The Attorney General of the Nation, Javier Caraballo, and the Minister of Public Security, Juan Manuel Pino, announced this Friday that the 41.28 tons of drugs seized by the public force in recent months will be incinerated in the United States, to prevent Panama from incinerating open-air drugs.
Caraballo explained that the open burning of illicit substances generates very negative consequences for the environment and the communities surrounding the places where these incinerations take place.
He added that Panama is preparing to have adequate tools for the destruction of drugs, however, the incineration of the drug seized in recent months and that reaches a record number is urgent.
Meanwhile, Minister Pino declared: “We want to root out the contamination caused every time drugs are burned in the open. We need to guarantee a healthy environment and this is a concrete action for the benefit of all.”
He stressed that the purpose of the mission to transfer the cocaine to the United States is to incinerate the drug that accumulates in the warehouses of the security forces.
During the transfer of the drug in an Air Force plane there will be the presence of the security forces, the prosecutor Javier Caraballo and the Drug Prosecutor’s Office.
Under current cooperation mechanisms with the United States Embassy, the transfer of the cocaine was coordinated at no cost to Panama, a procedure also used by the authorities in Costa Rica and which has been effective and convenient.
The statements of both officials were given during Ceremony No. 25 of Destruction of 1,002 firearms and 36,331 ammunition, seized in different proceedings carried out together with security forces.
