Colombia Passes Peru in Coca Cultivation: UN Report
Source: Associated Press
Colombia Passes Peru in Coca Cultivation: UN Report
LIMA, Peru — Jul 15, 2015, 2:04 PM ET
By FRANK BAJAK Associated Press
Colombia surpassed Peru last year in land under coca cultivation, with Peru experiencing a 14 percent drop in acreage for the plant used to make cocaine, according to U.N. data released Wednesday.
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That does not necessarily mean that Colombia is now the world's No. 1 cocaine producer, however. Much of Peru's crop is more mature and higher yielding, having never been subjected to eradication
Peru does not destroy coca in the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro river valley, the world' leading coca-growing region, citing security concerns. The size of Belgium and Israel combined, the valley accounts for 68 percent of Peru's coca crop.
Last year, President Ollanta Humala suspended U.S-backed plans to begin eradication there, and replaced the Peruvian drug czar who was advocating it.
Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/colombia-passes-peru-coca-cultivation-report-32470595