The Intelligence Fusion Center, the Coordination Center of the International military operation, the International Research and Analysis Center against Maritime Drug Trafficking and the International Judicial Network will be permanently active.
In the XIV of this campaign, which took place over 45 days, 1,400 tons of narcotics were seized.
The results of the Orion Multinational Strategy consolidate it as the most effective against drug trafficking and convergent crimes worldwide. In its fourteenth year, the campaign managed to coordinate for 45 uninterrupted days of operations, 10 international organizations and 127 institutions from 62 countries, who exchanged intelligence information integrating resources to combat the illicit trafficking of psychoactive substances and other illegal activities associated with drug trafficking.
Thus, on this occasion, 1,408 tons of narcotic substances were seized, including: 225 tons of cocaine, representing 564 million doses, more than 128 tons of marijuana found and 1,044 tons interrupted in cultivation areas between Brazil and Paraguay, as well as 4.9 tons of hashish and 198 kilograms of methamphetamines; which were confiscated in the oceans, coasts, seas, rivers, island areas and port facilities of the five continents.
In this way, record numbers were reached in the finding and intervention of narcotics, decreasing their availability worldwide and dealing significant blows to the finances of multicrime organizations, preventing them from receiving more than 8.4 billion dollars.
In addition, 609 tons of solid precursors and 421 thousand gallons of liquid precursors were found by troops, 475 illegal constructions used for the extraction and transformation of drugs were destroyed, preventing the potential production of 28.9 tons of cocaine.
In addition, 66 ships, six semi鈥搒ubmarines, 113 vehicles and three aircraft were intercepted, and 434 members of criminal organizations of different nationalities were arrested, who were put into custody of the authorities for their respective prosecution process, thanks to the integration of the prosecutor's offices of 10 different nations, through the Orion - REJIO International Judicial Network, with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime - UNODC.
These results of Orion have a direct impact on global public health, by preventing more than 113 thousand people from becoming new consumers, mainly young people, which translates into 231 thousand fewer medical emergencies and a saving of about 146 million dollars to the public health budget.
Similarly, and with the aim of confronting other forms of crime, the Multinational Orion Strategy led to safeguarding the lives of 184 people victims of migrant smuggling at sea, the detection and destruction of 24 structures used for the illicit exploitation of mining deposits in Colombian territory, as well as the finding of 38.1 tons of illegal unregulated unreported fishing.
During this strategy, in the international waters of the Pacific Ocean, it was possible to find a semi-submarine loaded with 5 tons of cocaine, which was destined for Australia, thanks to valuable information provided by the Intelligence of the Colombian Navy.
In Colombia, Colombian National Army, the Colombian Aerospace Force, the National Police, the Attorney General's Office, the National Tax and Customs Directorate and the Financial Information and Analysis Unit participated, who contributed their human talent, means and resources to this initiative against transnational crime.
The 14 editions of Orion have led to consolidate it during these seven years, as the most important and influential international cooperation strategy in the global fight against drug trafficking, thanks to the finding of more than 5,700 tons of drugs, with a damage to the finances of criminal structures exceeding 65.2 billion dollars.
That is why, from now on, the Intelligence Fusion Center, the Coordination Center of the International military operation, the International Research and Analysis Center against Maritime Drug Trafficking and the International Judicial Network of the Orion Multinational Strategy will be permanently active, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
In fulfillment of its mission role of defending the nation and maritime security, the Colombian Navy will continue this multinational work conducted by allied countries, aimed at efficiently and decisively combating drug trafficking and other manifestations of crime at sea, as well as dismantling transnational criminal organizations, significantly contributing to the economic and social development of villages in the world.
Source: Press - Navy of Colombia
