Lima, Oct.18 (DP.net).– According to an editorial of "El Comercio" newspaper, «Peru has become a narco-state for a time; In other words, in a country in which the main policy decisions are made based on the interests of drug traffickers». However, it appears as if President Castillo is not concerned with a substantial expansion of the influence of drug trafficking in his country.
Political volatility has become more pronounced in recent years, including the radical removal of Congress in 2019 and the impeachment and rapid rotation of presidents amid civic mobilizations during November 2020, policy changes advocated by the left-wing Free Peru party, of which the President is a member.
The Peruvian president’s first months in office have been characterized by chaos, extremisms and -according to critics- sheer incompetence. In addition, coca crops have expanded to 150,000 acres in 2021, a 10% increase since 2019, and according to Rubén Vargas, former Minister of the Interior, by 2022 an estimated 248,000 acres are estimated, enough to produce 180,000 tons of coca leaf. It is worth noting that the traditional coca market requires only 7% of that whole production. Therefore, the surplus would go to the production of cocaine. A report published yesterday by this newspaper reported that, in the Vraem (the valley of the Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro rivers) alone, the potential production of cocaine has gone from 112 tons in 2012 to 280 tons in 2020.
- Hits: 3218