File is not found

Launch of the regional program for the strengthening of capacities related to maritime interdictions and the prosecution of maritime crime in all its forms in Panama

Panama, December 16, 2020. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime for Central America and the Caribbean (UNODC ROPAN) launched the regional program for strengthening capacities related to maritime interdictions and the prosecution of maritime crime in all its forms.

The objective of this program is to work together with the counterparts of the beneficiary country, Panama, which will be the Aquatic Resources Authority, the Maritime Authority, the Attorney General's Office, the Ministry of Security and the directors of the security agencies.

In the virtual event held to present the program, José Vila del Castillo, UNODC Regional Representative, offered the words of welcome: "Narcotics trafficking in the Western Hemisphere does not occur in isolation from other illegal trafficking. Maritime traffic of migrants, illegal transfer of weapons, attacks and robberies in territorial waters, money laundering and maritime traffic of precursors, see the same criminal organizations involved and are committed when transporting narcotics by sea routes from producing countries to transit and destination countries".

The Representative explained that "UNODC GMPC will implement actions aimed at promoting judicial cooperation, strengthening regional capacities related to training and river operations and maintenance of the maritime fleet in the four countries covered by the program: Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia and Ecuador.

On her part, Francesca Caonero, UNODC GMC Program Coordinator, was in charge of informing in more detail about the objectives of the program and the Minister of Security, Juan Manuel Pino, gave the closing speech.