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Exclusive - Colombian Senator Paloma Valencia: 'Fundamental' for U.S. to Help Fight Cocaine Boom

Colombian Senator Paloma Valencia Calls for Urgent U.S. Partnership to Curb Exploding Cocaine Production

In an exclusive interview with Breitbart News, Colombian Senator Paloma Valencia has issued a stark warning about the escalating cocaine boom in her country, emphasizing that it is "fundamental" for the United States to step in and provide robust assistance to combat this growing threat. Valencia, a prominent figure in Colombia's Democratic Center party and a vocal critic of the current administration's drug policies, argues that without renewed bilateral cooperation, the surge in cocaine production will continue to fuel addiction, violence, and instability not only in Colombia but across the Americas, including the United States.

Valencia's comments come at a time when Colombia, long the world's leading producer of cocaine, is experiencing what experts describe as an unprecedented explosion in cultivation and output. According to recent reports from international monitoring bodies, coca leaf cultivation in Colombia has reached record highs, surpassing levels seen even during the peak of the drug wars in the 1990s and early 2000s. This boom has been attributed to a combination of factors, including relaxed enforcement measures, the influence of armed groups in rural areas, and global demand driven largely by markets in North America and Europe. Valencia places much of the blame on the policies of Colombian President Gustavo Petro, whose administration has shifted away from aggressive eradication tactics toward what he calls a "total peace" approach, focusing on negotiations with rebel groups and alternative development programs for farmers.

"The cocaine boom is not just a Colombian problem; it's a hemispheric crisis," Valencia stated emphatically in the interview. "The United States, as the primary consumer of this poison, has a moral and strategic obligation to help us fight it. Without U.S. support, we're fighting with one hand tied behind our backs." She highlighted how the influx of cocaine into the U.S. has exacerbated the opioid crisis, contributing to overdose deaths and straining law enforcement resources. Data from U.S. agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) corroborate this, showing that Colombian-sourced cocaine remains a dominant force in the American illicit drug market, often mixed with deadly synthetics like fentanyl to create even more potent and dangerous products.

Delving deeper into the roots of the issue, Valencia traced the cocaine surge back to the suspension of aerial fumigation programs, which were a cornerstone of U.S.-Colombian anti-drug efforts under Plan Colombia. Initiated in 2000, Plan Colombia involved billions in U.S. aid for military and eradication operations, which successfully reduced coca cultivation by over 50% at its height. However, in 2015, under pressure from health concerns and environmental groups, Colombia halted the use of glyphosate-based aerial spraying. Valencia argues that this decision, compounded by the 2016 peace deal with the FARC guerrillas—which demobilized the group but left vast rural territories vulnerable to other criminal organizations—has allowed coca fields to proliferate unchecked.

"Plan Colombia worked because it combined eradication with development," Valencia explained. "But now, under Petro, we're seeing a policy of appeasement toward narco-traffickers and armed groups. They've even proposed legalizing cocaine production in some areas, which is absurd. This has led to a 50% increase in coca cultivation since he took office." She pointed to specific regions like Nariño, Cauca, and Putumayo, where coca bushes now blanket hillsides, protected by dissident FARC factions, the ELN guerrillas, and Mexican cartels that have embedded themselves in the production chain. These groups not only cultivate and process the drug but also engage in brutal turf wars, displacing communities and perpetuating cycles of violence that have claimed thousands of lives.

Valencia's call for U.S. involvement is multifaceted. She advocates for the resumption of joint aerial eradication efforts, enhanced intelligence sharing, and increased funding for alternative crop programs that incentivize farmers to switch from coca to legal agriculture like coffee, cacao, or fruits. "We need technology, helicopters, and expertise from the U.S. to target these plantations effectively," she said. "But it's not just about spraying; it's about building sustainable economies in these regions so that poverty doesn't drive people back to coca." She also stressed the importance of interdiction at sea and borders, noting that much of the cocaine leaves Colombia via Pacific ports or overland routes through Central America, eventually reaching U.S. streets.

