atlético Boca Juniors of Buenos Aires has also won several national and international tournaments, which is why the Club regularly figures among the best teams in the world. Its number one fan is football legend Diego Maradona, who is waging a daily battle to beat his cocaine addiction.

The friendly match between the two teams was organized by UNODC Colombia, the DNE and Los Millonarios. Twenty thousand fans gathered in the stadium; millions more are expected to join the campaign.