40th International Drug Enforcement Conference Focuses on Justice through Strength and Unity
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and Argentina’s Ministry of National Security concluded the 40th annual International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) last week, bringing together more than 500 senior drug enforcement officials and delegates from 110 countries to strengthen global cooperation in the fight against transnational drug trafficking and emerging drug threats.
This year’s conference focused on strengthening partnerships, supporting global collaboration, intelligence sharing, aligning enforcement priorities, and collectively taking action against the transnational criminal networks driving drug trafficking, money laundering, violence, and instability worldwide.
Many of the distinguished speakers stressed the need for international law enforcement to be unified in their response while moving swiftly against transnational criminal organizations.
“Criminal organizations operate across borders, exploit international financial systems, and threaten the security of nations around the world. No country can defeat that threat alone,” said Administrator Terry Cole. “For four decades, IDEC has brought international law enforcement together not simply to talk about the threat, but to identify targets, share intelligence, and take coordinated action. DEA is proud to stand with our partners in this global effort, because when nations act together with strength and unity, we make every community safer.”
IDEC is the world’s largest international drug enforcement conference and demonstrates DEA’s ability to bring nations together to discuss common threats and coordinate enforcement actions that are necessary to dismantle global criminal networks.
To open the conference Administrator Cole was joined by U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Peter Lamelas, Acting Attorney General of Argentina Dr. Eduardo Casal, and Minister of National Security of Argentina Alejandra Monteoliva.
Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection of Mexico Omar Hamid García Harfuch provided the event’s keynote presentation. Following Secretary Harfuch’s remarks, he sat down with Administrator Cole for a candid conversation in which they spoke about their professional partnership and the collaboration between U.S. and Mexico law enforcement. Watch the conversation in its entirety.
Administrator Cole also participated in a press conference with National Security Minister Alejandra Monteoliva where he praised Argentina’s counternarcotics strategy as a model for the region.
Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Sara Carter and Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs F. Cartwright Weiland joined the U.S. delegation in Argentina.
IDEC XL was made possible thanks to the generosity of Argentina and the support of the U.S. Department of States’ Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, and the Drug Enforcement Association of Federal Narcotics Agents.
