Reality Check: Report on the latest U.S. coca cultivation estimates

[Courtesy of Jessica Eby, Program Assistant for the Andes Region and Drug Policy, Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA)] Below please find a link to the new report "Reality Check: The latest U.S. coca cultivation estimates make one thing clear: there is plenty of coca," by John Walsh, Senior Associate at the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA). Key points include: - The coca cultivation estimates are far from an exact science, but the latest figures leave no doubt that there is plenty of coca being grown, and plenty of cocaine being produced. - Overall Andean coca cultivation in 2006 may have reached its highest level in 20 years. - As was the case for 2005, ONDCP reported increased coca in Colombia for 2006, despite record-setting fumigation and manual eradication operations. Fumigation is clearly not deterring coca growing. - By presenting the coca estimates for 2006 as ranges – rather than only as single figures that mask the considerable measurement uncertainties – ONDCP has opened the door to more realistic consideration of the coca growing and cocaine production estimates. - Now Congress should insist that all past-year and all future coca cultivation estimates be presented as ranges, not just as single figures. - The high coca cultivation levels, especially in Colombia, indicate continued robust cocaine supplies and provide no reason to expect imminent reductions in U.S. cocaine availability. As always, we welcome your feedback regarding this report and encourage you to contact us with your questions and comments. http://www.wola.org/media/Reality%20Check%20June%202007.pdf