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Training on data culture, price information systems and illicit drug markets addressed to 27 officials in Guatemala

Guatemala, May 11, 2023. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) through the Regional Program for the Secure Management and Disposal of Seized Drugs and Chemical Precursors (STAND) in coordination with the Integrated Illicit Crop Monitoring System Project (SIMCI) conducted a specialized training on price information systems and illicit drug markets, and data culture, which strengthened the knowledge of 27 public officials of the National Civil Police (PNC), Executive Secretariat of the Commission Against Addictions and Illicit Drug Trafficking (SECCATID), Superintendence of Tax Administration of Guatemala (SAT), National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF), Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) and Ministry of the Interior (MINGOB).

Drug trafficking is a global industry that operates through highly complex distribution and production networks. Its negative impact on security, public health and the economy makes it essential to generate efficient strategies for its control and mitigation. Illicit drug price and market information systems are tools that allow for more accurate and real-time monitoring of this illicit industry, facilitating evidence-based decision making.

In this regard, the Regional STAND Program, funded by the United States Government's International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Section (INL), addressed the following topics: Generalities of illicit drugs; chemical substance measurement units and the international system of units; price monitoring and data culture; and the importance of geography in the conceptualization of databases on drugs and related crimes.

These actions allow public officials to understand the relevance of data in the context of the illicit drug problem. In addition, standardizing the databases will allow the creation of monitoring systems and illicit crops and visualize the areas of greatest incidence in the territory, issue early warnings and measure the problem in a clear, reliable and effective manner. This makes it possible for Member States to issue international reports on drug seizures; identify the danger to health and the population, as well as the application of fair and proportional criminal sentences.

Research and analytical information on global drug and crime problems enables the international community to identify drug and crime control priorities. UNODC provides trend and policy analysis and publishes data and information on the world drug and crime situation. Learn more by visiting https://dataunodc.un.org/content/country-list.