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Open Secret
Photograph by Carlos Villalón
On the flat expanse of a soccer field in the middle of the town of Monserrate, a farmer dries his cocaine base in the sun. With most people breaking the law here, there's no need to hide. On farms all over the region, workers mix freshly picked coca leaves with water, cement, lime, and kerosene to extract the cocaine alkaloids. After the leaves and water are drained off, diluted sulfuric acid is added to separate out the kerosene, and sodium carbonate thickens what's left to a wet, gray paste. Further processing creates the powdery substance known as base. Thorough drying is essential—dealers won't buy base that's heavy with moisture.
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Camera: Canon EOS 1
Film Type: Fujicolor 400
Lens: 28mm f/11 Canon
Speed and F-Stop: Unrecorded |
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Weather Conditions: Dry
Time of Day: Noon
Lighting Techniques: Natural light |
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