Colombia Fighting a 'War on Drugs'... Why Is Coca Cultivation Area Increasing Instead?

Coca Cultivation Area Increases from 1430㎢ to 2040㎢, Highest Level in 20 Years
Colombian Government Says "Supply Control Policy Failed, External Demand from US and Others Must Be Reduced"

Cocaine seized by police at the port of Cartagena, Colombia. Photo by EPA Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] In Colombia, the world's largest cocaine-producing country, the area cultivated for coca, the raw material for cocaine, has increased to its highest level in over 20 years.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on the 20th (local time), the area of coca cultivation farms in Colombia increased by about 43%, from 1,430 km² (143,000 hectares) in 2020 to 2,040 km² (204,000 hectares) last year. This is the largest area since UNODC began monitoring cocaine production trends in Colombia 21 years ago.

During the same period, cocaine production also rose from 1,010 tons to 1,400 tons. Most of the produced drugs flowed into the United States and Europe.

The UNODC report explained that the increase in cocaine production is due to technological development and the expansion of coca cultivation areas, resulting in the cultivation of more productive varieties.

Despite decades of drug control policies, the situation has worsened, leading the Colombian government to judge that the "war on drugs" has failed. The "war on drugs," declared by former U.S. President Richard Nixon in 1971, refers to policies focused on strict crackdowns and punishments for drug offenders. In the past, Colombia also used highly toxic herbicides to crack down on drug cultivation farms.

However, over the past decade, cocaine production has nearly tripled, and 90% of the cocaine consumed in the U.S. is still supplied from Colombia. Due to its strong addictiveness, even when drug supply decreases and prices rise, consumption has not declined.

As a result, the Colombian government argues that instead of suppressing indiscriminate drug supply domestically, policies should shift toward reducing external demand, such as from the U.S. Crackdown and punishment-centered policies only drive drug transactions underground, increasing cartel profits and having little effect on reducing drug demand.

Nestor Osuna, Colombia's Minister of Justice, stated during the UNODC monitoring results announcement held in Bogot?, Colombia's capital, that this is "clear evidence that the war on drugs has not worked." While not advocating for the "legalization of cocaine," he said discussions are underway to establish a comprehensive new drug policy.

Meanwhile, concerns have been raised that the increase in drug cultivation areas could threaten biodiversity within Colombia. The UNODC pointed out, "Many Colombian coca farms are located within forest protection zones," adding, "As coca cultivation increases, deforestation rates will also rise, and biodiversity will continue to be threatened."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.