Cuba Launches National Observatory on Illegal Drugs

Havana, July 4 (ACN) Cuba launched its National Observatory on illegal drugs on Friday to monitor and mitigate the effects of drugs in tune with the country’s zero-tolerance policy on drug trafficking and consumption.

During a working session before the announcement of July 4th, Cuban Justice Minister Oscar Silvera said that the opening of the Observatory mirrors the country’s high priority granted to the unity of all actors involved in facing illegal drugs.

The initiative comes in response to the growing global threat posed by the increasing production and trafficking of narcotics, and it is also due to Cuba’s geographical position with respect to major drug-trafficking routes, the appearance of new synthetic formulas, transnational organized crime and the new cover techniques.

The Havana-based European Union Delegation official for policy, press and information Pablo Benitez stressed the potential of the new observatory and said that current drug fighting trends require systematic international cooperation, and the new Cuban observatory is an achievement of international scope.

Cuba is signatory of all three UN conventions on the drug issue and has signed collaboration accords with over 45 nations.