Important policy change in Colombia: agro policies to be financed with drug trafficking money
More than half of the resources from drug trafficking assets seized by the government will be destined to rural development in coca-growing areas in Colombia.
A new resolution issued on December 14, 2023 by the National Narcotics Council modified the destination of assets that in the past were related to drug trafficking. According to this document, 54% of the resources of the assets under forfeiture, as of 2024, will be used to finance Colombia’s Drug Policy and Rural Reform.
These resources are collected by the State from the sale, rental and administration of assets in forfeiture proceedings or under precautionary measures, such as farms, apartments, land or vehicles.
The resolution refers to a budget allocation equivalent to $49.97 million Euros for next year, of which € 19.90 million would be destined to the Ministry of Agriculture. For instance, through voluntary crop substitution and also to the search for alternative legal products based on coca leaf, poppy and marijuana. The embassy will inquire about details.
Most of the resources that will be received from the Fund will be destined to rural development projects, since many of the problems of illicit crops consist in the lack of social development in those territories.
This is a significant step forward in the government's commitment to the anti-drug policy, which calls for a 43% reduction of illicit crops in the country by 2026, as well as attacking the structural causes of drug trafficking and its environmental effects.