San Francisco Chronicle

U.S. investor’s son helps in fight to end drug trade

- By Joshua Goodman

TIBU, Colombia — With Colombian military snipers in position, Howard Buffett descends from a helicopter and trudges through the wet grass in steeltoe boots chewed through by his dog’s teeth.

Waiting under a tinroofed shack is a small group of coca farmers. They’ve never heard of multibilli­onaire investor Warren Buffett, but after decades of neglect by their own government, they’re grateful for the outstretch­ed hand of his eldest son, who they refer to simply as “the gringo.”

“There’s a saying here: The less you know, the better,” said Ruben Morantes, his leathery skin and calloused hands a testament to a lifetime of tillage in one of Colombia’s mostdanger­ous territorie­s, where outsiders are traditiona­lly mistrusted.

For nearly two decades Buffett has crisscross­ed the world giving away part of his father’s fortune to promote food security, conflict mitigation and public safety. But his latest gamble is one of the most daunting yet: helping Colombia kick its cocaine curse.

He is focusing on Tibu, heart of the remote, notoriousl­y lawless Catatumbo region bordering Venezuela where Buffett accompanie­d President Ivan Duque.

Tibu has the second largest coca crop in all of Colombia — 28,200 acres, according to the United Nations. Drug production as well as violence has skyrockete­d in the area since armed groups filled the void left by retreating rebels who signed a peace deal with the government in 2016.

The Howard G. Buffett

Foundation has committed to spending $200 million over the next few years to transform the impoverish­ed municipali­ty into a model of comprehens­ive state building. Plans include strengthen­ing security forces and helping farmers secure land titles and substitute coca — the raw material for cocaine — with licit crops like cacao.

The first component is building 185 miles of roads to connect the municipali­ty’s 37,000 residents for the first time with national and internatio­nal markets. It’s a challenge made more difficult by lurking guerrillas who last year detonated a homemade bomb as army engineers were working on the road, killing five people and injuring several.

“The only way we have confidence that farmers can grow legal crops is if they can get those crops to market,” Buffett told Tibu farmers last month.

The plan envisions subsidies and training for farmers as they switch crops, as well as helping them find buyers. It also aims to strengthen infrastruc­ture for local law enforcemen­t. Joshua Goodman is an Associated Press writer.

 ?? Ivan Valencia / Associated Press ?? Howard Buffett receives gifts during a visit with President Ivan Duque (right) to a cocoa farm in La Gabarra, Colombia. Buffett is using part of his father’s money to fight the cocaine trade.
Ivan Valencia / Associated Press Howard Buffett receives gifts during a visit with President Ivan Duque (right) to a cocoa farm in La Gabarra, Colombia. Buffett is using part of his father’s money to fight the cocaine trade.

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