Cocaine Goes Up in Smoke

Mar. 13 – Three tons of cocaine are burned by officials in Peru. Authorities estimate the drugs have a street value of some 50 million US dollars. Peru is the world’s No. 2 grower of coca behind Colombia. More than 30 tons of cocaine were confiscated in Peru last year – a record high and rise of 58 percent on 2007. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) RAFAEL AGUERO, LIMA PUBLIC PROSECUTOR: “I’m here to preside over the first drug burn of 2009, which comes from December, 3 tonne 440 kilos and 840 grams of various cocaine products and marijuana.”