Isolated Peru Police Station Attacked, Two Injured

At least two police officers were badly injured following an attack on a police station near Quillabamba in the Cusco region, allegedly perpetrated by drug traffickers of the coca-growing Apurimac and Ene river valley, or VRAE, authorities say. The attack occurred early Monday in the town of Pucyura, district of Vilcabamba, in Cusco’s La Convencion province, [...]

Cabinet Chief Valdes Says Development Needed for VRAE

Following an attack Monday by traffickers that claimed the life of one military officer and wounded four soldiers, Peru’s new cabinet chief, Oscar Valdes, said the government will tackle drug trafficking in the Apurimac and Ene river valley, or VRAE, by increasing development and state-presence in the isolated coca-growing region.   Valdes, the former Interior Minister, said [...]

Police Seize 155 Kgs Of Cocaine Paste In Southern Peru

Peru’s National Police on Friday seized 155 kilograms of cocaine paste from two individuals travelling on a highway between the southern cities of Cusco and Arequipa. The seizure occurred early Friday and was part of operations surrounding year-end celebrations in Cusco, state news agency Andina reported. The cocaine paste, worth approximately $60,000 in Europe, was being [...]

Peru Authorizes $77.2 Mlln Credit for VRAE Works

Peru’s government authorized Wednesday a supplementary credit of 210 million soles ($77.2 million) to support public investment in the Apurimac and Ene river valley, state news agency Andina reported. The funds will be used by regional and local governments to support projects aimed at improving the social and economic conditions of the poorest groups in [...]

Police, Military Confiscate Almost 1 Ton of Cocaine

Peruvian police and army officials have confiscated almost a ton of cocaine this week during two separate operations in the coca-growing region known as the Apurimac and Ene river valley, or VRAE. On Thursday, police in the counter-narcotics division, known as Dirandro, seized 415 kilograms of cocaine in Ayacucho department’s Huanta province, daily El Comercio [...]

Devida Aims to Convert VRAE into Agricultural Hub

Peru’s anti-drug agency, Devida, said Wednesday that its goal is to convert the coca-growing Apurimac and Ene river valleys into a productive center for agricultural products, state news agency Andina reported. The valleys, known as the VRAE and located in central Peru, are  the country’s top producing area of coca, the raw material used to [...]

Peru Seeks to Eradicate 10,000 Ha of Coca by end 2011

Peru’s government is aiming to eradicate 10,000 hectares of coca leaf this year, Interior Minister Oscar Valdes said.  The annual quota of 10,000 ha was already in place before the new Humala administration took office, but as late as August only 4,000 had been eradicated.  The program has not been considered a success in the past [...]

Devida’s 2012 budget to be $44 million

The president of Peru’s anti-drug agency, known as Devida, said Monday that the agency will have a budget of 120 million soles (approximately $44 million) in 2012, aimed to fulfill the government’s pledge to reduce coca cultivation. Ricardo Soberon, to critics a controversial appointment to lead Devida by President Ollanta Humala, said that 70 million [...]

Peru Gov’t criticized for temporary suspension of coca eradication

Peru’s government has ordered the suspension of eradication efforts of coca crops in the country’s Upper Huallaga Valley, located in Huanuco region, local media reported. The Upper Huallaga Valley is one of Peru’s top coca growing regions, in addition to the Apurimac and Ene river valleys, or VRAE. Peru has seen a steady increase in recent [...]

New Defense Minister says pacifying VRAE a priority

Peru’s next Minister of Defense, Daniel Mora, said Thursday that gaining control of the coca growing Apurimac and Ene river valleys, or VRAE, will be a priority for the ministry, state news agency Andina reported. Mora, a retired general, was appointed by President-elect Ollanta Humala on Thursday to lead the Ministry of Defense. The VRAE, [...]

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