Supply is driven by demand. As long as there is a demand for cocaine, traffickers will continue to seek out innovative, dangerous and costly ways of delivering it.
South America is the leader in cocaine production. South America is a prime location for the production of cocaine in countries such as Colombia, Peru and Bolivia, because the coca plant grows naturally there. It can be produced in quantities that result in large amounts of refined cocaine.
How Cocaine is Made
There are several ways to manufacture cocaine. South American farmers harvest coca leaves, which are soaked in alkaline liquids and extracted with kerosene in metal containers. Further into production, sulfuric acid is used to extract the dissolved cocaine, creating a liquid solution in the form of coca paste.
To reduce impurities in the coca paste, sulfuric acid and potassium permanganate are used along with other chemicals to separate the base. The resulting product is filtered and dried to create a dry, solid white powder.
How Cocaine is Transported to the United States
Once the cocaine is refined and ready for distribution, decentralized cartels and industry stakeholders work to transport the drug out of Colombia and elsewhere undetected. According the Drug Enforcement Administration, around 93 percent of the cocaine delivered to the United States arrives by sea from Mexico and Central America. It is commonly smuggled into the United States through the southwest border.
Use of Self-Propelled, Semi-Submersible Vessels a Rising Trend in Cocaine Smuggling
An increasing trend in cocaine transportation involves the use of self-propelled semi-submersible vessels traveling from Colombia to Central America and Mexico. Because the majority of these semi-submersible vessels sit below the waterline with only the top portion above the water, they are able to maintain a low profile.
This also reduces the radar echo commonly associated with vessels upon the high seas. As a result, detection of these smuggling vessels is more difficult.
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