09-03-2017: Latin American Weekly Report

While Colombia is advancing towards implementation of a peace accord with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Farc), one by- product of the protracted process has been an explosive increase in coca cultivation and cocaine production. The peace process was not the sole factor behind this but it coincides precisely with the sharp increase registered since 2014 and highlighted in two separate reports released by the US government and the United Nations International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) this week. The leader of the main right-wing opposition Centro Democrático (CD), former president (2002-2010) and incumbent senator Alvaro Uribe, has long accused the government led by President Juan Manuel Santos of subordinating drug policy to the pursuit of a peace accord. With this finally approved, the Santos administration is under pressure to refocus on combating illicit drugs production.