UN: Colombia grows more coca now.

Caracas, Venezuela, 18 June 2008. According to a recent report by United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC), Colombia is now growing more coca plants than ever before. They have increased in 17%, that is, 99,000 hectares of coca cultivation. This figures show the failure of Plan Colombia badly. US presence in Colombia has been justified on the fight against drugs and terrorism.

According to UNODC, "The increase in coca cultivation in Colombia is a surprise and shock: a surprise because it comes at a time when the Colombian government is trying so hard to eradicate coca; a shock because of the magnitude of cultivation".

Ecuador is currently demanding Colombia at International instances for the use of pesticide in their common frontier aimed at coca destruction. The pesticide has allegedly cause bad effects on humans.

Sources: Telesur, El Universal, UNODC, UN News Centre