Spraying of drug crops

One of the "supply side" (crop eradication and interdiction) strategies in the War on Drugs is aerial spraying with herbicides, a tactic that has proven to be ineffective and harmful. The indiscriminate spraying of chemicals has a negative impact on the local ecology and human health. Furthermore, crop eradication without alternative development, leaves small farmers even less economically secure than before, continuing their dependence on drug crop cultivation.

Crops for illicit use and ecocide

December 2008

Germán Andrés Quimbayo Ruiz

A comparative reflection on the impact of illicit crops, drug control policy and other sectors of the economy on ecosystems and the environment in Colombia

Drug Policy Briefing 28

Crop spraying

December 2007

Drugs and Democracy

The United States is putting strong pressure on the Afghan government to officially adopt the strategy of eradicating the opium poppy through aerial spraying of the crops with the herbicide glyphosate.

Drug Policy Briefing 25

Chemical & Biological War on Drugs overview

November 2005

Drugs and Democracy

Links and documents on the Chemical and Biological war on drugs

Aerial spraying knows no borders

September 2005

Drugs and Democracy

In this briefing the Transnational Institute explains why the Colombian government has been unwilling to give ground on this minimal demand, which the Ecuadorians have been making since 2001, shortly after the aerial spraying began as part of Plan Colombia.

Drug Policy Briefing 15

Gráfico de hectáreas fumigadas y cultivos erradicados

June 2005

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Fungus versus Coca

June 2005

Martin Jelsma

Stop the chemical and biological War on Drugs, for the sake of reason, in defence of the communities whose livelihoods are destroyed, to preserve the environment and to genuinely improve the prospects for peace.

Ecuador: "Collateral Damage" From Aerial Spraying on the Northern Border

December 2003

TNI

Fumigations: The debate

December 2003

TNI

Fumigation and Conflict in Colombia