ABSTRACT
In the dry language of official UN documents, the annual report of the INCB for 1999 1 states: “In Colombia, the deterioration of public safety in general and the fact that substantial illicit coca leaf production and cocaine manufacture are taking place in areas beyond government control are hampering efforts by the government to fight illicit coca bush cultivation, coca leaf production, and cocaine manufacture and trafficking.” Later, in the same section of the report (dealing with South America) it states: “The Board notes with concern that in Colombia the law on the confiscation of assets has not brought the expected results. Of the many thousands of pieces of property seized so far, none has been subsequently confiscated pursuant to the provisions of the law.” These two statements alone suggest that the government of Colombia is either unable or unwilling to put its full force and authority into the fight against the production of illicit drugs. The report suggests that the area under coca bush cultivation in Colombia exceeded the areas under illicit cultivation in Bolivia and Peru combined. Finally, the report makes the following assessment:
Colombia continues to be the world's leading cocaine producer. Efforts by Colombian law enforcement authorities have led to the discovery and destruction of several laboratories for illicit cocaine manufacture, one of which was capable of manufacturing up to 8 tons of cocaine per month. That is an indication of the technical and economic resources, as well as the manufacturing capacity, at the disposal of Colombian drug traffickers.
