Disparity

While Cartels may earn millions smuggling cocaine, the farmers who grow the coca plants from which the cocaine is extracted, are lucky to earn enough to survive. They have a choice of selling yucca plants for 40 cents a kilo or coca plants from which cocaine paste can sell from $750 per kilo. The choice is straightforward.

 

From mother nature to misery for millions

Cocaine paste is the base material from which the drug cocaine is refined. Only 0.5% of each leaf is cocaine. It's a long process involving a staggering concoction of chemicals. The leaves are broken down with an inexpensive mixer of cement powder and liquid fertiliser which does the job of softening the leaf. Softened leaves are placed in a drum and gasoline is added to extract the cocaine. After about 4 hours the cocaine has been extracted from the leaves and is then infused in the liquid inside the drum. To separate the leaves from the liquid, a press is used to squeeze out the cocaine infused liquid. Soda crystals are added to the liquid mixture which act as a neutralising agent. This is then heated on a stove until all the remaining liquid evaporates. The paste is left to dry overnight leaving it in a crumbly texture the following day. This paste is then sold to the cartels who will turn it into high grade cocaine powder.

 

Growing any other crop would condemn most to poverty. It does come with it's risks however. Everyday, Columbian special forces enter the jungles looking to eradicate illegal coca fields and arrest farmers. From planting the crop to harvest, it takes about 8 months. A waiting game that can end with nothing to yield if discovered. 

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For many people born into this world there are no silver spoons, but plastic spoons and dope.