Colombia’s government announced on Thursday that it is going to combat drug traffickers and increase the eradication of coca cultivation in the northwestern border region of Catatumbo.
Farmers in the north of Colombia are threatening protests after reports that the government is considering the resumption of chemical aerial fumigation of coca, just months after a ban of the potentially carcinogenic pesticide glyphosate.
Rebel group FARC, one of Colombia’s illegal armed groups most involved in drug trafficking, on Sunday proposed to begin the implementation of a deal made with the government to curb the drug…
Colombia’s cultivation of coca went up 44% in 2014, while the country’s potential annual cocaine production went up 52% to 487 tons, the United Nations said Thursday.
More than 1,800 policemen have died in Colombia in efforts to curb drug trafficking, according to the National Police.
Almost 200 Colombians have died in the process of manually eradicating coca plants, a strategy the Colombian government adopted after banning the aerial spraying of glyphosate.
Peruvian guerrilla organization Shining Path is working closely with Colombian drug traffickers whose cocaine revenue is used to fund the leftist rebel organization, according to local media and authorities.
Colombia’s government is considering the release of cocaine-eating-moths on coca plants to devour the plants before they can be harvested after banning the possibly carcinogenic chemical glysophate.
The US will continue to support Colombia’s efforts against drug trafficking in spite of the South American country’s decision to ban the US-supported use of glysophate, its ambassador to Bogota said.