Essay about Life in the Colombian Cocain Trade

Though, it was used mainly by criminals. During WWII experiments were being done with hemp, in the 1960’s is when the real takeoff with production began resulting from the demand from the United States. In the 1970’s when the United States tightened up border patrol from the U.S. and Mexico is when Colombia became the number one producer of marijuana. More then 70% of all marijuana in the U.S was coming from Colombia in the 1980’s. More than 30,000 farmers made a living growing and selling marijuana while over another 50,000 Colombians made a living by picking, transporting and guarding the marijuana. The sell and growth of marijuana was a new wealth for the population, providing income and economic stability. As a result of Colombians growing marijuana, there became a decrease in local food production which raised the cost of food. Before long, the mafia bought all the airlines, hotels, banks and casinos to use for laundering illicit profits. In the 1960’s, cocaine smuggling networks were coming together. The drugs were being carried by individuals or “mules” a few kilograms at a time using the commercial airlines. As the demand for cocaine increased in the U.S., Colombians had to start refining cocain in kitchen laboratories. As other countries continued to chase after “chemist” and prosecute them, the Colombian government did not have any drug enforcement, which led other “chemist” to Colombia.

While the United States and Europe are the main importers of cocaine, the main exporters of cocaine are found in Latin America. Latin America has among one of the most impacted nations involved in narco-terrorism. In Latin America, cocaine is known as the “atomic bomb”. The most impacted countries of narco-terrorism are Columbia, Mexico, and Peru.

Crack cocaine has been popular since the 1970s and mid 1980s. Crack cocaine is not a new drug; this drug is obtained from coca plant which grows mainly in South America. For many years, the native South American Indians chewed its leaves to develop strength and increased energy. By the 1800s, the cocaine was secluded from its leaves and used as a medicinal drug. By the late 1800s, it was used as an anesthetic and to avert surgical hemorrhage. The next century, people recognized crack cocaine an addictive narcotic and its non-medical use of the drug was ended by the Harrison Narcotics Act in 1914 (“How crack cocaine works?”).

Drug trafficking reached its height in Colombia around 1982. They were importing foreign exchange estimating to range between $800 million and $2 billion. Colombia reached its highest peak of economic success, allowing for the countries development of communities, parks, etc. However, the cartels were not satisfied and began to set up coca

The alternative crop programs the US proposed to replace coca failed for various reasons. The unstable political situation made the area too dangerous to bring in “agronomists, engineers, and project specialists” to survey the land (Kirk 265). Even if farmers had been successful in growing alternative crops, the Colombian market for legal crops such as corn, yucca, coffee and chocolate was already “battered by global shifts in price.”(Kirk 264) Legal crops had to be transported on poor roads and farmers had to wait months to be paid for their goods. These were no competition for coca which was paid for immediately, often times with American cash, and transported without any charge to the farmers (Kirk 243).

Like many other countries in Latin America and across the globe, Peru is no stranger to the economic and social impacts of illicit drug trade. However, unlike most other countries in the region like Colombia, Peru does not experience a high rate or organized crime or violence surrounding the drug trade. Although violence is minimal, the growth of cocoa and the production of cocaine is a massive industry within the country, creating an interesting dynamic between the people of Peru, those involved in the drug trade, and the Peruvian Government. The drug trade in Peru has been fueled by the geography, structure of the criminal groups involved, perceived corruption of the military and police forces, and an ineffective and overcrowded prison system.

Well this actually is not the case. The Columbian government has been trying to crack down on cocaine production for years. Even though they were successful in destroying many plants the production of cocaine rose in Colombia. With the new peace treaty with FARC it should be interesting to see what happens in the coming years. But as of now Colombia cocaine production is projected to rise.

Unadulterated cocaine is separated from the leaf of the Erythroxylon coca shrub discovered for the most part in South America(Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia). The coca leaf, the utilization of which goes back to no less than 3000 BC, has for some time been used for its capacity to help vitality, mitigate exhaustion, and reduce hunger. Coca leaves have additionally been utilized as a part of teas and at one time were joined in drinks, for example, Coca Cola. As cocaine's prominence expanded in the 1880s and 1890s, reports of habit developed, and the potential damage from the medication was soon perceived. Subsequently, the Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914 was gone to forbid the importation of cocaine and coca leaves, except for pharmaceutical employments.

Fights between farmers and paramilitaries have not helped affairs. One of the main crops of Columbia is coca (cocaine), leading to Columbia being one of the highest drug using countries in the world. The government is trying to eradicate the crop, but conflict has arisen between the government and coca farmers, because they argue that that is their only source of funds for living. In Columbia 1g of cocaine is legalised for personal use.

The drug dealers have captured a great deal of power in Colombia, and have adopted the position of the government in many instances. The drug trade has ruined the image of Colombia, and has caused the world to forget about the other goods produced in Colombia, like coffee, flowers, oil and gas for instance. As the website put out by the Colombian Government Trade Bureau entitled “Colombia Trade News” states,

Drug trafficking is a major issue in Colombia, causing many other issues across the country. Many people involved in the drug trade including civilians are being killed, kidnapped, and injured over this problem. Over the years, the government has started cracking down on the growers, producers, and sellers but so far, they have only caught minor criminals. The government is making agreements with neighboring countries and finding alternative uses for the crops to slow down the production of drugs. Despite all of the efforts being made to stop drug trafficking, violence, and production the cartels are still thriving throughout Colombia.

Latin America has had a long history of drug use, which contributes to its stereotype as a drug infested region. Beginning in the 1970’s, the United States has been trying to eliminate drug cartels, trafficking, and use in Latin America (Bogota). The influence of drugs in Latin America has led to violence and death over the many years.

It is astounding how a group of traffickers in Colombia have been able to keep a drug trade business going despite the government rejections. The traffickers started off with importing marijuana into the United States, and later turned to cocaine. The amounts of drugs being traded also grew rapidly. “…shipments grew from individuals carrying small amounts of large quantities on boats and low-flying airplanes”(Gilmore). The growth of drug trade in Colombia created two cartels, one that was led by Medellin and one led in Cali. Soon enough, the drug industry became so powerful that it influenced the country politically through threats, political contributions, and bribery. This power created conflict throughout the country creating violence which resulted in hundreds of deaths. It had resulted in complete chaos since the country was overpowered by illegal drugs. Despite Colombia’s strong republic government today, the drug trade problems have been escalating for the past 20 years resulting in the U.S involvement.

This problem of drug trafficking and production is nothing new to the nation and government of Colombia. Even before the modern era, indigenous Colombians were smoking coca leaves in excess. Now because of the wider use of drugs around the world, Colombian involvement in the production of these drugs as gained much notoriety. In the 1980’s the world’s supply of cocaine came directly from Colombia, although at this point in time its role was mainly the manufacturing and trafficking of Cocaine. The main ingredient of cocaine, the coca plant itself, had been imported from other South American countries such and Peru and Bolivia where it was grown. As the process went, cartels in Colombia would reprocess the coca into cocaine and then ship it to distributors in the United States and Europe. In the 1980’s Colombian was responsible for half the global cocaine market which also accounted for 2.9 percent of

Colombia has played a significant role throughout the new drug trade. The illicit drug trade may be a world black market dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, and sale of medication that go with from a mensuration subject to drug prohibition laws. Most jurisdictions interdict trade, except at a lower place license, of the various styles of medicines through the utilization of drug prohibition laws. The drug trade has been around since the Thirties, and Colombia's position among the drug trade did not become dominant until the 19 Seventies. Once North yank country eradicated marijuana, the plantations stayed identical. Traffic is also illicit world trade involving the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, and sale of medication