Colombia eradicates over 40 thousand hectares of illicit crops

Colombian authorities announced Tuesday that 40,689 hectares of illicit crops have been eradicated manually so far in 2009.

According to a press release on the website of the Colombia agency of social welfare, 149 eradication teams comprised of peasants and demobilized individuals, have eradicated the illicit crops in the departments of Antioquia, Nariño, Meta, Vichada, and Putumayo.

The police and the military protect the eradication teams against retaliatory actions by the drug cartels.

Colombia eradicated 66,805 hectares of illicit crops in 2007 and 96,115 in 2008. The eradicated illicit crops are coca, marijuana, and poppies.

Related posts

Former president maintains control over Colombia’s Liberal Party

UN Security Council extends monitoring of Colombia’s peace process

Defense minister believes Pegasus spyware no longer used in Colombia