Monday, 3 November 2008

Bolivia suspends DEA activities

OK, you might not have known this but the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been operating in Bolivia on the so-called war on drugs, eradicating illegal plantations of coca leaf for about 35 years. Until now, that is.

This is because President Evo Morales has just asked DEA to suspend its operations in the country, after accusing it of supporting the near-coup that took place last September.

Whether or not this is the case, the fact is that the US recently accused Bolivia of not doing enough against cocaine trade and removed the country’s commercial status — shared with other Andean countries — that allowed textile exports to the US to receive preferential trade terms.

This, at a time when Bolivian authorities have announced record levels of cocaine seizures — at more than 25 tons this year — and illegal plantations destroyed. It is therefore difficult to avoid thinking that the expulsion of US ambassador on 11 September is behind this latest escalation in the diplomatic war between the two countries.

Which means that the work is already piling on the new US President’s in-tray.

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