Peru coca leaf cultivation hits record high

World Today

Peru coca leaf cultivation hits record high

In Peru, the cultivation of coca, the leaf used to make the drug cocaine, has grown to a high not seen for at least two decades.

The country’s anti-drug chief said this week that the land dedicated to the cultivation of coca leaves grew 18% last year.

Much of that rise is taking place in protected and indigenous Amazon reserves.

Dan Collyns reports from Lima.