Second officer dies after Bolivia coca squad ambush
- 10 years ago
Originally published on October 21, 2013
A second police officer has died from gunshot wounds suffered on Saturday when soldiers and police taking part in a mission to eradicate coca crops in rural Bolivia were reportedly ambushed by coca growers.
The officer is the second member of the eradication team to die after the joint military-police squad were attacked as they took part in a mission to destroy coca plants in Apollo, north of La Paz.
The injured policeman died on Sunday from a bullet wound that pierced his stomach and pancreas.
Army lieutenant Oscar Gironde was killed by a bullet to the chest during Saturday's attack.
Coca growers ambushed them as they were destroying illicit crops used to make cocaine, the government said.
According to Reuters, "security forces were using machetes to clear coca fields in the northern Apolo region of the country when they were attacked late Saturday night, the government said in a statement.
"Coca cultivation in Bolivia, the world's third-biggest cocaine producer after Peru and Colombia, fell for the second consecutive year in 2012 as the government stepped up eradication efforts, according to an annual survey compiled by the United Nations and the Bolivian government.
"Cultivation of coca bushes in Bolivia fell by around 7 percent to roughly 25,300 hectares, following a 12 percent drop in 2011, according to the survey released in August.
"Bolivians have chewed raw coca leaves for centuries as a mild stimulant that reduces hunger and altitude sickness. Coca is not illegal in Bolivia, but the government aims to eradicate excess crops that could be diverted to illicit markets.
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A second police officer has died from gunshot wounds suffered on Saturday when soldiers and police taking part in a mission to eradicate coca crops in rural Bolivia were reportedly ambushed by coca growers.
The officer is the second member of the eradication team to die after the joint military-police squad were attacked as they took part in a mission to destroy coca plants in Apollo, north of La Paz.
The injured policeman died on Sunday from a bullet wound that pierced his stomach and pancreas.
Army lieutenant Oscar Gironde was killed by a bullet to the chest during Saturday's attack.
Coca growers ambushed them as they were destroying illicit crops used to make cocaine, the government said.
According to Reuters, "security forces were using machetes to clear coca fields in the northern Apolo region of the country when they were attacked late Saturday night, the government said in a statement.
"Coca cultivation in Bolivia, the world's third-biggest cocaine producer after Peru and Colombia, fell for the second consecutive year in 2012 as the government stepped up eradication efforts, according to an annual survey compiled by the United Nations and the Bolivian government.
"Cultivation of coca bushes in Bolivia fell by around 7 percent to roughly 25,300 hectares, following a 12 percent drop in 2011, according to the survey released in August.
"Bolivians have chewed raw coca leaves for centuries as a mild stimulant that reduces hunger and altitude sickness. Coca is not illegal in Bolivia, but the government aims to eradicate excess crops that could be diverted to illicit markets.
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