The Bolivian Cocaine Trade

Time needed for coca plant to mature- 14-26 months (2 months to seedling; 12-24 months after transplanting)

Number of coca crops harvestable per year 2-6, depending on climactic conditions

http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/GovPubs/COCCCP.htm
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Bolivian Coca Leaf Production

1845 3,579 Metric Tons Dalence

1930 3,067 Metric Tons Morales (Yungas region)

1950 4,830 Metric Tons Censo Agropecuario

1952 3,987 Metric Tons Aduana de La Paz

1965 5,517 Metric Tons INE

1970 6,000 Metric Tons INE

1971 2,666 Metric Tons UMSS (Universidad Mayor de San Simeon, Cochabamba) (Chapare region)

8/18/1971 Military Coup Led by Hugo Banzer Suarez

1970s under Banzer, first paved road opens the Chapare (Cochabamba province) to vehicle traffic; Chapare coca production eventually rises to 70% of national total, from 5-10% before the road access. Banzer regime also constructs an International Airport in Santa Cruz de Sierra, in the Chapare.

1973 9,400 Metric Tons INE

11/07/1974 Banzer "autogolpe" (martial law declared)

1975 11,800 Metric Tons INE

1977 15,600 Metric Tons INE

1977 Banzer promises elections for 1978, due to Carter "human rights" pressure on Banzer

[Yungas 5,691 Metric Tons SIC]

[Chapare 19,512 Metric Tons SIC]

[Total 25,503 Metric Tons (SIC) (calculation by cabdriver)]

1978 18,860 Metric Tons INE

15,410 Metric Tons PRODES

25,248 Metric Tons DNSP

8,651 Metric Tons OCPFHC

7/1978 "bloodless" military coup by Banzer's hand-picked successor, Gen. Juan Pereda Asbon

11/1978 Pereda regime succeded in another "bloodless coup" by General David Padilla Arancibia

1979 22,000 Metric Tons INE

8/08/1979 following inconclusive elections, interim president MNRA party leader Guevara Arze appointed

11/1979 Arze ousted in military coup led by Colonel Alberto Natusch Busch

12/1979 Busch steps down to hand over power to MNR leader Lydia Guelier Tejada

1980 58,275 Metric Tons (SEC) [Chapare region]

5/80 Lydia Guelier Tejada calls elections, new civilian government (UDP 38% plurality); Hernan Siles Suazo expected to be sworn in 8/6/1980

7/17/80 Cocaine Coup

1981 64,275 Metric Tons (SEC)

1982 82,000 Metric Tons (SEC)

(above from Dunkerley, Rebellion In The Veins, 1984, p.313.)

Banco de Agricola

69.94% of Bolivian Agricultural credit is provided to Santa Cruz de Sierra (Chapare region), 1970-1975

71% of Bolivian Regional Development Corporations budgets is provided to Santa Cruz de Sierra (Chapare region), 1970-1975

Total legitimate agricultural exports 1972 $28.4 million; 1973 $45.4 million; 1974 $70.1 million; 1975 $63.0 million; 1976 $88.6 million; 1977 $93.1 million; 1978 $86.6 million (Total 1972-1978 = $475.2 million)

(above from Dunkerley, Rebellion In The Veins, 1984, p.221.)

1983 54,178.57 tons coca leaf

15,714.28 tons "properly accounted for"

38,303.57 tons "unaccounted for", presumably refined into =

191.51 tons of cocaine sulfate paste =

76.7 tons of refined powder cocaine HCl in labs in Colombia

(Freemantle, The Fix, 1987 ed., p.231)

[Note: The Freemantle material is unsourced and unreferenced by entry; a general bibliography of sources appears at the end of the book.]

1992

80,000 tons coca leaf

52,000 hectares (approx. 115,000 acres)

1992 total value to Bolivia $200-$370 million

(Painter 1992) via Walker, Drug Trafficking In The Americas 1993?)