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News > Latin America

Evo Morales: Bolivia Will Present Anti-Drug Achievements

  • Bolivia's President Evo Morales speaks with journalists at the presidential palace in La Paz September 16.

    Bolivia's President Evo Morales speaks with journalists at the presidential palace in La Paz September 16. | Photo: Reuters

Published 20 September 2015
Opinion

In the past four years, anti-drug forces ran almost 10,000 operations, in which they seized about 22 tons of cocaine.

Bolivian President Evo Morales affirmed Sunday that his country will demonstrate it is willing to fight drug-trafficking, referring to the recent criticisms issued by Washington.

“We will demonstrate to the world countries the good attitude of Bolivia regarding drug policies,” said the president, recalling that defending life and supporting international anti-drug campaigns was a “national duty.”

Morales made the comments during the inauguration of the new Center of Special Operations of the Mobile Unit of Rural Patrol, in San Juan de Yapacani, in the eastern department of Santa Cruz.

He also recalled the hard work carried out during his administration to fight drug trade and drug production. Minister of Interior Carlos Romero highlighted that almost 10,000 operations against drug-related crime had been executed in the past four years, in which about 22 tons of cocaine had been seized, and 15 landing lanes, used in the transport of drugs, destroyed.

RELATED: Bolivia Disputes US Claims About Drug Policy

The new center, partially funded by the European Union, has a capacity of 200 troops. It will function as a base for tactical specialized training, with laboratories and investigation offices, a point of medical assistance – also made available for the rest of the population, among others.

The remarks also come after President Obama’s administration said last week that Bolivia is one of the nations along with Myanmar and Venezuela that have ‘’demonstrably failed’’ to curb the illegal activity.

In August, the United Nations said Bolivia had reduced the amount of land planted with coca for the fourth year running, down 11 percent in a year.

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