More than 14 tons of drugs were incinerated at the National Police's Directorate of Special Operations (Diroes) headquarters in Lima's Ate district on Tuesday —within the framework of the first drug destruction public act in 2023.
The
drugs were seized by the Anti-Drug Directorate (Dirandro) and other specialized police units throughout various operations carried out nationwide, from end-November 2022 to the first week of February 2023.
During her speech,
President Boluarte affirmed that
her administration will be firm in the fight against drug trafficking and congratulated the National Police of Peru (PNP) for its efforts fighting illicit drug trafficking.
In turn,
Minister Romero affirmed that the incineration of more than 14 tons of drugs is the outcome of the committed work by the PNP and represents a heavy blow to drug trafficking.
The Interior sector's head affirmed that in his administration there will be no truce for those criminals who are behind this illegal business.
Similarly, he remarked that the Interior sector has established a frontal fight against transnational organizations that persist in the crime of illicit drug trafficking.
The Cabinet member pointed out that the
Interior Ministry is refining the guidelines to strengthen the fight against drug micro-trafficking.
He also announced that the goal is to destroy 21,000 hectares of illegal coca crops —the raw material for these drugs— by 2023.
Incinerated drugs
During this first process of 2023, 1,277 bags containing narcotics, such as cocaine hydrochloride, cocaine paste, Cannabis sativa (marijuana), and synthetic drugs were incinerated. These were removed from the streets as they represented a latent danger to society in general.
In detail, 14,215 kilograms of drugs were destroyed consisting of: 4,948.9 kilograms of basic cocaine paste; 539.5 kilograms of mixed cocaine base paste; 5,523.1 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride; 41.5 kilograms of mixed cocaine hydrochloride; 3,161.1 kilograms of marijuana; 3.3 kilograms of opium latex; and 0.6 kilograms of amphetamine derivatives.
According to police reports, the largest confiscations of basic cocaine paste and cocaine hydrochloride were conducted by the anti-drug departments in Callao, Ucayali, Amazonas, Cusco, and Puno regions.
Last January, in Callao region about three tons of drugs were seized inside a precarious house, which were to be sent by sea to various parts of Europe (Spain, Belgium, and the Netherlands).