Bolivia Begins Coca Eradication Program
- 14 years ago
Bolivian police tore up coca plants in the coca-growing region of Los Yungas on Tuesday.
President Evo Morales’ administration looks to control cocaine production in the South America nation.
Morales has pledged zero tolerance for drug trafficking, but will try to encourage other uses of coca.
Coca is a leaf used traditionally in Bolivia in everything from teas to religious rites.
Critics say Morales’ power base in the coca-growing sector has provided growers too much leverage. They say this has led to a rapid increase in cocaine production.
But Morales and his administration say the new eradication plan is a joint effort between growers and the government.
[Sacha Llorenti, Government Minister] (male, Spanish):
“A new phase of coca rationing has begun. Also, it’s the first time we’ve done it in this part of the country. Our struggle against drug trafficking and our struggle to ration coca production are coming together.”
The annual UN report showed a slight rise in land dedicated to coca growing. But more drug trafficking than the year before.
Experts in Bolivia say the rise is due to new technology. Coca leaves are being processed into cocaine more quickly.
Coca farmer Pedro Laura says he doesn't have a problem with the eradication. But he wants compensation from the government.
[Pedro Laura, Coca Farmer] (male, Spanish):
“I agree with the eradication, but only when they give us the help they promised us. In 2006, they made promises and didn’t keep them. I have the documents.”
A US-backed crackdown in Colombia has pushed more of cocaine trade into Bolivia. In the first semester of the year, police confiscated a record 18 tons of cocaine. They arrested over 2,150 people, among them Colombians and Brazilians.
President Evo Morales’ administration looks to control cocaine production in the South America nation.
Morales has pledged zero tolerance for drug trafficking, but will try to encourage other uses of coca.
Coca is a leaf used traditionally in Bolivia in everything from teas to religious rites.
Critics say Morales’ power base in the coca-growing sector has provided growers too much leverage. They say this has led to a rapid increase in cocaine production.
But Morales and his administration say the new eradication plan is a joint effort between growers and the government.
[Sacha Llorenti, Government Minister] (male, Spanish):
“A new phase of coca rationing has begun. Also, it’s the first time we’ve done it in this part of the country. Our struggle against drug trafficking and our struggle to ration coca production are coming together.”
The annual UN report showed a slight rise in land dedicated to coca growing. But more drug trafficking than the year before.
Experts in Bolivia say the rise is due to new technology. Coca leaves are being processed into cocaine more quickly.
Coca farmer Pedro Laura says he doesn't have a problem with the eradication. But he wants compensation from the government.
[Pedro Laura, Coca Farmer] (male, Spanish):
“I agree with the eradication, but only when they give us the help they promised us. In 2006, they made promises and didn’t keep them. I have the documents.”
A US-backed crackdown in Colombia has pushed more of cocaine trade into Bolivia. In the first semester of the year, police confiscated a record 18 tons of cocaine. They arrested over 2,150 people, among them Colombians and Brazilians.