LIMA: Peruvian security forces seized a cache of 420 kg of cocaine in the Amazon region of the Apurimac, Ene and Mantaro River Valley, the Ministry of Defense said Monday.
Forces confiscated the drugs on Sunday in the remote Megantoni district of La Convencion province, 1,029 km southeast of the Peruvian capital Lima.
A joint army and police patrol uncovered the illicit shipment in 10 sacks packed and ready for shipment, following intelligence work, the ministry said.
Peruvian law enforcement agencies carry out constant operations in the valley, where local and international drug cartels operate under cover of dense jungle. In early 2020, Peruvian Police reported seizing 18 tons of drugs, mostly destined for the U.S. market.
Meanwhile, Peru resumed international flights on Monday that were suspended in March as part of emergency measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). President Martin Vizcarra presided over the resumption of flights from the capital Lima’s Jorge Chavez International Airport, saying health regulations were put in place to combat the risk of infections. “A whole sanitary control has been implemented to guarantee that the opening of international flights does not mean a risk of increased infections,” he said. Flights have been resumed to seven countries in the region, but “gradually other destinations will be activated after evaluating the situation,” he added. Peru is in phase four of the country’s economic reactivation following lockdown, a phase that began Oct. 1 as the outbreak declined. “Our task is to continue containing the pandemic. There have been eight weeks of continuous decline in cases, fewer infections, hospitalizations and deaths,” Vizcarra said. The health regulations in effect for international flights require incoming and outgoing passengers to show proof they are COVID-19 free with the results of a test taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival or departure.–Agencies
