State of Coca

“Just as we’re preparing for peace, we’re also preparing for war.

Because war is the continuation of politics by other means.”

- Alias Chacal, CDF

Watch on TIME Magazine here.

Earlier this year, Jairo Marín, a guerrilla commander born in the Colombian Amazon, became the chief negotiator of the Comandos de la Frontera, which he describes as a “21st century guerrilla organization.” The armed group controls tens of thousands of acres of coca plantations and has gained significant political leverage as President Gustavo Petro’s Administration scrambles to secure agreements with armed groups critical to advancing Colombia’s broader peace talks and anti-narcotics efforts. Negotiations with the administration, however, are more urgent than ever. Petro has less than a year in office to secure a deal. Meanwhile, coca cultivation is soaring, reaching a record 625,000 acres in 2023 and the U.S. government is threatening to cut military aid and cooperation programs for not meeting anti-drug standards. Time is running out. It seems a narrow path to peace runs through the Colombian Amazon and hinges on working with, not against, the very groups that control drug trafficking and profit from violence.

Runtime / 18:22

Language / Spanish & English

Subtitles / English

Credits

Lead Investigator for Amazon Underworld  /  Bram Ebus

Producers  /  Tom Laffay & Bram Ebus 

Director of Photography  /  Tom Laffay

Narrative Video Editor  /  Jaap van’t Kruis

Graphics  /  Lon Tweeten

Archival Research  /  Andrew Johnson & Amy Bucknam

Executive Producer for TIME  /  Justine Simons

Archival Footage  / Associated Press & Getty Image