Colombia: The Source of a Global Cocaine Crisis

Colombia produces an estimated 68 percent of the world's cocaine. This multi-billion dollar industry fuels powerful criminal gangs within the country. The impact of this trade extends far beyond South America. Much of the cocaine trafficked into Europe originates in Colombia's impoverished rural regions. For decades, cocaine production has dominated vast areas of the nation. Its grip extends from the Pacific coast to remote southern regions like Putumayo. The cycle of cultivation and trafficking presents a persistent challenge to Colombian authorities and continues to supply global narcotics networks.