PURPOSE
The area of Drug Supply Reduction (DSR) is also key in the COPOLAD framework, which works, already since its first phase, in promoting the exchange of information and intelligence, in addition to good practices and learned lessons, between the different actors involved in the CELAC and the EU, with the purpose of having more effective policies that generate more specific and effective responses posed by the threat of transnational criminal organisations.
DSR activities in COPOLAD are divided in three main lines of action:
- Strengthening cooperation on the control of Chemical Precursors diversion for the illicit manufacture of drugs.
- Law enforcement monitoring.
- Alternative Development.
Chemical precursors
Precursor diversion represents a huge threat to the illicit manufacture of drugs in today’s transnational reality, characterized by the great adaptability of criminal organizations in order to avoid control and tax mechanisms.
This requires that all actors involved in the prevention and fight against this illegal activity carry out a comprehensive strategic approach and maximize cooperation and information exchange, both at regional and bi-regional levels.
COPOLAD seeks to strengthen cooperation and to enhance the capacity of CELAC countries to gather, manage, prevent and monitor information on chemical precursors in order to design and implement effective policies and programmes to face the growing challenges posed by the illicit manufacture of synthetic drugs, promoting the exchange of information and intelligence, as well as best practices between anti-narcotic police units, national drug control bodies, forensic laboratories and Public Prosecutors Offices, with an active involvement of the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS).
Law enforcement monitoring
Most CELAC countries have a long-standing experience in this field, and there are also different relevant EU cooperation programmes, as well as other projects funded by other institutions to be considered. Therefore, COPOLAD activities will complement, consolidate and further expand, at a regional level, already existing and future initiatives.
LE activities aim at complementing and coordinating efforts to enhance legal reforms providing alternatives to incarceration; and to further strengthen policies devoted to the control of transnational organized crime as a major player in drug-related problems.
Alternative Development
AD is included in the EU Drugs Strategy 2013-20, addressing crops destined for the illegal drug trade by means of rural development. AD seeks to tackle the root causes such as poverty, food insecurity, lack of access to arable land and to markets, as well as to legal income opportunities.
The level of knowledge with regard to AD is heterogeneous among CELAC countries. While the Andean countries have implemented AD for more than a decade, AD experience in other Latin American and Caribbean countries is scarce or non-existent. Some countries have requested technical advice from the EU, enabling the sharing of best practices from a rural development perspective.
OPERATIONAL OBJECTIVES
Specific Objective
To attain a significant number of CELAC countries using instruments and endorsing methods and processes identified though the information exchange and capacity building activities oriented at reducing dug supply, based upon principles of human rights, social development and public security.
Lines of work
Capacity-building and exchange of best practices in law enforcement and precursors
- Seminars on money laundering, cocaine trafficking routes and identification of best practices in alternative treatments to prisons.
- Capacity building and exchange of information/intelligence and best practices in the field of precursor control. Promotion of cooperation between Agencies and with the chemical industry, and support and optimisation of capacities in precursors diversion.
Alternative development
- Exchange of good practices and capacity building
- Increase of sustainable AD interventions
- Improvement of the available evidence with the development of a study in this field