Bolivia classified as cocaine-producing country by UN: 36,400 hectares of surplus coca
Unodc director Bo Mathiasen warned that Bolivia is no longer solely a transit country, but also a cocaine producer for international markets.
UN alerts: Bolivia produces cocaine for international markets
Bo Mathiasen, director of the Operations Division of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (Unodc), stated that Bolivia should be considered a cocaine-producing country, not merely a transit country. This is reported by reduno.com.bo, following a meeting between Mathiasen and Bolivian authorities to coordinate action against drug trafficking.
"Bolivia is indeed a producing country, it is a cocaine-producing country," Mathiasen affirmed during the meeting. He explained that a portion of the coca leaf cultivated in the country "is transformed into cocaine hydrochloride" destined for international markets.
The UN official linked this production to organised crime, which operates in Bolivian territory and channels the drug towards the exterior. In 2025, 36,400 hectares of surplus coca cultivation were recorded, a figure that again places drug trafficking at the centre of political debate.
When asked about measures to reduce such cultivation, Mathiasen emphasised the need to strengthen international cooperation with neighbouring countries, the United Nations and other organisations willing to support Bolivia in the fight against drug trafficking.
Source: Google News BO — Crime