Dominican Republic shared his progress in the fight against the new psychoactive substances (NSP) at a high-level meeting held in Brussels, where 42 national drug agencies and diplomatic representatives of the CELAC and the European Union.
The day focused on the exchange of technical knowledge and good practices, addressing topics such as strengthening Early Warning Systems (SAT) in Latin America and the Caribbean, the heritage investigations against drug trafficking and the social use of seized assets.
The country was represented by president of the National Drug Council (CND), Major General Jaime Marte Martínez (sp), who highlighted the importance of biregional cooperation in the fight against drugs, as a fundamental axis against drug trafficking and the control of emerging substances.
Marte Martínez spoke about the efforts of the Dominican Republic to strengthen the Early Warning System (SAT-RD), as well as the control mechanisms of chemical precursorsin collaboration with agencies of the European Union and the Cooperation Mechanism and Coordination on Drugs (MCCMD) EU/CELACunderlining the country’s commitment to comprehensively detecting and combating the various forms of trafficking.
During the meeting, the head of the governing body for drug policies highlighted the relevance of the international collaboration in the fight against trafficking and consumption of psychoactive substances:
“The active participation of the Dominican Republic In these international forums, it not only reinforces its strategic position, but also allows it to consolidate its national policies, as well as strengthen prevention mechanisms,” said Marte Martínez.
He added that the appearance of new synthetic drugs in the region, presents a growing challenge that impacts our communities.
Furthermore, he stressed that the exchange of technical experiences In these meetings, it strengthens the capacities of the national authoritiesallowing them to respond more effectively to the emergence of new substances in the illicit market.
Thanks to this initiative, the Dominican Republic is emerging as a regional reference in the detection and control of new substancesmarking an important milestone to ensure the public health and the well-being of citizens.
Along with Marte Martínez, were the director of the Dominican Drug Observatory (ODD), Major General Yuris Ruiz Villalona (sp); Iván Ogando Lora, Dominican Ambassador before the Kingdom of Belgium, and Ellen Martínez, minister advisor.
Co-presidency of the Mechanism
In this context, the participation of the Dominican Republic takes on special relevance, since in 2025 it will assume the co-presidency of the Cooperation Mechanism in Drug Matters CELAC-EU, consolidating its role in the policy formulation anti-drugs between Latin America and Europe.
This shared leadership with the European Union will open new opportunities to strengthen strategic links with European and regional counterparts, promoting collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking and the control of new psychoactive substances.
It is remembered that, in the Seventy-ninth General Assembly of the United Nations, the Dominican Republicrepresented by his presidentLuis Abinader Corona, was selected to lead in the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) efforts related to problematic of the New Psychoactive Substances (NSP), in collaboration with Brussels, which will represent the European Union.
