Among other objectives, COPOLAD supports the implementation of Early Warning Systems (EWS) to identify new threats related to drugs. It also covers the support of countries of the CELAC region committed to making significant progress in the implementation of Alternative Development strategies. In this framework, COPOLAD presents some success stories in both fields, emphasising the opportunities opened by some peer to peer cooperation exercises under development.

In Peru, seven Latin American and three Caribbean countries gather during the third edition of the Intra-Regional Dialogue Forums on Alternative Development, in the framework of COPOLAD, with the aim of reviewing experiences exchanged between countries since the first forum held in Bogotá in 2016.

Best practices regarding inclusive and sustainable value chains, a key element in successfully selling products from crops based on Alternative and Comprehensive Development.

• In collaboration with the National Secretariat for Drug Policy of Brazil (SENAD), the National Sanitary Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) and the Federal Police of Brazil (FP), 34 countries learn from the experience of Brazil on clandestine laboratories.
• More than 90 experts in the field of illicit drugs and precursors control and acquisition of information on suspicious operations and possible deviations are gathered in Brasilia.

COPOLAD meets countries’ demand from Latin America and the Caribbean to visit the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) which is reference agency of the EU.

Spain leads this yearly initiative that on this occasion convenes in Lisbon more than 70 experts with the objective to keep promoting development and cooperation among the National Drug Observatories of the CELAC region. 

Portugal successful example serves as a reference for best practices in the region and will be presented to the visiting countries.