UPDATED: ONDCP Releases Data on Coca Cultivation and Potential Cocaine Production in the Andean Region
*This information was initially released on June 25, 2021. It was updated on July 16, 2021 as follows: Potential production estimates for 2018 and 2019 in Colombia have been revised to reflect updated information. Note: All production estimates are for potential pure production.
Washington, D.C. — Today, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) released the results of the annual United States Government estimates measuring coca cultivation and potential cocaine production for the Republic of Colombia, the Republic of Peru, and the Plurinational State of Bolivia.
“The Biden-Harris Administration is working with our partners in South America to advance holistic approaches to reduce the supply of cocaine and strengthen local communities,” said Acting Director of National Drug Control Policy Regina LaBelle. “We all must do more to disrupt drug trafficking and promote evidence-based policies to bring security, public services, and infrastructure into the primary coca-growing regions and promote alternative livelihoods within farming communities. The Biden-Harris Administration is also investing significant funding in public health strategies at home to prevent drug use and addiction.”
Colombia
The U.S.-Colombia counternarcotics partnership remains strong. In addition to efforts to increase public security, safety, and economic opportunities, the Colombian Government reported a record 130,000 hectares of manual eradication and nearly 580 metric tons of cocaine and cocaine base seized in 2020. They also faced several obstacles during that time that impacted their overall efforts to reduce coca cultivation, including increased violence in rural areas and high rates of COVID-19. During this time, the coca cultivation and cocaine production numbers reached a record 245,000 hectares and 1,010 metric tons, respectively. These trends show the need to increase holistic approaches that combine economic development, increased government presence and citizen security, interdiction, and eradication in key rural areas to reduce cocaine production sustainably and build peace in conflict-affected areas.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Cultivation (Hectares) | 100,000 | 83,000 | 78,000 | 80,500 | 112,000 | 159,000 | 188,000 | 209,000 | 208,000 | 212,000 | 245,000 |
| Production Potential (Metric Tons) | 329 | 273 | 263 | 279 | 353 | 564 | 775 | 906 | 869 | 918 | 1,010 |
Peru
The Government of Peru remains a committed partner of the United States in reducing coca cultivation and cocaine production. The country faced significant challenges in 2020, including one of the world’s highest COVID-19 death rates and a significant economic downturn due to the pandemic. The pandemic also presented significant obstacles to the Peruvian Government’s efforts to provide alternative livelihoods to former coca farmers, build transportation infrastructure in underdeveloped areas, and bring safety and security to rural Peruvians. There also was a months-long pause on eradication efforts in 2020 due to the country’s COVID-19 quarantine restrictions. During this time, coca cultivation and cocaine production reached a record level of 88,200 hectares.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Cultivation (Hectares) | 53,000 | 49,500 | 50,500 | 59,500 | 46,500 | 53,000 | 44,000 | 49,800 | 52,100 | 72,000 | 88,200 |
| Production Potential (Metric Tons) | 369 | 385 | 388 | 460 | 409 | 445 | 462 | 481 | 527 | 649 | 810 |
Bolivia
Bolivia’s coca cultivation totaled 39,400 hectares in 2020, a slight decrease of around seven percent since 2019, but still near record high levels. Commensurate cocaine production potential remained steady at 312 metric tons.
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | |
| Cultivation (Hectares) | 29,000 | 25,500 | 25,000 | 27,000 | 35,000 | 36,500 | 37,500 | 31,000 | 32,900 | 42,180 | 39,400 |
| Production Potential (Metric Tons) | 216 | 213 | 174 | 188 | 236 | 268 | 284 | 246 | 251 | 301 | 312 |
President Biden has identified addressing addiction and overdose as public health priorities in the United States. In its first-year drug policy priorities, the Biden-Harris Administration outlined a strategy that includes expanding access to prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support services. President Biden’s American Rescue Plan was a down payment on these priorities, investing nearly $4 billion in behavioral health and substance use disorder supports. The President’s FY22 budget request calls for $10.7 billion to support research, prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support services, with targeted investments to meet the needs of populations at greatest risk for overdose and substance use disorder.
The FY22 budget request also includes significant investments in reducing the supply of illicit substances. In particular, it includes important increases in interdiction efforts, which include air and maritime activities to seize drugs in transit and deter access to routes, enhancements of source nations’ ability to interdict drugs, and efforts along the United States border to interdict the flow of drugs. The FY22 request also continues to support efforts to strengthen source country programs that address drug trafficking and corruption, strengthen the rule of law and anti-corruption activities, promote human rights, and support development programs in communities across the region.
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