An illegal coca base lab
- 13 Nov 07, 04:46 PM
Posted from: Louisiana.
Today we went to a coca base lab, which is where coca leaves are turned into cocaine base. It’s a highly illegal activity and the Peruvian Military and the American Drugs Enforcement Agency both run armed raids from helicopter and vehicles to find people doing this type of work.
Bruce observes workers in an illegal coca plant.
The two guys who were working there would get probably four to six years in prison if they were caught by the authorities, and they make a bit of money from making the base – about $50 each for three days work – so it’s by no means a fortune.
Bruce watches the illegal cocaine workers
First they mash the coca leaves in bleach and water, next they put them into drums and mix the leaf mixture up with kerosene and hydrochloric acid. Then the mixture is reduced and reduced down, and finally the last of the water is boiled off and there is a tiny amount of coca paste. It’s not cocaine, but it’s the first stage in making cocaine.
Whilst we were there a helicopter was flying overhead, which made us all nervous. None of us wanted an armed raid.
Footage of the Peruvian Miltary Police raiding a suspected illegal coca lab. Willow, assistant producer on the series, joins them in the helicopter. (This raid occured during a recce for the Amazon series)
This blog was transcribed from an audio recording
Find out more about the cocaleros who produce cocaine
Comments
Fantastic Team - making a great film, Thanks so much.