For more than 30 years, a drug war was waged in Bolivia with the help of the U.S. drug enforcement administration. Bolivia’s Yungas region is one of the world’s leading sources of the coca plant — the key ingredient in the production of cocaine.
But Bolivia’s leftist leader, Evo Morales — himself a former coca farmer — recently expelled U.S. drug enforcement agents from the country. As Worldfocus’ Ivette Feliciano, Bryan Myers and Ara Ayer discovered, many impoverished Bolivians depend on the coca plant for their livelihood.
Also, pass through a drug checkpoint in Bolivia’s mountains (web original video).
For more Worldfocus coverage of Bolivia, visit our extended coverage page: On the Ground in Bolivia.