U.S. Ambassador to Peru Krishna R. Urs and
Peruvian Attorney General Zoraida Avalos attended the inauguration of the first Decentralized Laboratory of the Public Ministry's Expertize Department in Puerto Maldonado, the capital of rainforest Madre de Dios region.
The laboratory will be used to conduct investigations of organized crime, environmental offences, as well as
illegal logging and mining in southern Peru.
Ambassador Urs handed over a donation of high-tech equipment —valued at US$700,000— to Avalos in order to implement the state-of-the-art forensic lab facilities.
The donation includes a scanner capable of recreating crime scenes through virtual reality, satellite remote sensing equipment, a spectrometer to analyze various substances, a drone capable of detecting a person 100 meters away, and a variety of analysis consumables.
"We are sure this donation will help experts from the Prosecutor's Office with the investigation of environmental crimes," the U.S Ambassador said during the handing-over ceremony.
"Moreover, it will allow the Peruvian Government to continue with the success story as part of the Mercury Operation, which is an example of its commitment to safeguarding the Amazon rainforest and fighting organized crime," he added.
Mr. Urs affirmed that Peru can always rely on the United States as a partner and friend that is willing to help in the fight for peace, justice, and sustainable development, as well as in the strengthening of the rule of law.
This high-end equipment will be used to assess forest crimes, illegal logging and forest predation, environmental crimes, including illegal mining and environmental pollution, cybercrimes committed by assistance of cell phones, audio recording equipment and computers, accounting frauds such as money laundering and corruption, ballistic crimes, as well as in handwriting and forgery examinations.
(END) NDP/RMB/MVB
Publicado: 15/1/2020