Abstract

GONZALEZ FORERO, Rosalina; KAVOURAS, Jerry  and  GONZALEZ RUIZ, Érika. New analysis methodology to determine the environmental crime of ecocide by glyphosate in permanent coca crops in Colombia. Rev. Crim. [online]. 2025, vol.67, n.2, pp.49-62.  Epub Oct 18, 2025. ISSN 1794-3108.  https://doi.org/10.47741/17943108.645.

Transnational organised crime has been harmful for the Colombian territory, especially that associated with coca production in the last decade, which has generated economic and social impacts due to an increase of the conflict and insecurity in the areas of influence of the crop. This is due to the fact that in 2023, 230,000 hectares were sown, representing 20 % of the country’s surface area, with an environmental impact that has not been quantified in criminal terms. This requires actions by state entities, as well as international cooperation, in order to adapt strategies and be able to prosecute these crimes that affectgenerations of people, with new forensic techniques. In the present work, a new methodology was applied by monitoring microbial metabolic activity over time, using EcoPlatos. This novel technique for the country was the result of the synergy between the Universidad de La Salle (Bogotá) and its Lasallian ally Lewis University, and was applied to three soil samples from reserves, industrial parks and agricultural fields with more than fifteen years of application of the chemical, under standard techniques. Cell growth was analysed using EcoPlatos, which made it possible to establish the utilisation of carbon substrates by soil micro-organisms and to demonstrate the definitive loss of key species for the food chains. With this evidence, ecocide could be typified, as what is caused at the base of the biome is undeniable and extends to the other species in the chain.

Keywords : Environmental crime; microbial communities; anthropogenic impact; soils.

        · abstract in Spanish | Portuguese     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )