Colombia: Cocaine Trade
Nicole Ransom
INTS 101
Khalil Marrar
11/8/2012
How does the Cocaine drug trade affect its producing countries, what problems are seen, and what are possible solutions to these problems both locally and internationally?
The drug trafficking problem focused on Cocaine is mainly limited to three countries, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. These three countries are the main producers and traders when it comes to the Coca leaf and Cocaine. They all face problems created by the war on drugs centered on Cocaine. In Peru and Bolivia they face cultural problems when it comes to eradicating the Cocaine trade while in Colombia they face a history of violence and guerrilla groups. There are various projected solutions to these problems, and all will need to be implemented in order to reduce and eventually eliminate the problems cause by the Coca leaf and Cocaine. The Cocaine trade affects all three countries in negative ways, therefore the solutions thought up and exercised in each country are necessary for both eradication and eliminating the Cocaine drug trade both locally and internationally. Historically the number one producer of Cocaine and the Coca leaf has been Colombia. However, over the five year period of 2006 - 2010 Cocaine production and trade has declined. Cocaine emerged as a commodity, or main export in the Colombian economy, beginning in the 1960’s. The city in Colombia that pioneered this increase in Cocaine trade was Medellin. As the 1970’s came along, profits made by working in the Cocaine trade doubled. According to Mary Roldán drug money made its way into the Colombian economy, corrupting the Colombian government up until the late 90’s. She states in her article that, “Colombia’s foreign reserves nearly doubled in the space of two years from $262.7 million in 1975 to $467.9 million in 1977 and a good chunk of this was derived from drug dollars laundered through ‘la ventana siniestra’ of the ‘Banco de la Republica.”[1] The drug trade continued to
INTS 101
Khalil Marrar
11/8/2012
How does the Cocaine drug trade affect its producing countries, what problems are seen, and what are possible solutions to these problems both locally and internationally?
The drug trafficking problem focused on Cocaine is mainly limited to three countries, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia. These three countries are the main producers and traders when it comes to the Coca leaf and Cocaine. They all face problems created by the war on drugs centered on Cocaine. In Peru and Bolivia they face cultural problems when it comes to eradicating the Cocaine trade while in Colombia they face a history of violence and guerrilla groups. There are various projected solutions to these problems, and all will need to be implemented in order to reduce and eventually eliminate the problems cause by the Coca leaf and Cocaine. The Cocaine trade affects all three countries in negative ways, therefore the solutions thought up and exercised in each country are necessary for both eradication and eliminating the Cocaine drug trade both locally and internationally. Historically the number one producer of Cocaine and the Coca leaf has been Colombia. However, over the five year period of 2006 - 2010 Cocaine production and trade has declined. Cocaine emerged as a commodity, or main export in the Colombian economy, beginning in the 1960’s. The city in Colombia that pioneered this increase in Cocaine trade was Medellin. As the 1970’s came along, profits made by working in the Cocaine trade doubled. According to Mary Roldán drug money made its way into the Colombian economy, corrupting the Colombian government up until the late 90’s. She states in her article that, “Colombia’s foreign reserves nearly doubled in the space of two years from $262.7 million in 1975 to $467.9 million in 1977 and a good chunk of this was derived from drug dollars laundered through ‘la ventana siniestra’ of the ‘Banco de la Republica.”[1] The drug trade continued to
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