Columbia gives drug-barons land to peasants

19 May 1998

Columbia gives drug-barons’ land to peasants

THE Columbian Government aims to relocate 6,000 displaced peasants on 25,000ha (61,774) of expropriated land before it leaves office in August.

The Government is using the December 1996 Asset Forfeiture Law which enables the authorities to expropriate properties and goods acquired with illicit funds.

Last month, the Government gave 15 families who were landless victims of the countrys violence the estate of deceased drug baron Pablo Escobar. Ten years ago, the Hacienda Napoles estate, stretching 500ha (1,235 acres), use to be the venue for multi-million dollar cocaine deals.

• Financial Times 19/05/98 page 8