Peru’s Aggressive Coca Leaf Eradication Efforts: A Key Strategy in the Global Fight Against Cocaine
In 2024, Peru has reached a significant milestone in its fight against drug trafficking by eradicating 13,327 hectares of illegal coca leaf crops, which represents 53% of its annual goal of 25,000 hectares. This effort, led by the Coca Crop Control and Reduction Project in the Upper Huallaga (CORAH), underscores the country’s determination to combat one of the most severe problems in the Andean region: the production and trafficking of cocaine.
The coca leaf, although traditionally used in various Andean cultures, has become the key raw material for cocaine production. Peru, one of the largest producers of coca leaf in the world, has been battling the expansion of these crops, which often proliferate in jungle areas that are difficult to access.
