Razones Financieras

Substantial quantities of precursor chemicals continue to be diverted or smuggled into Bolivia for the production of cocaine. Peru is the largest source of these chemicals, claiming about 40 percent of Bolivia’s market as estimated by the Chemical Substances Investigations Group (GISUQ) of the Bolivian counternarcotic police.

The most common chemicals seized from contraband match those commonly found in drug factories (where base/paste is prepared) and cocaine labs (where base/paste is transformed into cocaine HCl). Since Bolivia has become a transit country for Peruvian base/paste, the number of labs has significantly increased. The majority of chemicals found in cocaine factories and labs consist of sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, sodium carbonate, caustic soda, ammonia, phenacetin, sodium metabisulfite, and isopropyl alcohol. The last three products are not listed under

controlled substances, and GISUQ believes they are increasingly used to circumvent controls. An emerging trend among cocaine laboratories is to utilize recycling equipment allowing the operators to reuse many of the chemicals up to four times before they need to be replaced. Seventy-five percent of the labs seized in 2014 were built and equipped in such a manner.

Over the first 10 months of 2014, GISUQ seized 278 MT of solid chemical precursors and 162,000 litters of liquid chemical precursors, a two percent increase and 38 percent decrease respectively, compared to the same period in 2013. In 2014, with mixed results, GISUQ changed its strategy from focusing on importers and major chemical distributors to field operations. The new counternarcotics law announced by the Bolivian government in 2014 is expected to include a provision allowing law enforcement to expeditiously add new chemicals to its controlled precursor substances list.

According to Bolivian counternarcotic police authorities, in 2014 law enforcement did not find any psychotropic labs in Bolivia, but small quantities of psychotropic substances originating from neighboring countries in the region were seized. The counternarcotics police are working on possible strategies to address this growing concern.

GISUQ coordinates activities with the General Directorate for Controlled Substances, a civilian entity under the Government of Bolivia that administers and licenses the sale and transport of controlled substances listed under Bolivian CN Law 1008. Per Bolivian law, unless controlled substances are found next to a cocaine lab, unlicensed transport and sale results only in an administrative violation, penalized by a fine and the possibility to lose the merchandise (if the proper paperwork is not produced within a certain period of time).

Colombia Precursor chemical diversion continues to be a serious problem in Colombia. Currently, there

are approximately 4,500 chemical companies authorized to handle controlled chemicals for legitimate use. Although chemical companies must have governmental permission to import or export specific chemicals and controlled substances, the police have the burden to prove whether chemicals are intended for the production of illicit drugs.

The Colombian government has tightened chemical controls on chemicals used for coca processing as well as strengthened chemical control legislation. However, traffickers are now seeking new avenues and many of these precursors are camouflaged and clandestinely imported into Colombia. They have also been diverted by large Colombian chemical handlers whose management may have no knowledge of the illegal activities. The bulk of the diversion occurs at the second or third level of the distribution chain. Chemical traffickers and clandestine

laboratories use non-controlled chemicals such as n-propyl acetate to replace controlled

chemicals that are difficult to obtain. They also recycle chemicals in order to decrease the need to import or divert them. Additionally, traffickers are recycling the chemical containers, making it difficult to trace their origin.

The Colombian government implements restrictions on other needed chemicals for coca processing, such as gasoline and cement. These restrictions include reduced numbers for production, distribution and storage of chemicals and, in some areas, no allowance of particular chemicals at all in a zone. In addition, the essential cocaine processing products of sulfuric acid, hydrochloride acid and potassium permanganate, which were only regulated after a 5 liter/5 kg threshold, are now controlled regardless of the amount.

Colombian companies are not authorized to export ephedrine or pseudoephedrine in bulk form and all drug combination products containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine have been banned from domestic distribution. However, they can import these precursors for the manufacture of pharmaceutical preparations which can be re-exported.

The Colombian National Police’s (CNP) Chemical Sensitive Investigative Unit (SIU) was formed in June of 1998. Now both the SIU and the CNP’s Chemical Control and Compliance Unit (CCCU) conduct investigations. The CCCUs primary mission remains the chemical handlers, developing audits of chemical handlers and investigative leads that are either pursued by them or passed on to the SIU for further criminal investigation and prosecution. The SIU and the CCCU are also responsible for the multi-national chemical targeting operations.

In 2011, the Colombian government amended its chemical law making the diversion of listed chemicals a criminal act. With this amendment, the company owners can be prosecuted and their companies subject to forfeiture. The Colombian government also scheduled levamisole, a veterinarian parasite product, which is now the most frequently used product to cut Colombian cocaine.

The CNP primary interdiction force, the DIRAN’s airmobile Jungle Commandos (Junglas), are largely responsible for the significant number of cocaine HCl and coca base labs destroyed in

2013, as well as the seizure of significant amounts of listed chemicals during the course of their operations in the same year. The combined efforts of Colombian government’s law enforcement and military seized over 2.8 million gallons of liquid precursors and 25,875 MT of solid

precursor chemicals over the first nine months of 2014. There has been a recent trend of HCl labs – long thought to be only located in Colombian jungles – moving into the urban

centers. Also in 2013, investigations have led to the discovery of large scale labs in the metropolitan cities of Cali and Medellin.

Peru

Peru continues to be a major importer of precursor chemicals used in cocaine production, including acetone, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and calcium oxide – the four primary precursor chemicals used in the production of cocaine in the country according to a 2012 study by the United Nations. Peru also produces sulfuric acid for this purpose. These chemicals are often diverted from legitimate channels to cocaine production with a concentration in Upper Huallaga Valley (UHV) and the Ene, Apurimac and Mantauro River Valley (VRAEM), the principal coca producing areas in Peru. Potassium permanganate, the precursor chemical most widely sought in cocaine production in neighboring countries to remove impurities and enhance the coloration, is not typically used in Peru, where alcohol is the preferred substance for this purpose. In 2014, the Peruvian National Police (PNP) seized only 2.7 MT of potassium permanganate. The PNP has identified the principal routes of precursor chemicals from Lima into the drug source areas, and is building its capacity to intercept these shipments.

In 2014, the PNP Chemical Investigations Unit (DEPCIQ) continued its chemical enforcement and regulatory operations, leading to the seizure of 2,564 MT of precursor chemicals – including calcium oxide (437.8 MT), sulfuric acid (161.2 MT), hydrochloric acid (69.6 MT), and acetone (59.6 MT). The counternarcotics police (DIRANDRO) continued a bilateral chemical control program with the United States, known as Operation Chemical Choke, which specifically targets the seizure of acetone, hydrochloric, and sulfuric acid through a specialized enforcement and intelligence unit of the police. Operation Chemical Choke targets those organizations that divert chemicals to cocaine production. In 2014, this operation resulted in the arrest of several

chemical traffickers and the seizure of 14.3 MT of acetone, 6.7 MT of hydrochloric acid, and 28 MT of sulfuric acid. Peruvian Law enforcement conducted bilateral chemical enforcement operations from October 19-30, resulting in seizures of 63 MT of sulfuric acid.

Peruvian law enforcement also conducted chemical enforcement operations with neighboring countries and participated in enforcement strategy conferences to address chemical diversion. Joint operation seizures included several floating gas stations and 204,116 liters of gasoline, 10 MT of precursor chemicals, and 3.5 MT of cement. Sixteen cocaine laboratories were destroyed as part of this mission.

In 2012, the Government of Peru issued a legislative decree to enhance monitoring and control of chemical precursors, finished products, and machinery used to produce and transport illegal