Enhancing Colombia's Information Exchange Capacity to Combat Global Trafficking of Dangerous Substances
From March 12th to 14th, 2024, Bogotá, Colombia - The International Narcotics Control Board's (INCB) Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme organized a comprehensive training session focused on awareness-raising, safe handling, interdiction techniques, and information exchange via INCB's global communication systems for Colombian officers. A group of 25 officers from Colombia's National Police Anti-Narcotics Directorate (DIRAN), National Narcotics Fund (FNE), Ministry of Health, and prosecutor's office participated in this three-day event, which was hosted by the National Tax and Customs Directorate's school in Bogotá.
Photo: Government representatives presenting trends and challenges in Colombia
In the opening ceremony, Mr. Darlyn Andres Marin Morales, Chief Inspector with the DIRAN, underscored the critical importance of international cooperation in combating the trafficking of dangerous substances. He also commended the relentless efforts of Colombian authorities in executing their duties under the framework of the Esmeralda Strategy, which aims to comprehensively impact all strategic and operational dimensions, thereby increasing prosecutions, arrests, and diminishing the flow of drugs through evidence-based interventions.
Government representatives provided updates on current trends and challenges pertaining to drug trafficking within Colombia, showcasing various successful seizures, including those involving fentanyl and other illicit substances.
The GRIDS Programme's Regional Technical Officer (RTO) delivered a comprehensive training session on the Project ION Incident Communication System (IONICS) and the GRIDS Intelligence HD tool, crucial for bolstering both domestic and international trafficking investigations. Furthermore, a dedicated session on safe handling and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) usage for opioids and other dangerous substances served to reinforce participants' knowledge and ensure their safety through adherence to fundamental protective measures.
Photo: Practical exercise
On the third day, participants were privileged to visit the DIRAN's Chemical Laboratory of the International Center for Strategic Studies against Drug Trafficking, where they received insightful presentations on recent findings and were treated to live demonstrations of tests and analyses conducted in support of DIRAN's operational endeavors.
Photo: On-site visit to the DIRAN's Chemical Laboratory of the International Center for Strategic study against Drug Trafficking
The Board's Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous Substances (GRIDS) Programme and Project ION and OPIOIDS Project support Governments' capacity to respond to changing trafficking, illicit manufacture, marketing and sales of NPS, non-medical synthetic opioids and fentanyl-related substances by providing real-time communication, facilitating information exchange and intelligence development that interdict distribution of dangerous substances.
This event was organized in collaboration with the Spanish National Police and was made possible through generous support from the United States of America's Department of State Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
Click here to learn more about the GRIDS Programme
Click here to learn more about the OPIOIDS Project
Click here to learn more about the Project ION