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Nicaragua ratifies agreement with Russia on training agents to fight drug trafficking

Nicaraguan Parliament Speaker Rene Nunez said Thursday that the document was unanimously approved by all parliament members who were present at the session

© EPA/ANDY RAIN

MEXICO CITY, December 13. /ITAR-TASS/. The National Assembly (parliament) of Nicaragua has ratified an agreement on cooperation with Russia in the training of personnel of that Central American country for fighting drug trafficking.

Nicaraguan Parliament Speaker Rene Nunez said Thursday that the document was unanimously approved by all parliament members who were present at the session.

The Agreement presupposes participation of Russian specialists in the professional training of Nicaraguan agents to counteract the smuggling of narcotic substances, psychotropic medications, and precursors for their manufacture, Nunez said. The document had been signed at the beginning of Junw in Moscow by Aminta Granera, Director-General of the Nicragua National Police, and Viktor Ivanov, Director of Russia's Federal Drug Control Agency (FDCA).

Due to the ratified document, Nicaraguan agents will be able to share experience with FDCA personnel who will render assistance to that Central American country in combating drug trafficking.

At Thursday's parliament session, Nicaraguan lawmakers also approved the establishment, on Managua's outskirts, of a Center for the training of personnel to fight the smuggling of narcotics. The foundation-stone of the Center was laid by Ivanov in March. The authorities of the republic attach much importance to the construction of the Center where drug control police from all Central American countries will be able to undergo training.

The smugglers of narcotics often use the territory of Central America for smuggling batches of narcotics from South America to the United States. The activities of drug mafia gangs became one of the main causes of a high rate of crime which is observed in the region.

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