Andina

Peru: Police destroy over 19 tons of drugs seized in Aug-Oct 2020

Photo: ANDINA/National Police of Peru (PNP)

Photo: ANDINA/National Police of Peru (PNP)

15:31 | Lima, Nov. 30.

More than 19 tons of drugs —seized during various police operations held between August and October this year— are being destroyed as of today at the National Police Special Operations Unit (Diroes) headquarters in Lima's Ate district.

The burnt narcotics include 9,132 kg of cocaine paste, 4,249 kg of cocaine hydrochloride, 5,710 kg of marijuana, 9 kg of opium, as well as 53 kg of amphetamine derivatives, such as ecstasy, and other synthetic drugs. 

Before their incineration, the narcotics (19,154 kg in total) had been placed at the warehouse of the Interior Ministry (Mininter) since August 24.


The event marking the beginning of the incineration process was attended by the head of Mininter's Directorate General Against Organized Crime, Oscar Gonzales, who highlighted the police's work in the fight against illicit drug trafficking in the country.
 
"With this act —which constitutes the final stage of the fight against illicit drug trafficking— the State and its authorities reaffirm their commitment to combating this scourge, which causes so much damage to the population, even in times of pandemic," he said.
 
According to the police report, the largest seizures of cocaine paste were made by anti-drug departments in the Valley of Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro Rivers (VRAEM) within the regions of Cusco and Ayacucho.

Meanwhile, the largest seizure of cocaine hydrochloride was made by anti-drug agents from Pucallpa, Mazamari, and Vraem-Cusco; whereas the biggest seizures of Cannabis sativa, or marijuana, took place in the regions of La Libertad and Piura.

                        
The incineration session was held by the Committee for the Destruction of Drugs Seized in Illicit Traffic, which is chaired by Interior Minister Ruben Vargas and made up of representatives of the Judiciary, the Public Ministry, the National Police of Peru, and a notary public.

The destruction of illegal goods takes place in response to a Government-led comprehensive policy to combat drug trafficking in the country.

(END) NDP/SRE/RRC/RMB/MVB

Published: 11/30/2020