Bolivia and Brazil Prepare Anti-Drug Trafficking Operations along Border

Bolivia and Brazil Prepare Anti-Drug Trafficking Operations along the Border

El Día reported on May 15, 2013 that Bolivia and Brazil will increase cooperation on anti-drug efforts along their border. At a technical meeting in Santa Cruz, Bolivian Deputy Minister of Social Defense, Felipe Cáceres and Brazilian Secretary of Public Security, Regina Mikal, agreed to increase cooperation against drug traffickers in the Bolivian-Brazilian border region. Over two days, the Bolivian Anti-drug Police (FELCN) met with the Brazilian Federal Police to coordinate anti-drug efforts and intelligence sharing in the border region through air, land, and river operations. Bolivia and Brazil share a 3,700 kilometer border and the most vulnerable points are in San Matías, Puerto Quijarro, and Cobija. Deputy Minister Cáceres reiterated that originally the government approved $20 million to combat drug trafficking. Later an additional $16 million was approved. The next technical meeting between the two countries will be the 2nd and 3rd of July in Sao Paulo. Read Article