War on Drug Traffickers

El Mercurio de Valparaíso, July 12, 2019

The Executive’s decision to support operations on the northern border with the Armed Forces has generated diverse opinions of support or rejection; however, to my delight, no one has questioned the capabilities of the armed institutions to carry out the task. On the other hand, to ground the issue, how about Santiago residents ask the inhabitants of Cariquima, located 30 kilometers from the border with Bolivia, what they think about the matter?

I am sure they feel safer with the Army present than without it. Additionally, the military detachment located there was established by the “Nueva Mayoría” administration in early 2016, following a review conducted by the Northern Joint Command that began in 2015 across our entire border to understand the area, acclimate our troops, and gain a clear understanding of security issues.

The Army, Navy, and Air Force are already prepared for this challenge and are ready to work together, coordinated, and in support of the police. The Executive’s proposal improves the efficiency and effectiveness of national resources in the fight against drug trafficking, and as long as the execution is as promised, we all benefit—on one hand, by reducing or mitigating drug trafficking, and on the other, by providing security to the Chilean highland communities.

Richard Kouyoumdjian Inglis
Vice President of AthenaLab

Source: El Mercurio de Valparaíso