May 11, 2009
Bolivians depend on coca plant despite anti-drug efforts

For more than 30 years, a drug war was waged in Bolivia with the help of the U.S. drug enforcement administration. Bolivia’s Yungas region is one of the world’s leading sources of the coca plant — the key ingredient in the production of cocaine.

But Bolivia’s leftist leader, Evo Morales — himself a former coca farmer — recently expelled U.S. drug enforcement agents from the country. As Worldfocus’ Ivette Feliciano, Bryan Myers and Ara Ayer discovered, many impoverished Bolivians depend on the coca plant for their livelihood.

Also, pass through a drug checkpoint in Bolivia’s mountains (web original video).

bookmark    print    Email    comment/s (4)

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Comments

4 comments

#4

06/12/2009 :: 10:04:58 AM
Coca fortunes read amid crucifixes and Bolivian war heroes | Politics News Says:

[...] Feliciano reported on Bolivia’s coca plant cultivation as part of the signature series “On the ground in Bolivia.” The coca plant is still [...]

#3

06/12/2009 :: 09:13:14 AM
Coca fortunes read amid crucifixes and Bolivian war heroes | Worldfocus Says:

[...] read amid crucifixes and Bolivian war heroes Bolivian land reform comes under fire from landownersBolivians depend on coca plant despite anti-drug effortsMorales: U.S. must “restore trust” with BoliviaBolivia eyes lithium with hopes to [...]

#2

05/13/2009 :: 08:05:01 AM
James Says:

Why did you use data from the Los Angeles Times? At least you could have gone to an original source such as the untrustworthy US State Dept figures, or better, the UNODC. The incease in seizures could be because police work and detection are getting better and doesn’t indicate an increase in production. Regardless, I would seriously question the figures you’ve used.

#1

05/11/2009 :: 04:45:09 PM
Kristi T. Says:

Very interesting to see the efforts to control the illegal use of coca to make cocaine that the government in Bolivia is already doing - I had no idea.

Post A Comment




Your Privacy Matters
Please note that the Thirteen/WNET editorial staff reserves the right to not post comments it deems to be inappropriate and/or malicious in nature, as well as edit comments for length, clarity and fairness. No solicitations or advertisements will be allowed. Users may link to other Web sites relevant to discussion, but most often links to commercial Web sites will not be permitted.

Submit

Produced by Creative News Group LLC     ©2009 WNET.ORG     All rights reserved

Distributed by American Public Television