Cocaine production in Colombia reached an unprecedented level last year, as evidenced by satellite imagery which captured the expansion of coca plant cultivation, the base ingredient for cocaine. This increase is indicative of cocaine penetrating new markets and possibly exacerbating violence globally. President Petro has committed to adopting a novel strategy to tackle the illegal drug issue.
  

Key Points: 

1. Colombian cocaine production soared to a record level last year, expanding into new markets and potentially fueling worldwide violence.
2. UN satellite monitoring revealed that coca plant cultivation grew by 13% from the previous year, amounting to 230,000 hectares (or 570,000 acres) in 2022.
3. President Petro has vowed to undertake a fresh approach in addressing the illegal drug trade in Colombia.
4. The surge in cocaine production signifies a pressing need to curb its distribution and the violence associated with it globally.

Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-11/colombian-cocaine-output-soars-to-record-of-about-1-700-tons#xj4y7vzkg