Varela presses Colombia on drug trafficking

President Juan Carlos Varela is pressing  his Colombian counterpart Juan Manuel Santos  to expand his country’s efforts to eradicate drug trafficking.

He made  the statement  during  a ceremony on Monday February 6.  marking the delivery of four new patrol boats  that will be used by the National Aeronaval Service in the fight against drug trafficking.

His comments  to Santos  were  based on a meeting they had held in Meteti, Darién, in 2016.

“We need to redouble efforts to eradicate drugs and fight

against those groups which are still linked With drug

trafficking,” Varela said, referring to activities carried out by the guerilla organization FARC.

Varela clarified that he supports the peace process in Colombia.

“It is a welcome change,” he said, but added that Panama is a peaceful country and does not want violence related to drug trafficking to cross into the country.

Despite the progress of the peace process “we feel an increase in the threat of drug trafficking,” Varela said, noting that Panama will strengthen the capabilities of the National Air Service.