Cocaine cultivation, Brazil and Bolivia use GPS monitoring

Unread post by **ViciousRidah** » August 29th, 2013, 12:03 pm

Cocaine cultivation, Brazil and Bolivia use GPS monitoring

El Chapare - Bolivia, Brazil and the United States have embarked on a joint pilot project to monitor coca cultivation in Bolivia through the use of modern satellite and GPS technologies.

A news conference to announce the project was held in Chapare province on Thursday, March 29, with government representatives from all three countries taking part. The one-year pilot project has received funding from the US and Brazil. Costs will be kept low as it will use of images from existing Brazilian satellites.

Chapare province, in the country's centre, is a renowned hotspot for the illegal cultivation of coca, the natural leaf used as the base for cocaine.

Bolivian President Evo Morales, himself a former coca farmer, struck down a law that allows only a certain amount of coca to be farmed in the region, but has been working to eradicate illegal excesses after coming under pressure from the United States.

The data will be collected and monitored in La Paz, but shared with the other two nations. Brazil hopes the new deal will stem influx of drugs coming across its borders. John Creamer, US Ambassador to Bolivia emphasized the need for international cooperation in fighting the illegal drug trade. (/Reuters)