U.S. says coca production is rising in Bolivia

A top U.S. anti-drug official says coca production in Bolivia is still rising despite government efforts to eradicate coca fields, says this Associated Press report from La Paz.

The State Department's top drug enforcement officer, Assistant Secretary David Johnson, says Bolivia's eradication efforts have been creative and have reached the goals set by the government.

But Johnson said Tuesday after meeting with President Evo Morales that "coca production continues to rise by significant quantities" despite these efforts.

Coca is the main ingredient in cocaine, but also has traditional uses in Andean nations.

In 2006, Morales implemented a program to eradicate 12,355 acres (5,000 hectares) of coca a year. But this eradication has been accompanied by new cultivation elsewhere.

-- Reed Johnson in Mexico City

Comments

[Benigno Guerrero]

It is doubtful that coca production will decrease given two factors:
1 - The need to stimulate the economy given the ongoing battle between Morales and the states which produce the greatest contribution to the GNP. (Illegal income vs. legal)

2 - Declarations by the new imperialist (Hugo Chavez) to the effect that destabilization tactics in any form should be utilized against the USA who is simply trying to further impoverish the needy classes. (Send more coke. Transport it with our new submarines.)