Cocaine production, 2010

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) 2010 annual report was published this morning. These people are just about the best compilers of drug data out there (much less of a political axe to grind than other bodies, for one thing) so as regards cocaine production in the three producing nations, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia, this is the main INCB paragraph this year and the one people will zoom in on:

In 2009, the total area under illicit coca bush cultivation in South America decreased for a second consecutive year, as a result of a significant reduction of that area in such cultivation in Colombia. The total area under coca bush cultivation in the region in 2009 was 158,800 ha, 8,800 ha less than in 2008 (a decrease of 5 per cent). The Board is pleased to note that in 2009, the total area under illicit coca bush cultivation in Colombia decreased by 16 per cent, to 68,000 ha. In contrast with the situation in Colombia, the total area under illicit coca bush cultivation increased to 30,900 ha in the Plurinational State of Bolivia (an increase of 1 per cent) and to 59,900 ha in Peru (an increase of 7 per cent), in 2009, the fourth consecutive year in which such cultivation increased in those two countries.

Read the whole report on this link right here. Thanks to Setty for the headsup via mail, good of you dude.

The INCB / UN drugs report 2009: Lots of interesting things

The new International Narcotics Control Board 2008 review world report is linked right here for you. Lots of interesting things inside, starting with the front cover that says:

Not to be published or broadcast before
Thursday, 19 February 2009, at 1100 hours (CET)

So how did IncaKolaNews get its grubby hands on a copy of the full 150 page report half a day before the rest of the world? Fun game this interwebnetworldwide thingy, isn't it?

Anyway, no surprises to find out that Colombia is still the biggest cocaine manufacturer in the world, but you might be surpised to find out that despite the six point seven billion dollars the USA has wasted on Plan Colombia since its inception, the growth in coca harvesting is by far the greatest in Colombia (55%), with Peru (29%) and Bolivia (16%), quite frankly, a couple of dowdy laggards. Amazing to hear the media portray Bolivia as the drugs scourge and Colombia as the great drugs freedom fighters of the 21st century, isn't it?

Here are the charts, with this one shows total area of cultivation, and that big wodge of Colombia translates as a rather large 99,000 hectares.

This one shows the growth in production between 2007 and 2008. Colombia at 27% sure has a decent growth industry on its hands, no? I mean, Peru and Bolivia's country GDPs grew faster than its cocaine industry in 2008 (both 5%)....those narcos need to get busier down there cos they're being put to shame by Land of Uribe, or even by their own governments!

Anyway, have a good read of the 2009 INCB report by downloading it here and be 12 hours ahead of the rest of the world. This was an IKN exclusive report, brought to you by spending too much time online.