UN anti-drugs staff die as plane hits tree in Bolivia

[dipsydoodle]

Four UN anti-narcotics staff and two Bolivian military pilots died when their plane crashed in western Bolivia, officials in the country have said.

The Bolivian Air Force said the Cessna, missing since Thursday, had been flying over the country's main coca-growing area in Los Yungas when it hit a tree.

The four UN staff worked for the Office on Drugs and Crime, monitoring coca.

Bolivia has seen an increase in the cultivation of coca, from which cocaine is derived.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13324815

Is it illegal to grow it in Bolivia ?

[joshcryer]

1. It's legal in small quantities.

They were likely looking for large cultivation grows which are illegal. I believe there was a spat between the government and agricultural growers awhile back over this, they want to be able to legally grow quantities enough to make cocaine for export. Evo is no friend of cocaine production.

Google "Coca Brynco" for a funny pic of Evo. :)