European Union and Panama launch new collaboration on chemical precursors through COPOLAD III programme

6 March 2026 – The Delegation of the European Union to Panama has accompanied the signing of the cooperation agreement on chemical precursors between the National Commission for the Study and Prevention of Drug-Related Crimes (CONAPRED) and the COPOLAD III programme (EU-Latin America and Caribbean Cooperation Programme on Drug Policies). The letter of intent was signed by the Attorney General of Panama, Luis Carlos Manuel Gómez Rudy, as president of CONAPRED, and the Director of the COPOLAD III programme, Borja Díaz.

Chemical precursors are key to the manufacture of synthetic drugs, and their diversion poses serious risks to health, safety and the environment. This new collaboration between the European Union and Panama within the framework of the COPOLAD III programme will contribute to establishing an adequate procedure for the treatment, management and final disposal of chemical precursors, ensuring safety and minimising impacts on health and the environment.

COPOLAD III is a bi-regional cooperation programme, funded by the European Union, which promotes technical dialogue and the design of innovative policies in the field of drug control in Latin American and Caribbean countries.