1. FARC and the Drug Trade Steve Tynes

2. FARC: The Early Years
From inception (1964) to approximately 1978, the FARC rejected drug trade, even marijuana cultivation
Leaders thought coca, drug trafficking was anti-revolutionary
As a result of the “security dilemma”, the FARC integrated into the drug trade in the 1980s (Norman, 2017)
FARC’s support of the drug trade, which was its eventual downfall, was key to growing its organization in the 1980s (Norman, 2017)
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3. FARC: Coca Integration
Between , drug relations were at their peak between FARC and local trafficking organizations (Norman, 2017)
FARC provided protection to traffickers in rural, jungle areas and received payoffs in return
Expansion of paramilitaries into FARC-controlled territory ultimately led to the degradation of FARC-trafficker relations in the late 1980s (Norman, 2017)
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4. FARC and Coca – was it Helpful or Harmful?
Norman argues that FARC’s drug-trade regulation was a public good (Norman, 2017)
Others, such as Brittain, blame the government of Colombia for creating the conditions that necessitated the drug trade (Brittain, 2010)
FARC’s regulation provided stable prices to traffickers, protections for peasants, and built up its own military capabilities
Land centralization, neoliberal economic policies “devastated” small producers (Brittain, 2010)
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5. FARC: 1991-Present
FARC moved away from trafficking organizations due to the latter’s involvement with paramilitaries (AUC)
This led to the FARC evicting dealers and “monopolizing local coca markets under a one-buyer system” (Norman, 2017)
Some FARC “fronts” (organizational blocs) facilitated shift from coca to traditional crops (Brittain, 2010)
FARC punished some local buyers with death (Norman, 2017)
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6. FARC: 1991-Present Bulleted supporting information
Paramilitary expansion, Norman 2017, Page 651 Figure 2

7. FARC: 1991-Present
Increased military pressure led to decentralization of FARC leadership
Some turned increasingly to trafficking, operating laboratories and directly trafficking coca, other narcotics
AUC demobilized in 2005, which Norman argues was the “critical event” which “deepened FARC’s participation in the drug trade” (Norman 2017)
FARC’s involvement in the drug trade was arguably exaggerated by the GOC to secure U.S. support, and funding
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8. FARC: Trafficking Conclusions
FARC’s involvement in drug trade was not profit-driven, but necessity-driven argue Norman, Brittain, and others
FARC’s involvement with trafficking made peace much more difficult, ultimately undermined initial revolutionary goals
Unlikely the United States becomes so involved in the conflict without FARC’s ties to trafficking
The money gained from trafficking was utilized to further military goals
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9. QUESTIONS?