The land under coca cultivation¹ is now about a third of that in 2001, says the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

 

While coca areas fell nationwide, they rose in three provinces plagued by rebels and drug gangs.

 

Colombia is one the world's top three cocaine² producers and has made the war on drugs one of its main priorities.

 

The annual report by the UN's Integrated Illicit³ Crops Monitoring System says that the land planted with coca bushes has dropped from 64,000 hectares in 2011 to 48,000 hectares in 2012, the lowest figure since monitoring started in Colombia more than a decade ago.

 

Analysts⁴ say the fall in coca production suggests illegal groups which have so far financed themselves through drug trafficking may increasingly be moving into illegal gold and emerald mining, both of which have been increasing in Colombia.

 

The groups take advantage of the fact that, unlike coca or cocaine, gold and emeralds（绿宝石，翡翠） are legal to transport and sell.

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