POLICE BOAST BIG DROP IN COCA CULTIVATION

Colombia's crop of coca, the plant used to make cocaine, dwindled by
nearly one-quarter in 2001 -- the first full year of a stepped up
anti-drug effort, officials said Wednesday.

Coca under cultivation declined to 308,000 acres, down from last
year's estimate of 402,000 acres, according to statistics provided by
the counternarcotics division of the National Police. National Police
chief Ernesto Gilibert called the results positive.

"This is very important because we are showing the international
community Colombia's commitment to fight drug trafficking," Gilibert
said.