The head of the government-run National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs (Devida) Alberto Otarola said pacification of the Valley of the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro rivers (Vraem) will take place soon and that there are solid reasons to be optimistic this goal can be reached.
In addition to the military operation, in which Comrade Antonio –one of the biggest drug traffickers in the Vraem area– is believed to have been taken down, a whole series of actions have been taken by the government to combat drug trafficking in the this part of the country.
He said that, according to a notebook seized from Comrade “Antonio”, there are still some 50 drug traffickers operating in the said rural area.
“The government’s goal is to pacify Vraem and I think this is about to happen; there is room for optimism,” he told Andina news agency.
Otarola mentioned that a reaction from drug trafficking groups is expected as a result of security forces’ offensive actions in that zone.
However, he noted, the Executive Branch will continue to apply a comprehensive strategy to fight this scourge.
(END) SMA/CCR/RMB/MVB
Published: 9/8/2015