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Peru has regained its former distinction as the world’s top cocaine producer, according to the annual White House report
issued on Monday that said Colombia’s output fell sharply last year, putting the former leader in third place behind Bolivia.

The report by the Office of National Drug Control Policy diverged from a U.N. monitor’s report last week that estimated
Colombian cocaine production at a much higher level. No reasons were given for the disparity in the reports, which
usually track each other closely.

The White House report estimated Peruvian cocaine production last year at 358 U.S. tons, followed by Bolivia with 292 tons
and Colombia at 215 tons. It’s the first year since 1997 that Colombia has not led in global cocaine output in the report.

The recent figures represent a 25 percent drop from White House estimates that Colombia produced 286 tons of cocaine in
2010, topping all producers.

[link to triblive.com]

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