Peruvian Interior Minister, Daniel Urresti, highlighted the new record amount of coca crops eradicated by the government of Peru, that is, over 31,205.64 hectares (about 77,000 acres) as it surpassed the record target set for 2014.
While in the Amazonian city of Pucallpa, where he attended the closing of productive activities to reduce the cultivation area, Mr. Urresti said the government had set a target of 30,000 hectares of coca crops to be eradicated for this year.
He commended the staff of the Special Project for Control and Reduction of Illegal Coca Cultivation in Alto Huallaga (Corah) for their hard work.
“The eradication of coca crops have been lauded across the world, but here in Peru,” he pointed out after questioning that this news has not been covered by local press.
The minister also said the eradication of these crops will prevent the production of at least 240 tons of cocaine hydrochloride valued at US$5 billion in the United States and US$10 billion in Europe.
“The personnel have worked 8 hours a day under the most extreme conditions to meet this objective,” he noted.
Furthermore, he explained the measures adopted by the government to control the trafficking of chemical inputs in coca growing areas have contributed to lower the imports of narcotics to 30%.
(END) FGM/FHG/RMB/MVB
Published: 12/19/2014