Cartels Smuggle a Different Type of Cocaine to New Labs Overseas

Bags of coca paste in Colombia’s Guaviare province. — Bags of coca paste in Colombia’s Guaviare province.Photographer: Ivan Valencia/Bloomberg

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By Oscar Medina and Maya Averbuch

June 26, 2025 at 6:00 AM UTC

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Cartels are offshoring more cocaine production outside of Colombia and exporting lower-grade drugs that are easier to conceal in products such as paints and plastics.