06/06/2008
25,000 kilograms of narcotics seized in 2008 alone
Venezuela and the United Kingdom strengthen alliance to fight illicit drugs

(Press Office of the Ministry of the People’s Power for Foreign Affairs) -  Last Thursday 5 June, the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister, Nicolás Maduro Moros, met at his office HE Catherine Royle, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Venezuela, in order to assess the progress made in the bilateral agenda, particularly the alliance to fight drugs trafficking.

The meeting was also attended by The People’s Power Minister for Home Affairs,  Ramón Rodríguez Chacín, the Head of the National Antinarcotics Office (ONA, Spanish acronym), Néstor Reverol and the (a) Deputy Minister for Asia and the Middle East, Temir Porras, and the Deputy Minister for Europe, Alejandro Flemming.

At the end of the meeting, Minister Maduro Moros said that the whole relations agenda with the United Kingdom was discussed: “We have moved forward considerably with the fight against drugs trafficking with concrete achievements, using intensive medium and long-term joint work plans through specialized bodies in the fight against this crime, based on respect and permanent cooperation, the way it must be.”

During the meeting other subjects were also addressed, such as cooperation in the field of agriculture and food production, particularly in relation to milk, strengthening of capabilities, training and research.

The meeting also focused on cooperation in the field of alternative energies, and both countries evaluated the adverse effects of climate change.

Other subjects evaluated were cooperation in the fields of education, culture, and security. In relation to the latter, Foreign Affairs Minister Maduro Moros said: “We are establishing alliances in terms of the enforcement of the National Police Law, the training of law enforcement authorities, the restructuring of the penitentiary system that is already under way. In this area, British have a good expertise.”

Head-on fight against drugs trafficKing

“Venezuela cooperates with many European, Latin American and Caribbean countries in the fight against drugs trafficking,” stressed the Foreign Affairs Minister.

Ambassador Royle reaffirmed the position and vision of her Government in this respect: “We have worked for long with the ONA, the National Guard and the Investigation Police (CICPC, Spanish acronym), and indeed we have received much cooperation, a great impression and professionalism. Therefore, we are vey glad to work together in this fight against a problem affecting the whole world.”

Home Affairs Minister Ramón Rodríguez Chacín said that at the meeting the drugs traffic issues and the legitimisation of capitals stood out as important topics of discussion. This makes the cooperation with consumer countries that receive drugs trafficked through Venezuela a goal of paramount importance.

“Coordinated efforts have raised the efficiency of the work performed. This is possible due to the fact that countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Russia and Portugal have opened their doors to facilitate different connections,” the Home Affairs Minister added.

To the Head of the National Anti-narcotics Office, Néstor Reverol, the strategic alliance is a key component of a decisive fight against the drugs trafficking. Therefore, “all bodies and countries have to create a big network within the spirit of a shared responsibility,” he said.

During the present year alone, in Venezuela over 25 tons of drugs have been seized and  2,500 people have been indicted. These figures reaffirm the current fight against this problem, added Reverol.