Policy change on coca eradication in Colombia?
Coca leaf cultivation (and the associated cocaine production) has reached record levels in Colombia, already the world’s largest producer. The news may sharpen the debate between advocates of long-term socio-economic development and crop substitution programmes (including outgoing President Juan Manuel Santos) and those who favour tougher short-term eradication measures and the old ‘war on drugs’ approach (including the president-elect, Iván Duque).