Indigenous Guards Confront Cocaine Cartels in Peru's Amazon

Members of the Kakataibo Indigenous Guard have taken on the task of patrolling their ancestral territory in the Peruvian Amazon to combat the cultivation of coca, the key ingredient in cocaine, on tribal land. The group, comprised of Indigenous villagers, has been working tirelessly to identify and dismantle illicit plantations of the Andean crop, which they believe brings trouble and death to their community and the forest. "We don't want it here," said a member of the Kakataibo Indigenous Guard, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals from the drug traffickers. "Coca just brings trouble. It means death, for us and the forest." The guard, armed with spears, machetes, and traditional bows and arrows, has been patrolling the overgrown paths and rivers of the Amazon in search of coca crops. The cultivation of coca is booming in Peru, with the country being the world's second-largest producer of the crop after Colombia. The rise of coca cultivation in the region has led to deforestation, violence, and bloodshed, as well as the displacement of Indigenous communities. The Kakataibo Indigenous Guard has been working to combat this issue, with the support of local authorities and international organizations. According to the guard, the presence of coca crops in the Amazon is a result of the region's strategic location and the lack of effective law enforcement. "We have no choice but to take matters into our own hands," said the guard. "The authorities are not doing enough to protect our land and our way of life." The guard's efforts have been met with both praise and criticism, with some arguing that their actions are necessary to protect the community, while others believe that they are taking the law into their own hands. The Kakataibo Indigenous Guard is not the only group working to combat coca cultivation in the region. Local authorities and international organizations have been working together to implement policies and programs aimed at reducing the production and trafficking of coca. However, the task remains daunting, with the region's complex geography and the presence of powerful drug cartels making it difficult to eradicate the crop. As the Kakataibo Indigenous Guard continues its efforts to combat coca cultivation in the Amazon, the community remains vigilant and determined to protect their land and their way of life. The guard's actions serve as a reminder of the complex issues surrounding coca production and the need for a comprehensive approach to address the problem.