HomeNewsBriefPeru Seeks Alternatives to Coca Eradication in Drug Policy
BRIEF

Peru Seeks Alternatives to Coca Eradication in Drug Policy

DRUG POLICY / 20 OCT 2011 BY RONAN GRAHAM EN

Peru’s new top drug official told Reuters that his government has reached an understanding with the U.S. on drug policy, with less emphasis on eradication and more on providing alternatives to coca growers.

In an interview with the news agency Ricardo Soberon (pictured) said, “we've reached a basic understanding with the United States about Peru's new policy.” Soberon explained that funding for “alternative development” strategies for coca farmers will rise to $25 million in 2012, up from $22 million this year. Funding for eradication, however, is likely to fall to $27.5 million from $38 million.

Despite less focus on eradication efforts, Soberon said that Peru would reach its goal of eradicating 10,000 hectares of coca this year.

Soberon pointed to the success of President Ollanta Humala’s government in fighting drugs, demonstrated by the seizure of 955 kilos of cocaine by Peruvian authorities last week. He also pointed out that the authorities had closed 18 unlicensed gas stations, as part of attempts to control the chemicals used to refine cocaine in Peru’s biggest coca growing region, the central Apurimac and Ene River Valley (VRAE).

In September, President Humala announced that his government plans to spend $20 million on software, enabling authorities to track the purchase and sale of chemicals used to produce cocaine.

Humala took office in July, and has shown his intention to reform drug policy. He initially caused some concern in the United States by suspending coca eradication for a week in September.

However, Humala has since called for greater counternarcotics cooperation with the U.S, relieving any fears that his administration would not participate in U.S. anti-drug efforts. Since then, the head of the U.S. military’s Southern Command has visited the VRAE region and expressed U.S. commitment to assisting the Peruvian government in its the fight against the Shining Path guerrilla group, which is heavily involved the drugs trade in the region.

share icon icon icon

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

What are your thoughts? Click here to send InSight Crime your comments.

We encourage readers to copy and distribute our work for non-commercial purposes, with attribution to InSight Crime in the byline and links to the original at both the top and bottom of the article. Check the Creative Commons website for more details of how to share our work, and please send us an email if you use an article.

Was this content helpful?

We want to sustain Latin America’s largest organized crime database, but in order to do so, we need resources.

DONATE

Related Content

DRUG POLICY / 20 MAY 2022

A spate of gang-related killings has caused panic in a marginalized area of Uruguay’s capital of Montevideo, raising debate about…

COCA / 11 JUN 2021

In arguably the most polarizing election Peru has seen in its history, voters have selected, by a razor-thin margin, a…

ELITES AND CRIME / 8 DEC 2022

Pedro Castillo, Peru's fallen maverick president, faces charges depressingly similar to four of his predecessors.

About InSight Crime

THE ORGANIZATION

All Eyes on Ecuador

2 JUN 2023

Our coverage of organized crime in Ecuador continues to be a valuable resource for international and local news outlets. Internationally, Reuters cited our 2022 Homicide Round-Up,…

WORK WITH US

Open Position: Social Media and Engagement Strategist

27 MAY 2023

InSight Crime is looking for a Social Media and Engagement Strategist who will be focused on maintaining and improving InSight Crime’s reputation and interaction with its audiences through publishing activities…

THE ORGANIZATION

Venezuela Coverage Receives Great Reception

27 MAY 2023

Several of InSight Crime’s most recent articles about Venezuela have been well received by regional media. Our article on Venezuela’s colectivos expanding beyond their political role to control access to…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime's Chemical Precursor Report Continues

19 MAY 2023

For the second week in a row, our investigation into the flow of precursor chemicals for the manufacture of synthetic drugs in Mexico has been cited by multiple regional media…

THE ORGANIZATION

InSight Crime’s Chemical Precursor Report Widely Cited

THE ORGANIZATION / 12 MAY 2023

We are proud to see that our recently published investigation into the supply chain of chemical precursors feeding Mexico’s synthetic drug production has been warmly received.