Office of National Drug Control Policy press release: "Coca Cultivation in Colombia, 2002," February 27, 2003

Office of National Drug Control Policy press release: "Coca Cultivation in Colombia, 2002," February 27, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Rafael Lemaitre / Tom Riley 202–395–6618
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."

As of February 28, 2003, this document was also available online at http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/news/press03/022703.html