Fight against drug trafficking
Strengthening police, financial and asset investigations, as well as the recovery and social use of confiscated property
The effectiveness of drug trafficking policies should not be measured solely by the amount of drugs seized or the number of arrests, but also by the State’s capacity to dismantle the economic flow of drug trafficking, recover assets derived from crime and ensure their efficient use, by promoting and adding value to confiscated goods for the benefit of society.
International cooperation among institutions of justice, security and financial supervision is key to improving the fight against drug trafficking, particularly in investigating the financial structures that sustain the large-scale production and trafficking of drugs. The tentacles of the illegal economy form networks that span multiple countries and continents, so their investigation must necessarily be international.
COPOLAD III supports regional intergovernmental organisations and, in parallel, accompanies national efforts to prevent illegal profits frome-entering the drug supply chain and enabling corruption, human trafficking or terrorism, which in turn threaten democratic governance.
Results
Strengthening police and prosecutorial investigation systems with an international and gender perspective
Supporting policies for the social management of property confiscated from drug trafficking
Support to the Inter-American Association of Public Prosecutors (AIAMP):
Approval of guidelines on drug trafficking and human trafficking with a gender perspective, aimed at protecting women and LGTBIQ+ people who are victims of trafficking and involved in drug production, transit or trade. Their adaptation has already begun in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.
Approval of the Palermo Guide for the development of undercover operations in Ibero-America.
Diagnosis and technical guidelines to strengthen the prosecution of environmental crimes linked to drug trafficking.
Support to the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM-IMPACS):
Technical strengthening of Caribbean drug control agencies through 2 specialised courses on asset prevention in the fight against drug trafficking, and on synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPS).
Regional strategy of support to the Financial Action Task Force of Latin America (GAFILAT) and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF):
GAFILAT:
Consolidation of the encrypted information exchange platform of the Asset Recovery Network (RRAG). As a result, a 27% increase in exchanges between national contact points at regional level, and a 130% increase in bi-regional exchanges (2024 data).
Development and approval of 3 regional good-practice guides:
- Conducting parallel financial investigations.
- Asset forfeiture (confiscation of assets without a criminal conviction).
- Asset recovery and allocation of confiscated goods.
Chile:
Strengthening the National System against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing through:
- A comparative study of beneficial ownership registers.
- Update of the Financial-Asset Investigation Guide.
Peru:
Development of economic-financial analysis tools for the production of expert reports on money laundering. Forensic experts are currently being trained.
CFATF:
Reinforcing financial and asset information exchange related to money laundering
COPOLAD III has supported 4 countries in updating their legal frameworks and procedures for the social use of confiscated property.
Colombia:
The Drug Policy Directorate of the Ministry of Justice and Law has promoted a new model for the social and cultural use of confiscated assets with the participation of civil society.
A pilot initiative has been launched for the social use of confiscated assets and AD.
Costa Rica:
Together with the Costa Rican Drug Institute (ICD), a draft regulation has been developed on the social use of productive goods confiscated from drug trafficking.
Uruguay:
In collaboration with the Confiscated Assets Fund, recommendations were prepared to update the management model for confiscated assets.
Brazil:
The National Secretariat for Drug Policies and Asset Management (SENAD) has promoted a pilot initiative for the social use of confiscated assets and AD.
Results
Strengthening police and prosecutorial investigation systems with an international and gender perspective
Support to the Inter-American Association of Public Prosecutors (AIAMP):
Approval of guidelines on drug trafficking and human trafficking with a gender perspective, aimed at protecting women and LGTBIQ+ people who are victims of trafficking and involved in drug production, transit or trade. Their adaptation has already begun in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay.
Approval of the Palermo Guide for the development of undercover operations in Ibero-America.
Diagnosis and technical guidelines to strengthen the prosecution of environmental crimes linked to drug trafficking.
Support to the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM-IMPACS):
- Technical strengthening of Caribbean drug control agencies through 2 specialised courses on asset prevention in the fight against drug trafficking, and on synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances (NPS).
Supporting policies for the social management of property confiscated from drug trafficking
Regional strategy of support to the Financial Action Task Force of Latin America (GAFILAT) and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF):
GAFILAT:
Consolidation of the encrypted information exchange platform of the Asset Recovery Network (RRAG). As a result, a 27% increase in exchanges between national contact points at regional level, and a 130% increase in bi-regional exchanges (2024 data).
Development and approval of 3 regional good-practice guides:
- Conducting parallel financial investigations.
- Asset forfeiture (confiscation of assets without a criminal conviction).
- Asset recovery and allocation of confiscated goods.
Chile:
Strengthening the National System against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing through:
- A comparative study of beneficial ownership registers.
- Update of the Financial-Asset Investigation Guide.
Peru:
Development of economic-financial analysis tools for the production of expert reports on money laundering. Forensic experts are currently being trained.
CFATF:
Reinforcing financial and asset information exchange related to money laundering
COPOLAD III has supported 4 countries in updating their legal frameworks and procedures for the social use of confiscated property.
Colombia:
The Drug Policy Directorate of the Ministry of Justice and Law has promoted a new model for the social and cultural use of confiscated assets with the participation of civil society.
A pilot initiative has been launched for the social use of confiscated assets and AD.
Costa Rica:
Together with the Costa Rican Drug Institute (ICD), a draft regulation has been developed on the social use of productive goods confiscated from drug trafficking.
Uruguay:
In collaboration with the Confiscated Assets Fund, recommendations were prepared to update the management model for confiscated assets.
Brazil:
The National Secretariat for Drug Policies and Asset Management (SENAD) has promoted a pilot initiative for the social use of confiscated assets and AD.
¿Cómo trabajamos?
Esquema regional
Conformación de tres grupos de trabajo con 28 países para generar reflexión a través de seminarios, guías conceptuales y metodológicas e intercambio de experiencias.Articulación con el Observatorio Interamericano de Drogas (OID) de la Comisión Interamericana para el Control del Abuso de Drogas (CICAD-OEA).
Aterrizaje multipaís y nacional
Lanzamiento de 22 acciones nacionales de fortalecimiento de OND con metas previstas y rutas de acompañamiento
Communication
Implementing partners
