Why it matters: The seizure of 223 pounds of cocaine from a disabled boat headed to Long Beach highlights the ongoing issue of drug smuggling in Colombia and the failure of U.S. pressure on the Colombian government to crack down on the cocaine trade.
What they are saying: The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime reports that cocaine production in Colombia has risen to its highest levels in two decades, with the area dedicated to coca plant cultivation increasing by 43%. Leftist Colombian President Gustavo Petro argues that the environmental effects of the war on drugs, such as the use of glyphosate pesticides to destroy coca plants, are destroying the Colombian rainforest. Petro suggests expanding voluntary crop substitution programs and regulating narcotics through focusing on gang leadership and increasing social funding in coca plant production areas.
The big picture: The war on drugs in Colombia has fueled a decades-long civil war, and a 2016 report found that the U.S. and Colombia’s joint efforts in the war on drugs prolonged the conflict. The report emphasizes the need for a substantial change in drug policy.
What to watch: The ongoing issue of drug smuggling in Colombia and the potential environmental consequences arising from the war on drugs.
My take: The article highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing the cocaine trade in Colombia and the unintended consequences of the war on drugs. It also raises questions about the prioritization of drug enforcement efforts and the need to reevaluate drug policies to address the underlying issues driving drug production and smuggling.
