Text: ONDCP on Declining Coca Production in Peru and Bolivia

22 January 2001

Text: ONDCP on Declining Coca Production in Peru and Bolivia

White House expresses hope for similar success in Colombia

Hailing "a continuation in the sharp decline of Peruvian and Bolivian coca cultivation," the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) issued a January 22 press release noting that over the past five years, Peru and Bolivia have reduced illicit coca crops "by well over 60 percent." Coca is the plant that is processed to manufacture cocaine.

"Bolivia and Peru have demonstrated a sustained commitment to counter-drug efforts," said Acting White House Drug Policy Director Edward Jurith. He added that the Bush Administration is hoping to see that success replicated in Colombia, where the government of President Andres Pastrana has embarked on an ambitious program to slash coca cultivation in half over the next five years.

Following is the text of the ONDCP statement:

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, January 22, 2001

WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL DRUG POLICY OFFICE NOTES SHARP DECLINE IN PRODUCTION OF PERUVIAN AND BOLIVIA COCA CULTIVATION; ASSERTS DESIRE FOR SIMILAR SUCCESS IN COLOMBIA

Cultivation Drops by 33 Percent in Bolivia and 12 Percent in Peru Last Year: Over 60 Percent Five-Year Reduction In Each Nation

Washington, D.C. -- The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy announced today a continuation in the sharp decline of Peruvian and Bolivian coca cultivation. Since last year, the cultivation decline was 33 percent in Bolivia and 12 percent in Peru. Over the past five years each country has reduced illicit cultivation by well over 60 percent.

Acting White House Drug Policy Director Edward H. Jurith said: "Bolivia and Peru have demonstrated a sustained commitment to counter-drug efforts. Their ability to sharply reduce coca cultivation illustrates that a long-term commitment and a solid strategy bring positive results. We look forward to continuing to work with their governments towards further reducing illicit coca production. These successes underscore that when political will is combined with comprehensive alternative economic development and the rule of law, drug cultivation and production will plummet. This is also our objective in Colombia, where Plan Colombia envisions a 50 percent reduction in coca cultivation in five years.

Peruvian coca cultivation was reduced from 94,400 hectares in 1996 to 34,200 in 2000. The 12 percent reduction in 2000 is in addition to even larger reductions during, the previous three years. "Several factors, including the rising price of coca, the decline in crop abandonment, reduced eradication, identification of new coca production in some areas and the diversification of trafficking routes suggest that heightened efforts will be required in order to further reduce coca production in the years ahead. In addition, we are concerned that there is evidence of the beginnings of opium poppy cultivation in Peru. We look forward to working with Peru's government to address these challenges," Jurith stated.

Bolivia's achievement of reducing coca cultivation from 48,100 hectares in 1996 to just 14,600 at the end of 2000 is "an enormous achievement for Bolivia and the Hemisphere," Jurith asserted. President Banzer and Vice President Quiroga of Bolivia pledged in their August 1997 "Plan Dignidad" to eliminate all illicit coca production within five years. "Through eradication, alternative development, law enforcement, chemical control, and interdiction programs, the Bolivian Government has crippled the national illegal coca infrastructure. Coca cultivation in the Chapare region is virtually non-existent -- reduced from 33,000 hectares in 1996 to less than 600 hectares today. Potential cocaine HCL production has dropped from 215 metric tons in 1996 to just 43 in 2000," Jurith concluded.

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