The President of Guatemala has again stated in international forums the need to radically reform anti drug policies.
From a statement issued by the Government of Guatemala:
A Guatemala Commission is to propose legalizing marijuana and poppy for medicinal use
The Guatemalan president, Otto Perez Molina, said today in Panama, after participating in the first plenary of the World Economic Forum on Latin America, that later this year, the National Commission for Reform of Drug Policy could suggest that a bill be presented to Congress to legalize marijuana and poppies for medicinal use in the country.
Inflamed with imperialist verve when with his peers in his own backyard, Daniel Ortega has in the U.S. a major economic partner and a firm ally in security.
An article in Elnuevodiario.com.ni notes that President Daniel Ortega went in a week from asserting "... the government of Panama to be a 'spokesman for interests of the empire', referring to the United States and regarding its position on the situation of violence in Venezuela" to deporting " ... the Cuban American Ana Sol Alliegro, wanted by the FBI for illegal campaign donations, among other crimes. "
The state prosecutor has signalled the penetration of drug trafficking organizations in the Panamanian economy and in political institutions.
According to the prosecutor, Ana Belfon, during her first year of work she has perceived an increased penetration of organized crime into the economy and institutions of the Panamanian government.
"No wonder drug traffickers can penetrate institutions, since they have practically created a parallel economy," Belfon said.
Juan Orlando Hernández has assumed the presidency of a country affected by a serious fiscal deterioration, criminal violence and lack of public and private investment.
The new president of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernández, assumes command of the country in a very complex environment, where the lack of adequate infrastructure, high fiscal deficits and deteriorating social conditions seriously affect the country's competitiveness internationally.
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.
In the search for alternatives to the failed traditional fight against drug trafficking, the Government of Guatemala studies the possibility of producing poppy in a legal and controlled manner.
President Otto Perez Molina's was the only voice raised in the Western Hemisphere in support of the Government of Uruguay's sedition in authorizing the production and controlled use of marijuana.
A draft bill proposes that the state seize goods from money laundering and other illicit activities.
"The suggestion has been raised to create a law that relates to forfeitures, because there is so much income and assets being generated, but we do not know what to do with those assets" said Ana Belfon, from the Attorney General's Office.
"Between April 2012 and June 2013 alone, the Statistics Center of Public Prosecutions recorded $1.3 million apprehended by the prosecutor specializing in organized crime," noted an article in Capital.com.pa.
The standard allows the state to seize assets related to illicit operations based on tax fraud, money laundering, drug trafficking or organized crime.
Salvadoran Congress also agreed to add the crimes of fraud along with those of public finances and corruption to the Special Law on Forfeiture and Management of Property of Illicit Origin or Destination.
A short-term plan is being prepared to improve the investment climate and lift objections from U.S. Congress to fund the delivery of the Millennium Challenge Corporation
The information was confirmed by the U.S. ambassador to El Salvador, Mari Carmen Aponte. Both governments are working on concrete actions in the short term to allow for these improvements.
Experts consider that real estate, physical and virtual casinos, and failed businesses have conditions for being used in money laundering activities.
An article in Prensalibre.cr, reports that Luis Amador, Chairman of the Compliance Committee of the Costa Rican Banking Association (ABC), said: "From the economic activities that we identified as most at risk, the real estate sector is where the most money is laundered.
Guatemala's foreign minister in Europe has proposed a transition to the regulation of drugs in order to control their health effects, and to take away economic power from the drug cartels.
An article in Prensalibre.com reports that "The Chancellor took part in a seminar yesterday run by British Group of the IPU in which MPs from 30 countries discussed "the reform of drug policy" and the experiences of each nation over the last 18 months, particularly in the framework of the OAS (Organization of American States) . "
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.
Detections have been made of cash transfers which are then returned via wire transfers and which apparently are linked to drug dealing and extortion.
The information was confirmed by the president of the Bank of Guatemala, Edgar Barquín, who explained that from Guatemala cash is exiting in dollars and going to El Salvador and then returning to the country through wire transfers.
An ECLAC study has revealed that companies in Guatemala and El Salvador pay the highest costs because of organized crime in Latin America.
According to data from the Global Competitiveness Index 2012-13, analyzed by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), in its report on safety in the logistics sector in the region, Guatemala has a score of 1.86, on a scale of 1 to 7, regarding the influence of crime and violence in operating costs of enterprises, where 1 is "very much" and 7 means "nothing".
The movement of illicit capital in Costa Rica and Panama counts for more than 10% of their respective GDP, meaning that its removal would be a major blow to their economies.
Editorial
The report entitled "Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2001-2010" by Global Financial Integrity, reveals that during the first 10 years of the new century, the flow of illicit money in Costa Rica amounted to $64 billion, while in Panama the total was $40 billion.