Honduras, February 20, 2024. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), through the Regional Program for the Safe Management and Disposal of Seized Drugs and Chemical Precursors (STAND), conducted a field mission in Honduras.
The main purpose of this mission was to provide specialized technical assistance in the evaluation of seized chemical inventories.
This assistance aimed to determine the physical condition, quantity, and quality of these substances, as well as to classify them correctly. All of this was done with the aim of facilitating the future implementation of a final disposal plan and reducing inventories.
In November 2023, the STAND Program presented the National Diagnostic of Capacities for the Safe Management and Disposal of Seized Drugs and Chemical Substances – Honduras, which identified that most temporary storage facilities are improvised infrastructures that have not been designed for the storage of hazardous chemicals.
For this reason, they can hardly have the appropriate conditions, both environmental and biosafety. In this context, the lack of adequate infrastructure for the safe storage of various chemical substances poses a significant risk to the environment and the people who guard them.
The lack of biosafety measures increases the possibility of leaks, spills, or contamination of soil and water, with potentially devastating consequences for local biodiversity and human health. Therefore, urgent measures are essential to address this situation and prevent irreparable damage.
During the field mission, the STAND technical team held a series of evaluation and coordination meetings with officials from the Public Prosecutor's Office, the National Directorate of Intelligence and Investigation, Forensic Medicine, Anti-Narcotics Police, and personnel from the Armed Forces.
During these meetings, practical knowledge in risk management, proper use of personal protective equipment, classification of stored chemical substances was strengthened, and advice on the correct use of technological equipment for the identification of chemical substances was provided.
In addition, paramedic teams were involved to ensure constant monitoring of the workgroups. As a result, the STAND technical team prepared a detailed report that included findings, recommendations, and a short and medium-term action plan that will serve as a guide for decision-making and the execution of final disposal exercises with cost-effective, environmentally responsible methods, and high biosafety standards to safeguard the integrity and health of people.
These actions were carried out thanks to the financial support of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the Government of the United States of America.