Colombia's Cocaine Trade Now Outearns Its Oil Exports

The staggering discovery from EAFIT University reveals that Colombia's illicit cocaine trade has outpaced its traditional oil exports for the first time, generating $16.5 billion in 2024 compared to $15 billion from oil. This shift highlights the growing dominance of the drug trade in the country's economy, raising serious concerns about the long-term economic and social impacts. While oil still remains Colombia’s largest export, this shift underscores the urgent need for more effective strategies to combat drug trafficking and its associated criminal activities.