Andina

Peru: Over 1,200 tons of salt, cement intended for drug-trafficking seized

12:51 | Lima, Oct. 28.

The National Superintendence of Customs and Tax Administration (Sunat) has seized over 1,200 tons of cement and salt so far this year, from the vicinities of coca-growing areas.

According to Sunat, these products are utilized by drug-traffickers in order to process coca leaves. 

In this sense, the institution detected the non-controlled transport of substitute products to those areas, in unusual amounts.


Likewise, Sunat indicated it carries out the confiscation of cement, salt, and other substitute products at the checkpoints located at the entry routes to coca-growing areas. 


Furthermore, Sunat informed it has seized 1,116 tons of cement and 72 tons of salt in 2019 that were intended to arrive at the Valley of Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM). In 2018, it confiscated 610 and 99 tons, respectively. 


Substitute control 

In order to fight this drug-trafficking strategy, four new substances —used for coca leaf processing— were included, on October 20, in the list of products controlled and inspected by Sunat. 

These products are: sulfamic acid, calcium chloride, sodium hydroxide, and sodium metabisulfite. 

Thus, there are 41 chemical substances that are controlled and inspected.  

(END) NDP/MAO/DTK/MVB

Published: 10/28/2019