Cocaine Production In Bolivia: A Complex Process

Bolivia is a leading producer of coca, the raw ingredient for cocaine. Coca has been cultivated in the country since at least the Inca era. In recent years, Bolivia has moved from being a provider of cocaine's raw materials to a cocaine production hub, with the government acknowledging the country is becoming a production hub for the drug. The process of making cocaine involves extracting coca from leaves in jungle laboratories.

Coca leaves are soaked in gasoline and other chemicals to extract the coca base

• The coca leaves are placed in an above-ground container or a plastic-lined pit.
• An alkaline material, such as sodium carbonate, and water are added to the leaves. The alkaline material helps extract the cocaine alkaloid present in the leaves.
• A water-immiscible solvent, such as kerosene, is added to the mixture and agitated by stomping on the leaves. This process extracts the water-insoluble cocaine alkaloids.
• The cocaine alkaloids and kerosene separate from the water and leaves, which are then drained off.
• The cocaine alkaloids are extracted from the kerosene using a dilute acid solution (H2SO4).
• Additional alkaline material is added to the solution, causing a precipitate to form.
• The acid and water are drained off, and the precipitate is filtered and dried, resulting in coca paste.

The coca paste obtained from this process is off-white to light brown in colour and has a putty-like consistency. It contains approximately 30% cocaine alkaloid and 10% ecgonine, depending on the variety and quality of the coca leaves used. This coca paste then undergoes further processing to convert it into cocaine base and eventually cocaine hydrochloride, the final product.

The base is poured into brick moulds and the water is pressed out

The process of creating cocaine bricks involves pouring the base into brick moulds and pressing out the water. This step in the production of cocaine is preceded by a series of chemical processes that transform coca leaves into coca paste, and then into a cocaine base.

The base is poured into brick moulds, which are typically made of mahogany and feature handles on their sides. These moulds have tiny holes drilled into them, which allow the water to be pressed out, leaving a hard brick that is around 50% cocaine. The bricks are easy to handle and transport, weighing approximately one kilogram or 2.2 pounds each.

The cocaine bricks are then sent to collection points, from where they are shipped to markets in the United States and other countries. This stage of the process is crucial in preparing the cocaine for distribution and trafficking.

The creation of cocaine bricks is a key step in the illicit drug trade, and it is a practice that has been observed in Bolivia, which is one of the world's leading producers of coca leaves, alongside Colombia and Peru. Bolivia has historically been a significant player in the cocaine trade, with the US estimating that in the late 1980s, Bolivia supplied approximately 15% of the US cocaine market.

The process of turning coca leaves into cocaine bricks involves a complex series of chemical processes and steps, which are undertaken by skilled individuals. The creation of cocaine bricks is a clandestine operation, often carried out in small laboratories scattered throughout coca-growing areas of South America.

The bricks are sent to collection points and shipped to markets in the US and other countries

The production of cocaine in Bolivia involves a complex network of farmers, processors, and traffickers, with the final product being shipped to markets in the US and other countries. The process begins with coca leaf cultivation in regions like the Yungas and Chapare, where small farmers grow and sell the leaves. The leaves are then processed into cocaine paste, the first step towards refining pure cocaine. This is done by extracting the cocaine alkaloid from the leaves using solvents.

The next step in the process is the production of cocaine hydrochloride, which involves further chemical processing. The cocaine paste is transformed into a hard, easy-to-handle brick containing about 50% cocaine. These bricks are then sent to collection points, where they are prepared for shipment to markets in the US and other countries. The trafficking of the final product is controlled by drug cartels, mainly based in Colombia, which have established routes to all corners of the globe.

Bolivia has become a significant player in the cocaine trade due to several factors. The country has a long history of coca leaf cultivation, dating back to the Inca era, and the plant is deeply ingrained in the local culture and traditions. Additionally, the economic struggles in the 1980s, soaring unemployment, and the high profitability of coca compared to other crops led many farmers to turn to coca production. The involvement of powerful Brazilian gangs and local crime clans has also contributed to the expansion of the cocaine trade in Bolivia.

