- Title: COLOMIA: AUTHORITIES DESTROY 2,000 HECTARES OF COCA LEAF USED TO PRODUCE COCAINE
- Date: 11th May 2000
- Summary: CATATUMBO JUNGLES, COLOMBIA (MAY 11, 2000) (REUTERS) 1. BV ANTI-DRUG FORCES WALKING ON RUNWAY. 0.05 2. SLV/GV VARIOUS OF HELICOPTER DEPARTING FOR REGION. (3 SHOTS) 0.26 3. INT INTERIOR OF HELICOPTER, MEDIA INSIDE AIRCRAFT. (2 SHOTS) 0.36 4. MV HELICOPTER FLYING OVER PLANTATION. 0.40 5. SLV POLICE PATROLLING AREA. 0.45 6. VARIOUS OF POLICE FORCES IN PLANTATIONS (3 SHOTS) 1.06 7. MV NATIONAL POLICE CHIEF ROSSO JOSE SERRANO AND DEFENSE MINISTER LUIS FERNANDO RAMIREZ, INSIDE DRUG LABORATORY. (2 SHOTS) 1.16 8. SV (SOUNDBITE)(Spanish) NATIONAL POLICE CHIEF ROSSO JOSE SERRANO: "More than 100 laboratories were destroyed and we have fumigated more than 1,500 hectares of coca crops. We will continue to work hear until we have fumigated the 10,000 hectares that grow here." 1.41 9. GV PLANES FUMIGATING CROPS. 1.48 10. GV VARIOUS OF DESTRUCTION OF LABORATORY (2 SHOTS) 1.57 11. VARIOUS OF NEARBY TOWN (2 SHOTS) 2.07 12. SV (SOUNDBITE)(Spanish) RESIDENT OF NEARBY TOWN, ROBERTO SANCHEZ: "I think that there should be some kind of social program. The government has come in and has fumigated everything and has destroyed everything. What are we supposed to do? The solution would be to invest money into a social program." 2.24 13. GV TOWN'S CHURCH 2.28 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 26th May 2000 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: CATATUMBO JUNGLES, COLOMBIA
- Country: Colombia
- Reuters ID: LVA9A51QTGUPL89ZAO2JPY667VE8
- Story Text: Colombian authorities destroyed on Thursday (May 11)
some 2,000 hectares of coca leaf and some 100 crude labs used
to process cocaine as part of the country's increased
anti-drug efforts in a region normally controlled by Marxist
rebels and right wing death squads.
"Operation Motilon" began on Sunday (May 8) and
continued on Thursday (May 11) in the jungle region of
Catatumbo, close to the Venezuelan border in the Colombian
province of Putumayo, some 700 kilometres southeast of Bogota.
The operation is the largest undertaking by Colombian
authorities so far this year and is tackling the largest
cocaine producing region of the country, with some 10,000
hectares.
Colombia's Chief of National Police, Rosso Jose Serrano,
along with Minister of Defense Luis Fernando Ramirez took part
in the destruction of various crops and the laboratories.
"More than 100 laboratories were destroyed and we have
fumigated more than 1,500 hectares of coca crops," Serrano
said. "We will continue to work hear until we have fumigated
the 10,000 hectares that grow here."
The operation employs some 300 soldiers and 25 aircraft
including fumigating planes and several helicopters, featuring
a U.S. Black Hawk. Authorities have reported that several of
the aircraft have suffered attacks from alleged rebels in the
region.
According to estimates made by Colombian authorities,
there is a total of 106,000 hectares of coca leaf crops and
6,500 hectares of poppy plantations. The Colombian government
hopes to wipe out all of the poppy plantations and at least
80,000 hectares of the coca leaf crops this year alone.
Colombia anticipates that the United States' congress
will approve an aid package of $1.3 billion aimed at helping
the country combat narcotrafficking, primarily in the southern
jungles of the country.
The United States considers Colombia to be the world's
principle cocaine producing country, with some 520 tons
annually.
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