The Cooperation Program between Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union against Drugs (Copolad) is hosting a workshop starting on Monday to discuss new drug control strategies in Latin America.

III international seminar Coopolad, organized in the Brazilian city of Fortaleza, is dedicated to “new approaches” to solving the problem of drug trafficking in the face of “prescriptions that did not work”, according to what program director Javier Sagredo told EFE over the phone.

A new “reading” of drug trafficking is associated with recent changes in government in the region, in countries such as Chile, Colombia and Brazil.

In the case of Colombia, with the first progressive government in office in a country that has always been at the forefront of drug production, the Justice Department’s approach is “highly hopeful and thought provoking.” .”

It is a “successful approach” because “it puts the people at the center of the discussion and offers to pacify the country with real solutions,” said Sagredo, who, however, acknowledged that in Colombia “this is a huge, big and difficult task, long-term.”

This is a regional reflection, with “fresh air” in the fight against drugs, must take into account other elements such as security and social equality to be “progressive” but “for the first time there was an approach to rethinking,” he repeated.

According to the Spanish specialist, “this is a different look at the knots of the problem”, with a “great challenge” facing the “social storm caused by the crisis and organized crime with a very dynamic market.”

A study presented by Copolad during the workshop showed that after the pandemic, microtrafficking of illicit drugs in Latin America increased by 34% and drug use by 23%.

“Latin America and the Caribbean remains the most violent region in the world” with a record murder rate in 2022, 39 of the 50 most dangerous cities in the world and 436 groups were identified. devoted to the fight against drug trafficking, the report emphasizes.

However, violence in the drug trade, stressed the director of Copolada, it also “threatens Europe”.

” European cooperation is an obligation to respond to these vulnerabilities in a Latin American territory with thousands of social problems” and “when these policies are combined, the focus should be on development and respect for human rights,” he said.

The seminar will last until next Wednesday in Fortaleza with the participation of scientists, diplomats, police officers and government representatives from Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.

(EFE)