Panama To Spend $700 Million To Combat Drug Trafficking in 2011

(Panama-Guide) - La Prensa - Budget reductions apparently won't apply to the Minister of Public Security, Jose Raul Mulino, and his plans to tackle drug trafficking and organized crime. Although the National Assembly has approved a budget of $420 million dollars for 2011, Mulino is confident investment in this area will reach $700 million dollars. For now, he says, they have already pledged $150 million dollars more. "Next year we will spend nearly $700 million dollars," he says confidently. The fate of these resources will be mixed. For example, there are plans to equip the 12 naval air stations to be created (four have already been established) in the Pacific and the Atlantic, in order to counter drug trafficking and smuggling by sea. The minister's plan is to hinder or completely prevent these criminal activities along Panama's coasts.

He also plans to purchase six new helicopters and two airplanes from Italy, another plane from Brazil, the latter will be a radar surveillance aircraft, equipped with artillery. Also, they are expecting the return of five Bell helicopters that were sent to Canada for repair and maintenance. According to the minister, these helicopters will be used for reconnaissance and patrol.

In addition, the Security Ministry plans to buy 18 ground based radar stations which will be located at the 18 fixed stations located throughout the country to monitor the airspace, and thereby control the penetration of drug smuggling aircraft.

In 2011 the purchase is also scheduled - at a cost of some $17 million dollars - a fleet of 800 new vehicles, as well as an investment of an additional $7 million dollars for the acquisition of new weapons for the National Police (PN.) Regarding the institutional aspects of the National Police, Minister Mulino explained that major investments are planned to enhance and strengthen manpower which has declined in recent months. In August 2010 there were about 9,500 police officers in uniform, and the plans are to expand the force with 3,200 new members.

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Original Source: panama-guide.com
Date Retrieved: October 5, 2010.