In the context of the cooperation programme between Argentina and the United States, and with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), a high level event was held at Palacio San Martín on 15 October to discuss comprehensive strategies to respond to the challenges posed by the illicit trafficking of synthetic drugs and the diversion of precursor chemicals.
Foreign Minister Diana Mondino’s opening remarks were followed by statements by a number of high-level authorities, such as the Minister of Justice, Mariano Cúneo Libarona; the Minister of Health, Mario Lugones; the Minister of Security, Patricia Bullrich; the National General Prosecutor, Eduardo Casal; the US Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), Todd Robinson; the UNODC Regional Representative of the Andes Region and Southern Cone, Candice Welsch; and the US Ambassador to Argentina, Marc R. Stanley.
The authorities acknowledged that the illicit trafficking of synthetic drugs poses a great challenge and a major threat, and agreed on the joint efforts that are necessary to counter the illicit distribution of these drugs.
The event was held under the aegis of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, a US-led partnership of which Argentina is a participating county, along with other 160 countries around the world and 15 international organizations. The importance of this initiative lies in the fact that the only way to stop this scourge is by joining efforts at the bilateral, regional and multilateral level, as Argentina has done through international cooperation with the United States and international organizations like the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
This high-level event will be followed by a workshop to be held on 16 and 17 October, aimed at security and police officers, as well as officials from the Prosecutor's Office, the General Customs Bureau and the Secretariat for Comprehensive Policies on Drugs of the Argentine Republic (SEDRONAR). The purpose is to provide participants with tools for the early identification of new psychoactive substances and the safe dismantling of illicit laboratories producing synthetic drugs.
Since March 2023, the UNODC, through its Programme against Synthetic Drugs in Argentina (DROSINAR) and with the support of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), has trained over 1500 officials from federal and provincial institutions fighting drug crimes in the identification, investigation, criminal prosecution and dismantling of drug-trafficking networks, thereby strengthening Argentina's capabilities in this field.
Argentina thus reaffirms its commitment to the fight against this serious and changing challenge, which knows no borders and requires a joint and steadfast response. These efforts strengthen Argentina’s capabilities and consolidate a global network aimed at ensuring a safe and drug-free future for our societies.
