Few know how to use ammonium sulphate in Peru
According to the UN, Peru is one of the world’s largest producers of coca leaf and cocaine. It is estimated that Peruvian cocaine production is approximately 400 tons annually. In 2022, about 86 tons of drugs were seized and incinerated by the police.
Ninety-five percent of Peru’s coca production is destined for drug trafficking. The remaining amount is used in teas, candies, flour, and stimulants through chewing the leaf. Chewing coca leaves is an ancient tradition to combat fatigue in both Peru and Bolivia and also to alleviate the effects of altitude. According to Devida, around six million Peruvians use coca leaves legally.
The coca leaf is a raw material for the production of cocaine. After harvesting, the leaves go through chemical processes, which mix them with gasoline, lime, cement, and ammonium sulfate to obtain a white paste. This paste is then enriched with a cocktail of acids and solvents.
Half of Peru’s coca crops are located in the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM), which is home to thousands of “cocaleros,” as the farmers dedicated to this cultivation are called. Peru has increased to 95,000 hectares in 2022, almost 20% increase from the previous year.
Peruvian authorities have reported a sustained increase in cultivation since the Covid-19 pandemic, with a growth of over 50%, from 61,777 hectares in 2020 to 95,000 hectares in 2022. This increase occurred because the government stopped eradicating illegal crops due to the quarantines.
The National Commission for the Development and Life Without Drugs (Devida) Director, Carlos Figueroa, stated that “There is a high level of growth, especially in regions connected to the border with Colombia and Brazil.”
