USA establishes regional narcotics unit in Argentina with US$13 million in funding
Washington has created a regional headquarters of the INL in Buenos Aires and approved over 13 million dollars to combat drug trafficking and organised crime.
USA establishes narcotics base in Argentina and increases cooperation investment tenfold
The United States government has installed a regional unit of the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Bureau (INL) in Argentina and approved a fund of more than 13 million dollars to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime, according to lanacion.com.ar.
The news was confirmed by the Argentine National Security Ministry. Of this total, 7.5 million dollars will be allocated to direct bilateral cooperation projects with Argentina, whilst the remaining 5.85 million will finance regional-scope initiatives in which the country will also participate.
National Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva celebrated the agreement on her X social media account: "Argentina is a trustworthy country and our allies know it. With the United States we are strategic partners in security. For this reason, a new regional unit of the US State Department office, specialised in drug trafficking and law enforcement, will be based in our country and will have USD 7.5 million for equipment, training and security projects, increasing cooperation investment tenfold".
According to ministry sources, the decision means increasing tenfold the cooperation resources that previously existed between both countries. The funds will allow deepening joint projects and the acquisition of equipment designed to strengthen operational capacity against transnational criminal organisations.
An official statement clarified that "the installation of the INL regional unit in our country constitutes a new step in strategic work between Argentina and the United States for the security of the region, in the face of criminal organisations that operate with ever-greater capacity and transnational reach".
The same statement detailed that bilateral cooperation on security matters has been deepened through the exchange of information, criminal intelligence, training, technical assistance and joint operational work.
From the National Security Ministry it was also noted that cooperation in criminal intelligence and interdiction "made it possible to strengthen operations against organisations linked to drug trafficking and to advance in the dismantling of routes used for drug trafficking".
Source: Google News AR — Crime