But the vast majority, about 95 percent, are illegally produced and sold to drug traffickers, who process about 400 tons of cocaine a year. Similarly, Zevallos told InSight Crime that a policy of buying coca from legally registered and unregistered growers can lead to a coca boom, as people could start growing coca to receive subsidies and other government benefits. But who needs illegal drugs when you have a lot of alternatives to try? There is cheap beer and lots of pisco in Peru. You can have fun numbing your head with coca leaves. Or you can go into the jungle and fight half a pint of ayahuasca. Everything is good, clean fun. and completely legal. In Peru, it is legal to chew coca leaves, drink ayahuasca, and take San Pedro (from the cactus Echinopsis pachanoi), all of which are considered part of traditional Peruvian medicine. However, be careful when leaving Peru, as other countries could have problems with all three if you try to bring them in. Also note that drinking coca tea or chewing coca leaves can lead to a positive cocaine test. If you are in possession of more than the legal amount, you could become. If you are convicted of illegal drug trafficking, you can face a minimum of five years in prison and a maximum of 15 years.

So if you`re thinking about getting involved in Peruvian drug trafficking, watch some videos about conditions in Peruvian prisons, and you might change your mind. Earlier this month, authorities began a week-long process to burn the 16.3 tons of illicit drugs seized so far this year. In late April, Peruvian Defense Minister José Luis Gavidia said the government planned to close about 40 military bases in VRAEM. The Castillo government has lobbied to move troops from this region to Madre de Dios, a region in southeastern Peru plagued by illegal mining. Lima (AFP) – The Peruvian government has announced plans to buy the country`s entire stock of illicit coca leaves – the main ingredient in cocaine – for at least a year as part of its fight against drug trafficking. “. Police officers prefer to consider those who possess drugs as potential drug traffickers and do not determine their legal status before arriving at the police station, which can lead to egregious cases of illegal detention. Those apprehended with cocaine or other illegal substances face immediate arrest, lengthy interrogation and imprisonment for 5 to 15 years, or 25 years in the worst case, without remission or extradition to their country of origin. After seeing the conditions in Peruvian prisons, I`m sure you don`t want to spend a minute there. And since the PNP`s drug unit at the airport, for example, is pretty fit, think twice before smuggling anything out of the country or doing someone a favor. Focusing government efforts on microcriminals is not only ineffective in reducing drug trafficking, as micro-trafficking posts are extremely easy to replace, but also counterproductive in many ways, the study concludes. “The police are overwhelmed and the courts overwhelmed, so innocent people are involved in legal proceedings much longer than expected,” says Soberón.

Currently, 61 per cent of Peruvian prisoners have been charged and tried, and 39 per cent have been convicted, reflecting a backlog in justice that has often dragged on for months or years. Peru established the Register of Coca Leaf Growers in 1978 as part of a national policy to combat drug trafficking, which included the destruction of illegal crops. All legally grown coca must be sold to the state-owned company ENACO, but this amounts to only 2,500 tonnes per year. “The government`s message is that it legalizes coca leaves and will buy illegal coca leaves. The message is to grow coca, and it`s very dangerous because we`re talking about a major material used in drug trafficking,” former interior minister Ruben Vargas told AFP. In reality, possession of an illegal drug – in any quantity – can lead to serious problems. There is a certain degree of “guilt until proven guilty” in the Peruvian system. Combined with poorly trained and sometimes corrupt police officers, this can turn what should be a slap on the wrist into a big slap in the face (metaphorically speaking).