Colombia's Coca Cultivation Hits Two-Decade High

Coca cultivation in Colombia surged by 10% in 2023, reaching 253,000 hectares, the highest level in over two decades, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). This increase has led to a significant rise in potential cocaine production, which jumped 53% to 2,664 tons, marking a new record. The growth is concentrated primarily in the departments of Cauca and Nariño, areas dominated by leftist guerrilla groups and criminal gangs. President Gustavo Petro is shifting the country's drug policy from forced eradication to a public health approach, promoting voluntary crop substitution and increased social investments, while ruling out glyphosate aerial spraying. Despite these changes, cocaine seizures have reached an all-time high, with authorities intensifying their crackdowns on drug trafficking. The report highlights the ongoing challenges Colombia faces in balancing drug cultivation with community needs and international pressure to combat drug production.