Coca crops have broken records in Colombia

The coca crops grew 13% in Colombia and were on 230,000 hectares in 2022, the second year in a row representing the highest historical figure and also an increase in the potential production of cocaine, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed this Monday. in its annual report.

“For the second year in a row, Coca cultivation has reached an all-time high in Colombia“, revealed Unodc, which reported that there are 26,000 cultivated hectares more than 204,000 in 2021.

According to the report, the potential production of cocaine hydrochloride increased by 24 percent, from last year it was 1738 tons, and in 2021 it was 1400 tons.

In this regard, the organization said yes “the trend of increasing the potential production of cocaine continues“As a result, more hectares planted with coca, many at a more productive age and located in areas with higher productivity.”

According to Unodec, the situation that causes the greatest concern is in the department of Putumayo, on the border with Peru and Ecuador, where coca crops have grown sharply by 77%.

The situation is so critical in this region, where several dissident factions of the former FARC operate, that the increase in the area under coca crops in Colombia Not counting Putumayo, it was barely 3%.

On the other hand, the office stated that 65% of the coca crop is concentrated in three departments: Nariño (on the border with Ecuador), Norte de Santander (on the border with Venezuela) and Putumayo.

Another fact that the report revealed is that there is coca in 185 of the 1122 municipalities of Colombia and that the town with the most crops is Tibú, in Norte de Santander, with 22,000 hectares.

“They are followed by Tumaco (Nariño) and Puerto Asís (Putumayo), which together increased their area under coca by more than 6,500 hectares last year,” the information adds.

On the other hand, the UNODC document highlights that 49% of crops are located in Special Management Areas, spread over National Natural Parks (21.5%), Indigenous Reserves (18%), Black Community Lands (4%) and Forest Reserves . (2%).

Last year, 106.7 tons of cocaine paste were seized, which is an increase of 20 percent compared to 88.6 tons in 2021.

However, cocaine seizures amounted to 659.1 tons in 2022, which is a decrease from 1.5 percent compared to 2020although organizations are reducing cocaine shipments and producing base paste in destination countries to reduce losses.

The number of dismantled illegal laboratories also decreased by 18%, from 5,750 in 2021 to 4,707 in 2022.