Colombia nearly doubles cocaine production under Gustavo Petro's socialist government
The report indicates that new areas where coca crops are being planted have emerged in the last three years.
Gustavo Petro speaking during a presidential speech in Bogotá on October 8, 2024.
Colombia faces a growing challenge in the fight against drugs, with coca crops having increased by 10% in 2023 under the socialist government of Gustavo Petro. A recent report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime(UNODC) reveals that the area being used to cultivate coca crops reached 253,000 hectares, an increase of 23,000 hectares compared to the previous year. In addition, cocaine production also increased by 53%, reaching a total of 2,664 tons.
Widespread increase in cultivation
The report indicates that, until December 31, 2023, coca crops have increased in many regions of the country. The production of pure cocaine increased significantly, from 1,738 tons in 2022 to 2,664 tons in 2023. This growth is not limited to a single area. Sixteen of the 19 departments where coca is grown have reported increases, with Cauca and Nariño being the most affected regions. Only the municipality of San Pablo-Taracué, in Bolívar, has seen a slight 3% reduction in cultivation.
New cultivation areas
The report also highlights the appearance of new areas dedicated to coca cultivation in the last three years. Approximately 40% of these new crops are located in the Pacific region, with the departments of Cauca and Chocó being the most affected. In these areas, planting density has reached alarming levels, with fields exceeding 12 hectares per square kilometer.
Despite this growth in new areas, 89.5% of coca is still concentrated in the same regions it has occupied for the last decade. However, the gap between areas of high concentration and those with less cultivation has increased. In addition, 48% of coca is found in special management territories, which include national parks, indigenous reserves, forest reserves and Afro-descendant community lands.
Cocaine production
Regarding potential cocaine production, the UNODC report indicates that this accounted for 2,664 tons in 2023, 53% more than in 2022 and a significant increase from 2021, when 1,400 tons were reported. It is important to note that this figure is based on the assumption that all hectares planted are harvested to produce cocaine, without discounting the 746 tons of cocaine seized by Colombian authorities during the same period.
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