Colombia surprised many by announcing it will resume the eradication of illicit crops, including coca, using glyphosate. Despite President Gustavo Petro’s previous statements opposing this method in the fight against drug trafficking, Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez announced today that the program will be reinstated.
In areas where glyphosate is used, it will be applied manually rather than through aerial spraying—a practice banned by Colombian courts in 2015 due to its harmful environmental and health effects.
Colombia to reinstate manual glyphosate spraying against illicit crops
The Colombian government will resume the use of glyphosate to eradicate illicit crops, employing manual and ground-based methods to address the sharp rise in drug trafficking.
Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed the decision on Wednesday, revealing that the initial contract was signed in December 2024 under his predecessor, Ivan Velasquez.
Over the past three months, the government has been preparing the logistics to formalize the program, which revives the use of a chemical known for its significant environmental impact—despite earlier objections from President Petro.
In fact, the Colombian president had restricted the use of this pesticide as a measure to protect and decriminalize farming communities, a move heavily criticized by his opponents and some experts. They argued that the decision would bolster illicit economies, thereby benefiting drug traffickers and illegal armed groups.
President Petro’s anti-drug trafficking strategy in Colombia without glyphosate
Since Gustavo Petro assumed the presidency in August 2022, the Colombian government has focused its anti-drug trafficking strategy on targeting traffickers rather than farmers cultivating coca leaves.
As part of this approach, Colombia prioritized crop substitution programs and abandoned forced coca eradication, including the use of glyphosate.
President Petro defended this strategy, despite facing criticism both domestically and internationally, including from the Biden administration in the United States.
Nearly three years later, the results have been far from encouraging. Cocaine production has surged, along with the growing power of armed groups and criminal gangs operating across various regions, particularly in areas like El Catatumbo and Cauca.
Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez clarified that the government will continue implementing crop substitution programs in coordination with local communities, while also reinforcing forced eradication efforts in specific areas.
President Petro’s shift in stance coincides with the looming risk of Colombia losing its favorable international rating in the fight against drug trafficking.
Coca production in Colombia is on the rise
According to the latest report on illicit crops from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), between 2022 and 2023, coca cultivation increased from 230,000 to 253,000 hectares.
As a result, the potential production of cocaine—a drug manufactured through the chemical processing of coca leaves—rose from 1,738 metric tons per year to 2,664.
These increases contrast with the decline in crop eradication. According to data from Colombia’s Ministry of Defense, a total of 68,893 hectares were eliminated in 2022, while eradication dropped to 20,323 in 2023 and to just 9,403 in 2024.
Related: Colombia Raises Coca Eradication Target to 30,000 Hectares for 2025.