Honduras, May 8, 2024. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), through the Regional Programme for the Safe Handling and Disposal of Seized Drugs and Chemical Precursors (STAND), conducted the workshop “Issues with Chemical Substances in Illicit Drug Production.”
This workshop was aimed at police personnel, intelligence agencies, navy, and other related entities working to address this issue. The workshop aimed to strengthen knowledge on the dynamics of illicit drug production, both natural and synthetic, as well as the safe handling of chemical substances and proper disposal of drugs and precursors.
According to the national capacity assessment for the safe handling and disposal of seized drugs and chemical substances in Honduras, conducted by UNODC between 2021 and 2022, 221 liters of liquid chemical substances and 1,925 kilograms of solid substances were seized. Of these seizures, approximately 83% correspond to chemical precursors necessary for the production of synthetic drugs, mainly amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), while the remaining 17% are linked to chemical inputs used in the extraction, refining, and conversion processes of the alkaloid contained in the coca leaf. These data highlight the complexity and variability of chemical substance trafficking in Honduran territory.
To address this issue, the Regional STAND Programme trained 30 public officials from the National Anti-Narcotics Police Directorate, the National Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, the Navy, the Technical Investigation Agency, the Special Prosecutor's Office against Organized Crime, and the National Special Forces Directorate through comprehensive training on chemical substances used in illicit drug production and associated risks. Additionally, participants were equipped with tools and indicators related to illicit cultivation and production, along with training on chemical risk management, including proper storage and the importance of adequate final disposal.
These actions are carried out thanks to the financial support of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) of the Government of the United States of America.
Learn about cocaine market trends, crop production, seizures, and regional comparisons in the 2023 Global Cocaine Report: http://bit.ly/3Jes1PX.