For Immediate Release: November 21, 2005

Contact: Rafael Lemaitre         (202) 395–6618

2005 COCA CULTIVATION AND COCAINE PRODUCTION
ESTIMATES FOR BOLIVIA

(Washington, D.C.)—The 2005 US government estimate of Bolivian coca cultivation and cocaine production potential has been completed. It shows a slight increase in coca cultivation and a slight decrease in cocaine production potential over 2004. Coca cultivation increased about 1,900 hectares from 24,600 hectares in 2004 to 26,500 hectares in 2005. The amount of pure cocaine that could have been manufactured from that cultivation was essentially the same as in 2004. The relative stability of coca cultivation and cocaine potential was due to limited room for expansion in Bolivia's main licit production area, the Yungas, and government eradication of illegal coca in the second most cultivated region, the Chapare.