The rate of drug addiction in the Tuva Republic in 2000  rose to almost four times Russia’s national average. Tuva has 226.1 addicts per 100,000 members of the population, compared to the national average of 59.7 addicts per 100,000, interfax-Eurasia reported. According to the agency, the number of addicts in the republic has increased 40 times during the last 10 years, and the number of crimes involving the illegal sale of drugs has risen 10 times. Recent reports suggest that Tuva is becoming a second Colombia,’ where the local narco-business is becoming the republic’s primary business activity.