Rising use, low production costs and logistical advantages could eventually lead drug producers to focus on fentanyl instead of cocaine, a high-ranking Colombian police official said, but for now cocaine remains that country's top drug export.
Rocketing consumption of synthetic drug fentanyl in the U.S. has led some - including Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro - to forecast declines in cocaine production in the Andean country, the world’s leading producer.
Cocaine finances left-wing guerrillas and criminal gangs, fueling the country’s internal armed conflict of almost six decades, which has left more than 450,000 dead.
“We’re very committed to the work we’re doing with seizures, targeting production, because the illegal drug industry certainly continues to be seen as an attractive criminal income,” said General Nicolas Zapata, deputy director of Colombia’s national police.
Petro recently said that higher fentanyl consumption in the U.S. and its expansion to other geographies including Europe, could discourage cocaine production and open a window of opportunity for peace as the country’s illegal armed groups abandon the industry.
Ecuador’s incoming president, Daniel Noboa, who takes office this month, has promised to confront rising crime in the country, where violence linked to drug trafficking has increased sharply.
Colombia hopes to destroy 200 square kilometers of coca crops by the end of the year and seize a record 834 tons of cocaine.
The original article contains 342 words, the summary contains 185 words. Saved 46%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Rocketing consumption of synthetic drug fentanyl in the U.S. has led some - including Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro - to forecast declines in cocaine production in the Andean country, the world’s leading producer.
Cocaine finances left-wing guerrillas and criminal gangs, fueling the country’s internal armed conflict of almost six decades, which has left more than 450,000 dead.
“We’re very committed to the work we’re doing with seizures, targeting production, because the illegal drug industry certainly continues to be seen as an attractive criminal income,” said General Nicolas Zapata, deputy director of Colombia’s national police.
Petro recently said that higher fentanyl consumption in the U.S. and its expansion to other geographies including Europe, could discourage cocaine production and open a window of opportunity for peace as the country’s illegal armed groups abandon the industry.
Ecuador’s incoming president, Daniel Noboa, who takes office this month, has promised to confront rising crime in the country, where violence linked to drug trafficking has increased sharply.
Colombia hopes to destroy 200 square kilometers of coca crops by the end of the year and seize a record 834 tons of cocaine.
The original article contains 342 words, the summary contains 185 words. Saved 46%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!