03/03/2024 – 16:14
Human trafficking, corruption, environmental destruction: recently signed agreements with Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru aim to break the spiral of violence generated by drug trafficking, announces German Minister of the Interior. Germany announced this Sunday (03/03) that it had signed bilateral agreements with four South American countries, including Brazil, aiming to strengthen police collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking cartels.
“I am very pleased to have been able to conclude important agreements with Brazil, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia this week”, which will allow “direct operational cooperation”, commented Interior Minister Nancy Faeser in a statement, at the end of a tour of North America. South.
Most of the drugs consumed in Europe come from Latin America. In 2023, the port of Antwerp, Belgium, one of the main entry points into the continent for cartels, intercepted a record quantity of 116 tons of cocaine. In Rotterdam, Netherlands, 59 tons were confiscated, and in Germany, 35.
Preserving Germany from the spiral of violence
The multi-million dollar drug trafficking business leads to an “incredible spiral of violence, which we are also experiencing in parts of Europe and want to avoid in Germany at any cost”, emphasized Faeser: “The massive demand for cocaine in Europe contributes to brutal violence, trafficking human rights, corruption and environmental destruction in countries of origin and transit.”
In the case of Brazil, it was agreed to carry out joint investigations. In Peru, the social democratic policy signed a declaration of intent with President Dina Boluarte, towards a security agreement.
For the first time, Germany will assign an employee from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (BKA) to Ecuador, despite the “tense security situation” in the South American nation, in order to exchange information directly with local authorities. Berlin also reinforced police cooperation with Colombia, through an official joint statement.
av (AFP,EFE)
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