Colombia is preparing to resume aerial eradication of coca crops using drones and glyphosate, a controversial herbicide, after a nearly eight-year pause [[1]].The decision,announced Monday,comes amid increasing U.S. pressure on Bogotá to address record cocaine production and follows a recent downgrade in Colombia’s standing as a key partner in counter-narcotics efforts [[2]]. While previous attempts to reinstate aerial spraying were blocked by the Constitutional Court due to health and environmental concerns,the government now asserts the drone-based approach will offer more targeted request [[3]].
Colombia will begin aerial spraying of the herbicide glyphosate using drones this week, the government announced Monday, as it responds to mounting pressure from the United States to bolster its drug policies. The move marks a significant shift in Colombia’s approach to combating cocaine production, a long-standing issue with international implications. After a recommendation from the Ministry of Health and a court order, the country suspended aerial spraying of glyphosate in 2015 due to concerns about its impact on human health and water resources.
- Read also: European Union dismantles Brazilian gang that used 59 ‘mules’ to traffic R$ 60 million in cocaine
- Drugs arrived in São Paulo from Bolivia: Federal Police arrest man who was going to send a cocaine-soaked notebook to Australia
The new plan calls for drones to fly no more than 1.5 meters (approximately 5 feet) above coca plantations, conducting a “controlled” spray to minimize impact on nearby communities and ecosystems, according to interim Justice Minister Andrés Idárraga, who announced the decision at a press conference.
Communities have long opposed the use of glyphosate, citing health risks and the destruction of legitimate crops. Reports of birth defects following previous spraying operations have also fueled opposition. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of the herbicide’s potential carcinogenic effects. The announcement comes at a sensitive moment in Colombia-U.S. relations, following decades of cooperation on drug enforcement.
See photos of drug trafficking properties seized in Colombia
See photos of drug trafficking properties seized in Colombia
Washington recently revoked Colombia’s designation as a key ally in the fight against drugs and imposed sanctions on President Gustavo Petro, accusing him of being too lenient toward armed groups involved in cocaine production. Idárraga stated the spraying will target areas controlled by these armed organizations, where farmers are being forced to cultivate coca.
President Petro, who consistently criticized the use of glyphosate when in opposition, reversed his stance just eight months before leaving office, coinciding with record levels of coca cultivation in Colombia. The minister assured the public that all necessary procedures are being expedited to allow the National Police to begin operations “by Thursday or Friday at the latest.”
Former President Iván Duque (2018-2022) attempted to resume aerial spraying, but the Constitutional Court blocked the move in a ruling favoring Indigenous, Afro-Colombian, and peasant communities who had filed legal challenges.
