Spanish and French experts work with Bolivian institutions in the fight against drug trafficking

La Paz, Bolivia, was the site of the kick-off event for the technical support project in the fight against drug trafficking, at which the arrival of Spanish and French experts to the Andean country was announced.

For nearly three years, Spanish and French experts will be providing technical advising to Bolivian anti-drug agents. In addition, they will contribute to strengthening the Bolivian institutions responsible for fighting drug trafficking and associated crime: the Special Force to Fight Drug Trafficking (FELCN), the National Council for Fighting Illicit Drug Trafficking (CONALTID), the Special Force to Combat and Control Crime (FELCC), the Directorate-General of Migration, the Plurinational Council against Human Trafficking and Smuggling, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Plurinational Service of Public Defence and the Penitentiary Regime Directorate.

During the kick-off event, Santiago Delgadillo, National Director of the FELCN, stated that the European police officials will dedicate the next three months to evaluating what needs to be done to strengthen the institution.

The International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), in collaboration with the French institution, CIVIPOL, and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), are the European institutions in charge of managing the project, which will involve coordination with one member of the Civil Guard and one member of the National Police on the Spanish side, and one police official on the French side.

This project has a budget of €4 million, funded by the European Commission, and is under the framework of the European programme for fighting drug trafficking and strengthening the public institutions responsible for repression of illegal activity in Bolivia. A total of €60 million will be allocated to this effort over four years.