A Key Strategy in the Global War on Cocaine – Survive the News

In 2024, Peru will have achieved a major milestone in the fight against drug trafficking by destroying 13,327 hectares of illicit coca leaves, 53% of the annual target of 25,000 hectares. This effort, led by the Coca Crop Control and Reduction Project in the Upper Huallaga (CORAH), underscores the country’s determination to combat one of the most serious problems in the Andean region: cocaine production and trafficking.

The coca leaf, although traditionally used in various Andean cultures, has become the main raw material for the production of cocaine. Peru, one of the largest producers of coca leaves in the world, has fought against the expansion of this crop, which often grows in jungle areas that are difficult to access. In 2024, the Peruvian government, through the Ministry of the Interior, has concentrated its efforts in the regions of Loreto, San Martín, Ucayali, Huánuco and Pasco.

The eradication process, carried out on 4,564 plots, has prevented the potential production of 122 tons of cocaine hydrochloride, an important step forward in reducing the supply of this drug on the world market. In addition, it has been established that more than 12,000 hectares eradicated corresponded to new crops, indicating a recent expansion of these plantations, while 1,258 hectares were replanted, demonstrating the perseverance of farmers in replanting in areas that had already been intervened.

Eradication actions are not limited to the destruction of crops. In the framework of these operations, 16 secret laboratories dedicated to the production of cocaine were also destroyed, with the support of the Anti-Drug Directorate (DIRANDRO) of the National Police of Peru. These secret laboratories, operating in precarious conditions and hidden deep in the jungle, are key points in the chain of illegal drug production.

The Ministry of the Interior has indicated that efforts are focused on buffer zones, indigenous communities, forest concessions and permanent production forests. These are areas where the expansion of coca cultivation not only affects security, but also the environment and indigenous communities.

Coca eradication in Peru has a direct impact on the drug trafficking economy, but it also poses significant challenges. On the one hand, these operations help reduce the amount of cocaine available on the market, which has implications for the finances of drug cartels. On the other hand, eradication creates tensions in rural communities where coca cultivation is often one of the few sources of income. This dilemma has led several governments to combine eradication with alternative development programs, in an attempt to provide farmers with other viable economic options.

However, the persistence of crops even in previously eradicated areas reflects the complexity of the problem. Replanting coca on already intervened lands suggests that farmers are unfortunately still dependent on this illicit crop without sustainable economic alternatives.

In recent statements, the Minister of the Interior stressed the importance of maintaining and strengthening eradication operations, not only as a punitive measure, but as part of a broader strategy to reduce the economic dependence of communities on coca. He also stressed the need for closer international cooperation, particularly in the areas of financing and logistical support, to tackle drug trafficking more effectively.

As we move into the second half of the year, the goal of eradicating the remaining 11,600 hectares will be a critical challenge. The success of these operations will depend largely on the government’s ability to implement strategies that combine eradication with economic development and its ability to manage the complex social and environmental dynamics in the affected regions.

Joana Campos is an old and editor with more than 10 years of experience in the implementation of international projects, attention to the welfare and social impact. The actual management of JC Editorial has coordinated the publication and distribution of international auto-reconocidos and the logistics of national cash flows. People, as general administrator and integrated physician, manage the clinic and generate general projects in various areas. Previously, the company started as a company, mainly in criminal law and business. Joana has a license at Derecho at the Universidad de Guadalajara.

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