Un Report Reveals Record Cocaine Production In Colombia

Colombia, the world's largest cocaine producer, achieved a new record in drug production and coca cultivation in the past year, as highlighted in a United Nations report. Coca leaf cultivation expanded by 13 percent, encompassing over 230,000 hectares, while cocaine production surged from 1,400 to 1,738 tons, marking the highest figures since UN data monitoring began in 2001. Most of the Colombian cocaine is trafficked to the United States and Europe, posing a significant challenge to international drug enforcement efforts. The report reveals that a significant portion of coca crops is concentrated in specific regions, with nearly two-thirds in southern departments, including areas beset by drug-related violence. Indigenous reserves, forest reserves, and natural parks also bear the environmental and social impact of drug cultivation, comprising a substantial share of the production landscape.