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Colombia continues to break records for cocaine production, report says Colombia continues to break records for cocaine production, report says
(35 minutes later)
Colombia is desperate to shed its reputation as a nation dogged by the drug trade, but new figures from the United Nations show that it continues to break records for producing cocaine.Colombia is desperate to shed its reputation as a nation dogged by the drug trade, but new figures from the United Nations show that it continues to break records for producing cocaine.
The South American nation produced a record estimated 1,379 tons of cocaine last year – up 31% on 2016 – according to a report published on Wednesday by the United Nation’s Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). In 2017, around 171,000 hectares (423,000 acres) of the South American nation’s land was used to grow coca, the plant whose leaf is the base ingredient of cocaine – up 25,000 hectares (17%) on the year before, according to a report published on Wednesday by the United Nation’s Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
The same report estimated that some 171,000 hectares of land were used to grow coca, the plant whose leaf is the base ingredient of cocaine, up 25,000 hectares (17%) on the year before. The same report estimated that enough coca was grown to produce 1,379 tonnes (1,520 tons) of cocaine – up 31% on 2016.
This is despite a peace deal signed in 2016 with leftist rebels the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (or Farc).This is despite a peace deal signed in 2016 with leftist rebels the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (or Farc).
That deal, which ended 52-years of civil war that killed 260,000 and displaced over 7 million people, had provisions to formalise land ownership for peasants, and help them switch coca crops for legal alternatives such as coffee and cacao. That deal, which ended 52 years of civil war that killed 260,000 and displaced over 7 million people, had provisions to formalise land ownership for peasants, and help them switch coca crops for legal alternatives such as coffee and cacao.
Coca is usually grown by poor farmers as a subsistence crop, but the plant played an important role in the conflict as the Farc would tax harvests, funneling the funds into their war chest. Coca is usually grown by poor farmers, but the plant played an important role in the conflict as the Farc would tax harvests, funneling the funds into their war chest.
The vacuum left by the Farc has been filled by myriad other armed groups, from dissident leftwing rebels who chose not to lay down their rifles to rightwing militias originally set up to fight the Farc.The vacuum left by the Farc has been filled by myriad other armed groups, from dissident leftwing rebels who chose not to lay down their rifles to rightwing militias originally set up to fight the Farc.
Those factions have pressured coca farmers to steer clear of the peace process’ substitution programme, often at the barrel of a gun, and targeted regional activists who campaign in favour of the peace process’ provisions. Those factions have pressured coca farmers to steer clear of the peace process’s substitution programme, often at the barrel of a gun, and targeted regional activists who campaign in favour of the peace process’s provisions.
Some farmers claim the military have been forcibly eradicating coca before giving them the chance to switch their crops.Some farmers claim the military have been forcibly eradicating coca before giving them the chance to switch their crops.
In October last year police opened fire on a crowd of protesting growers in Tumaco, a coca-rich region on the country’s southern pacific coast. Seven people died, causing a national debate on the government’s willingness to accommodate coca farmers. In October last year police opened fire on a crowd of protesting growers in Tumaco, a coca-rich region on the country’s southern Pacific coast. Seven people died, causing a national debate on the government’s willingness to accommodate coca farmers.
The wider pacific region, where the Farc once held sway, saw stark increases in coca production last year, with production in the three provinces lining the coast together reaching 65,567 hectares, up 13% on 2016. The wider Pacific region, where the Farc once held sway, saw stark increases in coca production last year, with production in the three provinces lining the coast together reaching 65,567 hectares, up 13% on 2016.
The latest figures are likely to alarm Washington, which has long provided aid to Colombia in its war on drugs.The latest figures are likely to alarm Washington, which has long provided aid to Colombia in its war on drugs.
Colombia’s foreign minister and US deputy secretary of state John Sullivan “discussed the need for continued action to reduce coca cultivation and cocaine production in Colombia,” at a meeting earlier this month in Washington, according to a State Department press release. Colombia’s foreign minister and the US deputy secretary of state, John Sullivan, “discussed the need for continued action to reduce coca cultivation and cocaine production in Colombia”, at a meeting earlier this month in Washington, according to a state department press release.
The US, which backed the peace process, said in June this year that coca production had increased to 209,000 hectares, a figure higher than the one reached by UNODC and Colombia’s defense ministry.The US, which backed the peace process, said in June this year that coca production had increased to 209,000 hectares, a figure higher than the one reached by UNODC and Colombia’s defense ministry.
Colombia’s president, Iván Duque, said last week that he hopes to reduce coca production by 140,000 hectares in four years, the length of his term. “It is not easy, but that is the goal we want to set,” he said.Colombia’s president, Iván Duque, said last week that he hopes to reduce coca production by 140,000 hectares in four years, the length of his term. “It is not easy, but that is the goal we want to set,” he said.
Colombia is currently testing a programme to aerially fumigate coca crops with the controversial herbicide glyphosate using unmanned drones. Aerial fumigation was suspended in 2015 after the World Health Organization linked it to cancer, and experts have warned that the practice is unlikely to reduce coca production.Colombia is currently testing a programme to aerially fumigate coca crops with the controversial herbicide glyphosate using unmanned drones. Aerial fumigation was suspended in 2015 after the World Health Organization linked it to cancer, and experts have warned that the practice is unlikely to reduce coca production.
ColombiaColombia
AmericasAmericas
DrugsDrugs
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