In the Operation Orion, a Naval Campaign focused on dismantling the transnational networks of drug trafficking and related crimes, authorities from 18 countries had participated, including Colombia, with the commitment of the Government of President Iván Duque Márquez.
The operations and investigations effort of 18 countries in the world against drug trafficking for 105 days -including Colombia- led to the discovery of 94.2 tons of cocaine, valued at $ 3,175 million, which means that more than 235 million doses of cocaine won’t be consumed.
The operation in the same way led to the discovery of 26.7 tons of marijuana, which represents 66.8 million fewer doses on the streets, they would have an expected cost on US coasts of 133.7 million dollars, which represents a substantial impact on the drug trafficking value chain. Additionally, it is part of the achievements in terms of prevention of consumption and reduction of supply, as a fundamental axis of public safety and health in the countries.
The solid figures correspond to the results of Operation Orion, a Naval Campaign (maritime, fluvial and air), focused on dismantling transnational drug trafficking networks and related crimes, which began in the first half of 2018 and was consolidated with the arrival of the Government of President Iván Duque Márquez.
This heavy blow to drug trafficking reiterates the commitment of the Head of State against this crime. In fact, on different occasions the President referred to the efforts that his Government has undertaken "to face the exponential growth of the illicit plantations which represent a great moral and ethical struggle of the Colombian people against the situation of drugs and drug trafficking. "
The next phase of 'Orion'
The good results of Operation Orion, which was carried out in three phases, led Admirals of the different Navies of the 18 countries to plan a meeting to be held in May in Cartagena, in order to evaluate the 'Orion III' Campaign and coordinate efforts for what will be the next phase of the successful multimodal interdiction operation, which includes combined operations coinciding with the countries of the region.
The most recent Campaign 'Orión III' counted on the participation of 18 countries: Colombia, the United States, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, France, Holland, Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, as of three observer countries: Argentina, Canada and Chile.
In the same way, there were the Coastguard Services, institutions in charge of the Judicial Police and international institutions such as SEACOP (Seaport Cooperation Project), MAOC (Maritime Analysis and Operations Center) of the European Union, in charge of operations against drug trafficking.
Recently, after a meeting with a two-party delegation of the United States Congress, in Cartagena, President Duque emphasized how "we have conducted major eradication (of illicit plantations), interdiction, anti-money laundering procedures, and how we have faced, without truce, the illegal armed groups behind those behaviors.”
In addition, he has stated that the effort against drug trafficking will continue in "cooperation, coordination and co-responsibility" with the United States.
Among the objectives of the Naval (Maritime and Fluvial) Campaign 'Orión' in order to continue to be successfully led by the Colombian Navy to combat this situation there are the raise awareness of the concept of shared responsibility among the countries hit by drug trafficking in the region, the improvement of regional interoperability, the strengthening of reliability among countries committed to the fight against illicit drugs, the integration of international efforts in the fight against drug trafficking, the strengthening of maritime and fluvial interdiction at the regional level and the dismantling of drug trafficking networks.
Source: Colombian Navy Command
