El Salvador’s Minister of Security, Gustavo Villatoro, has emphasized the growing threat of synthetic drugs, particularly fentanyl, during the International Conference on Synthetic Drugs. The event, hosted by the Security Cabinet of President Nayib Bukele, brings together representatives from Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Argentina, and Colombia to address the global challenge posed by synthetic substances.
«As an Expanded Security Cabinet, we have undertaken this effort because we face an emerging threat related to synthetic drugs, especially fentanyl. To date, in our country, we have carried out several strategic interventions,» stated Villatoro.
El Salvador, once considered the most dangerous country in the world, has transformed into the safest nation in the Western Hemisphere, according to Villatoro. The minister underscored the importance of proactive measures, revealing that the country began monitoring fentanyl imports two years ago in collaboration with El Salvador Customs to audit importers and hospitals.
«It is crucial that we, as a country, act responsibly in combating this scourge and collaborate with other nations to protect the region,» Villatoro added.
Minister of National Defense René Francis Merino Monroy linked the fight against fentanyl to broader anti-narcotics efforts. «Drug trafficking is not detached from the fentanyl crisis. El Salvador is characterized by action on the ground, and we are committed to working jointly with other countries to achieve significant results,» he said.
Attorney General Rodolfo Delgado echoed these sentiments, calling synthetic drugs the country’s primary enemy. «We already have cases in our country, and we are driven to conduct efficient investigations,» he affirmed.
The conference marks a significant step in El Salvador’s ongoing efforts to combat synthetic drug trafficking and strengthen regional cooperation.