Colombia Says Coca Crop Eradication Down in
2009
BOGOTA (AP) - Colombia said Tuesday it has
fallen short of its goal for eradicating
coca crops this year, blaming it on violent
reactions from drug traffickers and budget
problems despite having received billions of
dollars in U.S. aid.
This year nearly 60,000 hectares (232 square
miles) were eradicated manually in Colombia,
about 10,000 hectares (39 square miles)
short of the government's goal, national
police director Gen. Oscar Naranjo said.
That was a decline from last year's record
manual eradication of nearly 96,000 hectares
(371 square miles).
Naranjo cited budget issues and also said 17
police and four workers were killed while
destroying crops. Authorities cleared land
mines from 53 coca fields, and dozens of
people were injured in clashes that broke
out during crop destruction efforts, he
said.
Colombia is the world's top producer of
cocaine, and eradication teams regularly
sweep through growing areas accompanied by
police and U.S.-made Blackhawk helicopters.
The nation is also the largest recipient of
U.S. aid in the region, getting about $6
billion from Washington since 2000 in mostly
military aid meant for combating drugs.
Destruction of coca crops by aerial
herbicide spraying also was down in 2009,
with 103,000 hectares (398 square miles)
eradicated as compared to 133,000 hectares
(515 square miles) last year, according to
police figures.
Still, Naranjo said, the government believes
"Colombia surpassed expectations in the
anti-drug fight in 2009."
He said authorities seized more than 125
tons of cocaine, and credited cooperation
with U.S. and Mexican authorities. |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
