The Ministry of Communications of Guatemala tenders the supply of drug detectors and explosives for La Aurora International Airport.
Guatemala Government Purchase 9710760:
"Some specifications of the equipment required:
Types of Narcotics: Amphetamines, Buprenorphine, Carfentanil, Cocaine, Fentanyl, Methamphetamines, Morphine, THC (also known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), among others, in case a new explosive or narcotic arises that can be incorporated into the memory of the equipment through the conduit and at no additional cost.
The unprecedented increase in violence in Costa Rica, once an oasis of peace in the region, is another sign of the failure of the traditional methods of fighting drugs.
EDITORIAL
More powerful than the Central American states, drug trafficking is on the rise not only in terms of an increased supply of drugs in the countries in the region, but through its permeation of institutions using the power of money and generating a growing culture of violence that is making Central America´s lack of a death penalty seem risible. Yes it does exist, but the worst part about it is that it is not institutionalized justice systems that implement it, but the mob bosses, pointing out -to ever younger executioners- the people who should be executed.
Due to failures in the operation of the 7 radars already installed, the government has decided to suspend implementation of the $120 million project with the Italian company Selex, a subsidiary of Finmeccanica.
From a statement issued by the Presidency of Panama:
The Government of the Republic of Panama, in its goal of protecting the interests of the Panamanian government, has decided to suspend development of the radar project being carried out by the company Selex of the Finmeccanica conglomerate due to "serious deficiencies in the performance of the installed equipment."
The government confirmed the $30 million purchase of a 360 degrees capacity radar and two additional small ones.
This was announced by Chief of the Armed Forces of Honduras, René Osorio, who added that the radars bought in Israel will arrive in the country in late January.
"The purchase was made via financing with a maturity of 10 years and the equipment will be installed at strategic points in the Central American country," noted an article in Proceso.hn.
The National Council for Defence and Security plans to spend $30 million on three radars to detect aircraft entering the country illegally.
The equipment will be acquired through a loan with a ten year payment plan which is expected to arrive in the country later this year, and will be used to combat drug trafficking activities, said René Osorio, head of the Joint Chiefs of the Armed Forces.
The government of Honduras will pay $49 million plus another $13 million in interest on the 13 year rent of two corvettes and six ultra fast boats designed to combat drug trafficking.
The direct purchase transaction has stirred controversy in the Honduran political arena, where it was stated that there was no declaration of emergency justifying the lack of an international tender.
Crime and violence associated with drug trafficking brings with it overwhelming economic costs, estimated at about 8% of GDP.
In this illegal activity, that in the 90's was centered in the Caribbean but has migrated to Central America, cartels move about 300 tons of cocaine to North America, valued at $38 billion.
According to the National Civil Police, between 2008 and 2011 40,000 murders were committed in the country, of which a high percentage are related to drug trafficking.
At a meeting in Honduras, the region's heads of state agreed to discuss the decriminalization of drugs.
The initiative was proposed by Otto Perez Molina, president of Guatemala, who emphasized the need to seek "alternative mechanisms" to combat drug trafficking.
The leaders of Panama, El Salvador and Honduras said they were against decriminalization, but were open to discussing the issue.
Lack of investment and development has triggered the establishment of criminal gangs in the border areas of Panama, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
This was one of the findings of a study by the Institute of Strategic Studies and Public Policies (IEEPP). Javier Meléndez, advisor of the Institute, commented that “Organized crime has profited from these vulnerabilities, by providing ‘job’ opportunities for the local population, which ends up contributing to the logistics and operations of trafficking drug between Colombia and United States”.
The United States will donate $4.4 million to combat drug trafficking and organized crime.
The resources will be used to assist in enforcing Honduras’ anti-drug law and border control inspections.
“Additionally, they will conduct educational programs for youngsters vulnerable to be recruited by criminal gangs, communal development programs, community police and prison management reforms”, reported Tiempo.hn.
A joint $953 million plan to fight crime developed by Central America and Mexico, will be presented to the United States on May.
According to the Central American Integration Secretary (SICA), Mexico and Central America require $803 million to fight crime, $120 million for prevention and rehabilitation and $30 million to strengthen institutions.
From Laprensagrafica.com: “The war against drug trafficking requires the most resources ($200 million), followed by organized crime ($130 million), police topics ($90 million), gangs ($60 million), murders ($60 million), illegal traffic of weapons ($48 million), and corruption ($60 million)”.
Authorities from the Central American countries have gathered in El Salvador in order to coordinate joint border security efforts.
Manuel Melgar, Salvadoran Justice Minister, stated that these efforts should be geared towards stopping drug dealing and organized crime.
“We must review how to strengthen border controls, not only at the points of entry, but also along the borders, specially at illegal entry points used by dealers and illegal aliens”, commented Alvarado.
Brazil gave Guatemala a 12-year loan for the purchase of six Super Tucano Embraer aircraft and radars from Taiwan.
The Brazilian Export Bank confirmed the loan during the Brazilian President’s visit to Guatemala.
The credit will be applied toward the purchase of an aerial surveillance system and aerial interception in which the fighters are linked to a radar and satellite information system to help combat drug trafficking.