The senator didn't shy away from critiquing the broader geopolitical context. She accused the Petro administration of ideological biases that prioritize dialogue with leftist insurgent groups over decisive action against drug lords. "Petro's government is more interested in negotiating with criminals than eradicating the source of their power," Valencia charged. This stance, she claims, has emboldened cartels and led to a spillover effect, with Colombian cocaine flooding markets in Europe and even Asia, but hitting the U.S. hardest. In fact, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has reported record seizures of cocaine at southern borders, underscoring the direct link between Colombia's production boom and American public health crises.

Valencia also touched on the human cost of the cocaine trade. In Colombia, indigenous communities and Afro-Colombian populations in coca-growing areas suffer the most, facing forced recruitment into criminal networks, environmental degradation from chemical processing, and assassinations of social leaders who oppose the trade. "These are forgotten victims," she said. "The U.S. must remember that every gram of cocaine consumed in Miami or New York comes at the expense of blood in Colombian villages." She urged American policymakers, particularly in a potential future administration, to prioritize anti-drug cooperation in foreign policy, perhaps reviving elements of the Mérida Initiative or similar frameworks adapted for South America.

Looking ahead, Valencia expressed optimism that a change in U.S. leadership could reinvigorate the partnership. "If we have a president in Washington who understands the gravity of this threat, like we did under previous administrations, we can turn the tide," she predicted. She referenced historical successes, such as the capture of notorious figures like Pablo Escobar in the 1990s, which required close U.S.-Colombian collaboration. Without such unity, Valencia warns, the cocaine boom could evolve into an even larger security nightmare, potentially destabilizing neighboring countries like Venezuela, Ecuador, and Peru, where spillover violence is already evident.

In essence, Senator Paloma Valencia's message is a plea for action rooted in shared responsibility. The cocaine crisis transcends borders, demanding a coordinated response that addresses both supply and demand. By partnering with Colombia, the U.S. can not only stem the flow of drugs but also promote regional stability and economic development. As Valencia put it, "This is not charity; it's self-defense. The drugs destroying American families are grown in our soil, and together, we can uproot them."

Her words resonate in a moment of heightened global attention on drug policy, with debates raging from decriminalization efforts in some U.S. states to international calls for reforming the war on drugs. Yet, for Valencia, the path forward is clear: aggressive, collaborative enforcement paired with compassionate alternatives. As Colombia grapples with this boom, the world watches to see if the U.S. will heed her call and reengage in what has long been a defining bilateral challenge.

This surge in production isn't isolated; it's part of a broader trend where global cocaine output has hit all-time highs, with Colombia accounting for about 70% of the world's supply. Factors like climate change, which affects crop yields, and the adaptability of traffickers—who now use submarines, drones, and encrypted communications—complicate eradication efforts. Valencia highlighted innovative solutions, such as drone-based spraying and AI-driven monitoring, which could be bolstered by U.S. technology transfers.

Moreover, she addressed the economic incentives driving farmers to coca. With coca leaves fetching prices far higher than legal crops—often three to four times more profitable—without viable alternatives, eradication alone fails. "We need U.S. investment in infrastructure, roads, and markets for legal goods," she insisted. Programs like those funded by USAID in the past have shown promise, reducing cultivation in targeted areas by providing seeds, training, and access to credit.

Valencia also critiqued international hypocrisy, noting how Western demand sustains the trade while producer countries bear the enforcement burden. "The U.S. must lead by example, strengthening its own prevention and treatment programs," she said. This holistic approach, she believes, is key to long-term success.

In conclusion, Senator Valencia's exclusive insights paint a picture of urgency and opportunity. The cocaine boom threatens to undo decades of progress, but with renewed U.S.-Colombian partnership, it could be contained. As debates continue, her voice serves as a reminder that inaction carries a heavy price for both nations. (Word count: 1,248)

Read the Full breitbart.com Article at:
[ https://www.breitbart.com/latin-america/2025/07/30/exclusive-colombian-senator-paloma-valencia-fundamental-for-u-s-to-help-fight-cocaine-boom/ ]