Although they do not have the latest technology, agents of the Anti-Narcotics Unit of the National Police assure that their work has results and that proof of this are the tons of drugs that are seized daily in the country’s ports, airports, and highways.
“We are not going to say that we have the best technology, because it is not, we know that it is because of the country’s economy, but it is about seeking international cooperation and that is being implemented in our investigations,” said an anti-narcotics captain who It is in charge of compiling information and raising it to detect the narco-criminal organizations that operate in the country.
In the fight against drug trafficking, information systems are fundamental. Until a few years ago, anti-drug agents had to review the information of a person processed in each of the databases. Today is different.
We have a system in which we are viewing, on a single page, in a single system, all the information of a person. If that person has participated in other criminal actions, how many times, what type of vehicle does he drive, how many companies does he work for; the subject is very broad
Fausto Íñiguez, former director of the Anti-Narcotics Unit
The 25 victims left by the struggle of the ‘narcos’ to dominate the ports
This unit is also working on another system in which everything related to the ports is being collected, information from the shipping companies, the data of who sends the merchandise, what they send, how they send, in order to identify how the contaminated cargo left the ports. .
“Our work – indicated another agent – is aimed at curbing the supply issue, to prevent this substance from reaching the interior of the country. If he does not enter there would be no problem ”.
The Anti-Narcotics Unit keeps a record of the cases that each year execute and that ends with people arrested or drugs seized. The most relevant cases, for example, those of organized crime, which involve other related crimes in addition to drug trafficking, receive special judicial follow-up.
“They asked me to leave $50,000 in my house in exchange for contaminating a container,” says a former port worker
“Of the 7,000 detainees that we have reported, the Unit has reviewed 4,053, that we can identify the problems or obstacles. Criminal groups use the table (authorized drug use) in their favor and they carry amounts in accordance with the law to avoid being arrested, but they are repeat offenders and when they go to the hearing the judges give them precautionary measures, that causes us problems,” said an agent.
Of those involved, half are in pretrial detention while the prior investigation processes are being carried outformulation of charges by the Prosecutor’s Office, or the call to trial by the judges.
The other 50% are with precautionary measures, house arrest, obligation to appear in court every 15 days. According to the COIP (Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code), recidivism is an aggravating factor, but it is not applied, beneficial preventive measures are given for the offender
anti-narcotics agent
Among the detainees there are also minors. “There is a lot of incidence, they are given socio-educational measures and they are released,” commented another anti-drug investigator. Two consulted prosecutors also complained about the benevolence of some judges who do not value the evidence in the cases. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
Mario Twitchell is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his insightful and thought-provoking writing on a wide range of topics including general and opinion. He currently works as a writer at 247 news agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the industry.
