United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Central America and the Caribbean

SMART Conducts Diagnostic Evaluation to Implement Synthetic Drugs Early Warning System in the Republic of Suriname

Republic of Suriname, 19 July 2019. The coordinator of the global SMART programme for Latin America and the Caribbean, Luis Ruiz, together with Scientific Officer Joao Rodrigues, from UNODC Vienna forensic laboratories, conducted a diagnostic evaluation in the Republic of Suriname in order to develop an early warning system for synthetic drugs.

During this visit they held different meetings and round tables with the main actors with whom they exchanged information at the national level on cases of synthetic drugs, ranging from captures, care (whether medical or rehabilitation) related to synthetic drugs.

Meetings were held with members of the National Security Council, the National Drug Council, the National Drug Observatory, the police, forensic laboratories, customs, health authorities, non-governmental organizations, among others.

In addition, Trunarc model portable devices for drug detection, test kits for drug detection and precursors were delivered, and the police and officials of the Surinamese forensic laboratory were also trained.