Coca leaf, which is turned into cocaine using various chemicals and fertilisers, covered 188,000 hectares of Colombia at the end of 2016, while potential production of cocaine reached 910 metric tons, according to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Colombia is one of the leading producers and traffickers of cocaine. The United States is the main consumer of Colombian cocaine and provides military and economic aid to fight the illegal drugs industry. Between 2000 and 2015, Colombia received about $10 billion for military and social programmes. Colombia’s Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin said she appreciated support from the United States over the years.

Source: bd News24 March 02, 2018 04:30 UTC