Fight Drug Trafficking, a Priority for Cuba
Cuba favors international collaboration on the struggle against illegal drug trafficking, Interior Ministry Lieutenant Colonel Guillermo Valdés stated at an international conference underway here on ways to fight that scourge.

Lt. Col. Valdés told Prensa Latina that this cooperation is carried out pursuing two main goals: exchange of information and operation experiences with police bodies and organizing specialized courses for those forces.

Furthermore, he said the island has organized some of these courses, with the participation of police representatives from the whole region.

The officer, who is attending the 3rd Conference on Drug Control in the Caribbean, now on session at Melia-Cohiba hotel in Havana, explained Cuban authorities grant vital importance to the international cooperation, based on shared responsibility.

This means, he said, "collective commitment includes countries producing the narcotics, countries through which drugs move to other destinations and the market nations."

He also indicated the Ministry of Interior strengthens collaboration links with other law enforcement bodies, facilitating information exchange "in real time" and allowing greater effectiveness in the struggle against this evil.

Lt. Col. Valdes outlined the island has signed cooperation agreements in branches such as: struggle against illicit traffic of narcotics and psychotropic substances with 33 countries and keeps agreements on legal counseling on civil or penal fields with 49 nations.

The Conference on Drug Control in the Caribbean kicked off on Thursday with the participation of delegates from 19 countries and the Association of Caribbean States.