UNODC accompanies the Vice-Ministry of Social Defense in the inspection of eradication tasks in Caranavi.

La Paz, May 14, 2021 (United Nations). - Today the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) with the Vice Minister of Social Defense and Controlled Substances, (VDSSC) Jaime Mamani, representatives of the Vice Ministry of Coca and Integral Development (VCDI), and the Strategic Operational Command (CEO) participated in the process of monitoring and inspection of the eradication process of surplus coca crops in the municipality of Caranavi in Los Yungas of the department of La Paz.

At the beginning of the day, a meeting was held with the community at the headquarters of the Carrasco Federation of the Moscovia Union (coca producers association), where Vice Minister Jaime Mamani stated that it was a pleasure for him to be in the community and even more so with the presence of UNODC, to show to the international community the work being done to control surplus coca crops.

For his part, the UNODC Representative in Bolivia, Thierry Rostan, thanked for the invitation and pointed out that UNODC is present to reflect the work of the government in the eradication tasks and highlighted the sacrificed effort made by the personnel stationed in the area who are in charge of this job. He also mentioned that integral development topics are being coordinated with the VCDI, taking into consideration the coffee potential of the area for the production of high-quality beans and the search for international fair markets for them.

During the inspection, the activities carried out in the field were observed and accompanied, such as the planning of Rationalization/Eradication (R/E) tasks, displacement of the forces in charge, among others. At the same time, coordination meetings were held with the communities to carry out the rationalization in authorized coca cultivation areas.

Vice Minister Mamani finally stated that this year, 2000 hectares of coca cultivation in the Yungas of La Paz were programmed to be rationalized/eradicated out of the 9000 hectares at the national level.