held an official ceremony for the incineration of more than 8.8 metric tons of seized drugs, as part of bilateral cooperation to combat drug trafficking and transnational organized crime.
The destroyed substances included cocaine, methamphetamine, ketamine, marijuana, as well as various chemical inputs used in the production of illicit drugs.
The event was presided over by Interior Minister Vicente Tiburcio Orbezo and U.S. Embassy's Narcotics Affairs and Law Enforcement Section (INL) Director Robert McInturff.
The U.S. official highlighted the sustained cooperation between both countries to strengthen anti-narcotics capabilities.
The ceremony was also attended by Peruvian National Police Anti-Drug Directorate (Dirandro) Director Nilton Santos Villalba; National Commission for Life Without Drugs (Devida) Executive-President Berthin Gomez; and General Directorate Against Organized Crime General Chief Silvia De la Cruz.
For the destruction of drugs, a high-temperature industrial incinerator was used, which allows for the safe and environmentally responsible disposal of illicit substances. It was donated by the INL in 2007 and valued at over US$130,000.
A large portion of the incinerated drugs was seized by Dirandro during operations supported by the INL Aviation Program.
It relies on funding of over US$2.4 million and provides air mobility and logistical support for interventions in hard-to-reach areas such as Putumayo, Loreto, and Ucayali regions.
"The destruction of more than 8.8 tons of illicit drugs reflects the strength of our partnership and the United States' commitment to working alongside Peru to combat drug trafficking," McInturff stated.
During the current year, INL's support has helped strengthen Dirandro's operational capacity, enabling more than 8,000 arrests, the seizure of 265 weapons, the interdiction of over 201 metric tons of drugs, as well as the destruction of 1,082 cocaine laboratories and 94 clandestine airstrips.
The governments of Peru and the United States reaffirmed their commitment to continue promoting joint efforts to combat drug trafficking, strengthen interdiction, and dismantle criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking.