The United States Ambassador to Peru, Brian A. Nichols highlighted the fact that Peru managed to reduce coca crops by 14% and highlighted the progress represents a "hard blow" to transnational crime.
"This is great progress,” the Ambassador pointed out.
According to the diplomat, Peru has "successfully" implemented its antinarcotics programs. Likewise, illegal coca crop eradication means a "hard blow to transnational crime," he told Andina news agency.
According to the report presented by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in 2014 Peru achieved to reduce the coca growing area by 13.9% (from 49,800 ha to 42900 ha).
Ambassador Nichols reminded the United States' commitment to Peru in the fight against drug-trafficking.
"We are collaborating by providing support through economic resources and Intelligence training for conducting investigations," the diplomat assured.
The training is also based on the contribution to enhancing the Peruvian Armed Forces’ Intelligence unit on destructing clandestine landing strips in remote areas.
Mr. Nichols said the United States feels "completely comfortable with Peru's interdiction policy."
In this framework, the U.S. Government will continue working jointly with the National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs (Devida), Special Project for Control and Reduction of Illegal Coca Cultivation in Alto Huallaga (Corah) and Peru's Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (Minagri).
"We will continue working on this […]," he assured.
Mistura Gastronomic Fair: Alternative products
Additionally, Mr. Nichols confirmed his participation in the next edition of Peruvian "Mistura" gastronomic fair to be held in Lima on September 4-13.
In the famous Peruvian event, he will promote the consumption of VRAEM-harvested chocolates.
The VRAEM is the Valley of the rivers Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro Rivers.
The Peruvian and U.S. governments have joined efforts to support the alternative product development program, which intends to replace coca crops with legal plantations, such as: cocoa, coffee, and pineapple. This trade could boost revenue for the area farmers, so they do not engage in the illegal activity.
(END) JRM/CCR/RGR