The country's role in the cocaine trade has evolved from being a mere transit hub and supplier of raw materials to becoming a major production centre. The government has acknowledged the issue and is taking steps to address it, including the destruction of laboratories in the Chapare region. However, the cocaine trade remains a complex and challenging issue, with deep roots in Bolivian society and strong connections to international markets.

Bolivia's legal coca market cannot counter international demand for cocaine

Bolivia has historically been a producer of coca leaves, which are used for medicinal and traditional purposes. However, in recent years, the country has become a significant manufacturer of cocaine. While Bolivia has a legal coca market, it is unable to counter the international demand for cocaine, which has led to a thriving illicit drug trade.

The expansion of coca cultivation in Bolivia can be traced back to the 1980s when the country experienced economic collapse, soaring unemployment, and high inflation. The price of coca leaves climbed, and farmers turned to coca as a quick and lucrative source of income. This led to a significant increase in coca production and the number of growers, with an estimated 45 million kilograms of coca leaves produced over an area of at least 48,000 hectares by 1987.

The production and sale of coca leaves are deeply embedded in the cultural norms and values of certain communities in Bolivia, particularly in the lowland Chapare region. For these communities, the involvement in the cocaine trade is often a mundane and practical way to earn a living in an area where traditional farming struggles to turn a profit. The drug trade in Bolivia is also notable for its lack of violence compared to other Latin American countries, as it is controlled by local communities and governed by reciprocal social relationships.

Despite the legalization of coca production in certain regions, such as the Yungas and Chapare, Bolivia has become a strategic hub for cocaine trafficking. The country's geography has made it an ideal transit point for drug traffickers, and the reorganization of drug trafficking routes has further contributed to this. In addition, the government's efforts to eradicate coca cultivation have had limited success, and the country continues to struggle with its own cocaine production and as a transit point for coca paste and cocaine from Peru.

The Bolivian government has faced challenges in controlling the coca sector and combating drug trafficking. While coca leaf cultivation is authorized on 22,000 hectares, the actual area under cultivation is believed to be much larger, with estimates ranging from 30,000 to 45,000 hectares. There has also been a relaxation of state and social controls over coca cultivation, leading to overproduction and an increase in illegal coca being brought to market. As a result, Bolivia has become a leading supplier of cocaine to the Southern Cone of Latin America.

The international demand for cocaine far exceeds the supply from Bolivia's legal coca market, and the country's production of consumption-ready cocaine has been on the rise. This has led to an increase in violence linked to cocaine trafficking as criminal organizations compete for control of the trade. The government has acknowledged the issue and has taken steps to crack down on cocaine laboratories, particularly in the Chapare region. However, the country continues to face pressure both domestically and internationally to tackle the problem more effectively.

The Bolivian government has been accused of being soft on traffickers

However, the government has been criticised for its lack of action by allies of Morales, who suggested that the current administration has been soft on traffickers. This criticism highlights internal tensions within the ruling MAS party between supporters of President Luis Arce and former president Morales over who will lead the party in the upcoming 2025 elections. The government's failure to address drug trafficking effectively has also been attributed to the country's geography, which has made it a strategic hub for traffickers due to the reorganisation of drug trafficking routes.

Historically, the Bolivian government has struggled to combat the illicit narcotics trade due to its deep entanglement in local cultural norms and values. The drug trade has provided much-needed economic opportunities for impoverished Bolivians, and the production and trade of coca are deeply rooted in the country's history and culture. Efforts to eradicate coca cultivation have often been met with resistance and violence from growers' unions, which have substantial political influence.

Furthermore, the government's attempts to eradicate coca fields and reduce cocaine production have had limited success, as they failed to address the underlying socioeconomic factors driving coca cultivation. The offer of alternative crops, such as coffee and citrus fruits, was unsuccessful due to their lower profitability and more challenging logistics. The eradication efforts also faced challenges due to the balloon effect, where the reduction of coca cultivation in one area leads to its displacement to another.

The Bolivian government has also been accused of corruption and complicity in trafficking crimes, with drug traffickers reportedly bribing officials and law enforcement to turn a blind eye to their activities. There have been instances of high-level government officials being implicated in the drug trade, further hindering effective action against it.

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