LIMA, Aug 15 (NNN-ANDINA) — Prime Minister Alberto Otarola stressed that Peru and the United States have unblocked the interdiction of aircraft suspected of engagement in drug-trafficking activities, and warned that law enforcement will act without hesitation against them.
The high-ranking official affirmed this represents a historic consensus, since it will allow the Peruvian Air Force, after 20 years, to receive U.S. cooperation in this modality for the fight against illicit drug trafficking.
This will include radars, intelligence, financing, communications, maintenance, training, as well as logistical, technical, and administrative support to strengthen actions against illicit drug trafficking, he indicated.
“Thus, Peru will be able to exercise and use non-lethal aerial interdiction. The (criminal) organizations and drug cartels are notified,” Otarola said.
“The country will start an intense fight against the entry of illegal light aircraft that violate our skies. We will act without hesitation to intercept them,”he added.
This effort is part of the policies announced by President Dina Boluarte in order to strengthen the fight against drugs, Otarola indicated.
“This also means reducing the coca growing area, as irresponsible previous governments have left us with 100,000 hectares of coca. We are going to work starting this week in Putumayo (province in Loreto region), which is another area in which organized criminal organizations are acting with impunity,” he said.
Likewise, efforts are redoubled with Ecuador and other neighboring countries to reinforce this topic.
The resumption of the interdiction process is the outcome of negotiations led by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense, with the participation of the Transportation-Communications and Interior sectors. — NNN-ANDINA
