Colombia at risk of returning to the drug trafficking crisis

This was asserted by the expert Bruce Bagley, who mentioned that this current situation in Mexico has become a risk for Central and South America.

"I call it the cockroach effect, which is basically that when you attack them, they move to other places. Since Mexico has become a focus of interest, traffickers are using other traffic routes and distribution points. Colombia has always been historically important in this topic, so it is at risk," asserted the expert.

During his intervention in the commemoration of the 25 years of the Institute of Political studies and International Relations of Universidad Nacional de Colombia (lepri), this expert also highlighted the magnitude of the drug trafficking business in the world.

"Currently, Unites States spends over 40 billion dollars per year in cocaine. USA is the main drug consumer, followed by Brazil, Argentina and Spain. Due to its consume position, Colombia is an strategic country, especially if it is consider that in 2000 Colombia produced 90% of coca leaves in the world," mentioned the expert.

For these reasons, the expert asserted that government policies to fight against drugs, as well as the strategies to mitigate the conflict generated due to this market, are the main priorities for Colombia in order to save the efforts achieved during the last 25 years looking for peace.

For Carlos Mario Perea, director of lepri, knowing international visions regarding this problem allows analyzing this situations for the future, "and also being part of the political processes to fight against this situation", mentioned Perea.