Peruvian Cocaine is a reference to the illegal drug trade involving cocaine production in Peru, and also the title of a well-known hip-hop song by Immortal Technique.
The Drug Trade
Peru is one of the world’s primary cultivators of the coca plant, the raw ingredient used to produce cocaine.
- Traditional vs. Illegal Use: The coca leaf itself has a long, protected history in Andean culture, where it is legally chewed or brewed into tea (mate de coca) as a mild stimulant for energy and to alleviate altitude sickness. It is legal to grow coca for traditional use, but illegal to process it into cocaine base or powder for the illicit market.
- Production: Coca is mainly grown in remote jungle valleys like the Valle de los Ríos Apurímac, Ene y Mantaro (VRAEM) region. The leaves are processed in clandestine jungle labs using chemicals like gasoline to extract the coca base, which is then typically shipped to other countries, especially Colombia and Brazil, for further refinement and distribution to global markets (primarily the US and Europe).
- Recent Trends: Coca cultivation in Peru reached record highs in 2022, with a significant increase in remote border departments that are difficult for authorities to monitor. Organized crime groups, including those from Brazil and remnants of the Shining Path guerillas, are involved in controlling the trade in these areas.
The Song
“Peruvian Cocaine” is a popular track by the American rapper Immortal Technique, featured on his 2003 album Revolutionary Vol. 2. The song is a narrative, multi-verse track that critically explores the complex and often violent cycle of the international cocaine trade, from the farmers in South America to the dealers and consumers in the US, highlighting geopolitical dynamics and social impacts.
You can listen to the song on platforms like Spotify or SoundCloud.
