Homeland Security

Coca Cultivation in Colombia Down 15 Percent, ONDCP Says

(Crop eradication efforts achieved record level of success in 2002)
(760)
Coca cultivation in Colombia declined 15 percent in 2002, according to
an annual estimate released by the White House Office of National Drug
Control Policy (ONDCP) on February 27.
To disrupt the production of cocaine in Colombia, the U.S. Department
of State and Colombian National Police conducted an ambitious aerial
coca eradication program that sprayed a record number of hectares with
herbicide in 2002. More vigorous eradication policies implemented
following the August 2002 inauguration of Colombian President Alvaro
Uribe should further undermine coca cultivation, according to the
ONDCP.
"Our anti-drug efforts in Colombia are now paying off, and we believe
this represents a turning point," said ONDCP Director John Walters.
"Together with the government of Colombia, we are accomplishing our
objective of eliminating cocaine trafficking, thereby upholding the
rule of law and supporting democracy."
"We look forward to assisting President Uribe as he works to provide
security for all Colombians and reduce the terrorist threat his
country currently faces from drug traffickers," Walters added.
Following is the text of the ONDCP press release:
(begin text)
OFFICE OF NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20503
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 27, 2003
COCA CULTIVATION IN COLOMBIA, 2002
Washington, D.C. -- The annual estimate for coca cultivation in
Colombia is now complete. After peaking in 2001, coca cultivation and
production dropped substantially in 2002. Today's estimate provides an
annual "snapshot" and reflects primarily the coca control policies in
place during the first three-quarters of the year under the previous
Colombian administration. Additional data show the impact of more
vigorous eradication policies that began in August under the incoming
Uribe administration. These policies are now being implemented
nationwide.
The Colombian coca crop estimate was conducted using high resolution
and commercial satellite imagery systems and employing survey sampling
techniques similar to those used to estimate agricultural crops
throughout the United States. Analysis of satellite imagery indicates
that Colombia's coca cultivation is 144,450 hectares, 25,350 less than
2001 levels, representing an overall 15 percent decrease. The level of
coca cultivation announced today has the maximum potential to produce
680 metric tons of pure cocaine. The maximum potential production
figure is calculated under the assumption that all identified coca is
classified as mature coca and that each field produces the maximum
number of harvests per year.
To disrupt the production of cocaine in Colombia, the U.S. Department
of State, in conjunction with the Colombian National Police, conducted
an aerial eradication effort totaling a record-setting 122,695
hectares of total ground area sprayed in 2002. The "snapshot"
cultivation assessment does not take into account approximately 40,000
hectares of coca sprayed after the effective date satellite
photographs were taken. When adjusted for herbicide spray
effectiveness, the potential impact from aerial eradication in 2002 on
the future production of cocaine is estimated at over 650 metric tons
of pure cocaine. These figures capture the dramatic improvement
attributable to activities to control coca production that commenced
in August with the inauguration of President Uribe. If the government
of Colombia continues to eradicate coca at the same level as
demonstrated between August and the end of 2002, it will greatly
increase the pressure on producers and drive down the economic
incentive to plant coca.
"Our anti-drug efforts in Colombia are now paying off, and we believe
that this represents a turning point," said John Walters, Director of
National Drug Control Policy. "Cocaine trafficking is a criminal
industry that must be made unprofitable and broken by attacking its
vulnerabilities. Destroying this illegal product at its source is a
highly effective way of breaking the drug market. Together with the
government of Colombia, we are accomplishing our objective of
eliminating cocaine trafficking, thereby upholding the rule of law and
supporting democracy. Initial signs are that aerial eradication under
President Uribe has been highly effective. We are seeing evidence of
stress in the Colombian cocaine industry. Some farmers are abandoning
coca cultivation in major coca growing areas, and there are
preliminary indications that cocaine purity fell in the U.S. in
conjunction with effective eradication efforts. We believe that our
renewed effort to drive down the demand for illegal drugs in the
United States provides additional help for Colombia. We look forward
to assisting President Uribe as he works to provide security for all
Colombians and reduce the terrorist threat his country currently faces
from drug traffickers."
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)