Bolivia coca cultivation reaches record levels amid cocaine surge

Bolivia has recorded record levels of coca cultivation for the third consecutive year, with production significantly exceeding the legal limits established by the 2017 General Coca Law. According to reports and UNODC data, approximately 36,400 hectares have been planted, which is 65.5% more than the 22,000 hectares permitted by law.

The expansion is particularly concentrated in the Chapare region within the Tropics of Cochabamba, where cultivation has reached 17,470 hectares despite a legal limit of 7,700. This surplus is being diverted from legal traditional markets to illegal cocaine production to meet rising global demand. Authorities have identified over 3,000 sites for coca paste production and hundreds of laboratories for cocaine hydrochloride crystallization, with potential cocaine production reaching 275 metric tons.

The surge in production is linked to increased violence, including at least 16 drug-related murders recorded between August and mid-September 2026 in the departments of Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, and Beni. Additionally, the United States has designated Bolivia as a country that failed to meet its commitments in the fight against drug trafficking.