62,000 HECTARES SPRAYED BY END OF APRIL

UNCLAS BOGOTA 004264

SIPDIS

UNCLASSIFIED

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/LP AND WHA/AND

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL CO
SUBJECT: 62,000 HECTARES SPRAYED BY END OF APRIL


1. As of April 30, aerial eradication aircraft sprayed
61,959 hectares of Colombian coca and 232 hectares of opium
poppy (raw numbers). April 2006 was the best April in the
history of the spray program and also one of the best spray
months ever.


2. NAS Bogota's three fleets of spray aircraft eradicated
over 20,000 hectares (20,102) in April, only the third time
this has been possible in the history of the program.
Weather improved throughout the month of April and allowed
spray aircraft to make up ground lost to inclement weather
in the earlier months of the year. The seven AT-802 Air
Tractors are in Tumaco and sprayed 12,146 hectares in Narino
in April. The nine OV-10'S are stationed in San Jose del
Guaviare and sprayed 6,752 hectares of coca in Guaviare and
Meta in April. The two T-65 Turbo Thrushes sprayed 1,204
hectares of coca in Arauca during April.


3. Comment: Overall, although behind last year, one third
of the way through the calendar year we are 48 percent of
the way towards reaching - and then surpassing - the 130,000
hectare goal. End comment.

WOOD