Exclusive: Cocaine deaths have hit record levels, with more than 1,000 people dying last year. Alex Ross finds the purity of the street drug has increased amid a boom in production in Latin America For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy