Narcos | 

Micheal Martin to raise issue of global drugs trade on visit to Colombia and Mexico

The Tánaiste said that the role Ireland has had in aiding Colombia’s peace process will also be a major focus of the trip.

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Micheál Martin has said he will raise the issue of the global drugs trade with Colombian and Mexican authorities during an upcoming visit to South America.

The Tánaiste said that the role Ireland has had in aiding Colombia’s peace process will also be a major focus of the trip.

“We’ve a very strong economic relationship with Mexico and with the region more broadly, and we’re determined to try and build on that,” he said.

“So we have successful Irish companies operating within the region. So there’s a strong economic dimension to this visit.

“Politically also, it’s important for Ireland to strengthen its relationships. We have strengthened our diplomatic footprint in the area and that will be part of the visit.

“In Colombia, the focus will again be more political, and also on the role that Ireland has been playing in terms of assisting and helping the peace process within Colombia. And there’s been efforts to broaden that peace process in more recent times.

While the visit is largely more political and economic, Mr Martin said he will liaise with the Department of Justice to identify any criminal issues to discuss with Mexican and Colombian leaders, especially those relating to the Kinahan cartel.

“We will raise and discuss with the authorities, both Mexico and Colombia, obviously the broader global challenges, narcotics, drug trade and so on and shared experiences,” he explained.

“Ireland, through its ambassador and diplomatic footprint, is working to share some of the lessons of the conflict in Northern Ireland with the authorities in Colombia, and they’ve been very appreciative of our suggestions.

“When we were on the UN Security Council, for example, we would have invited women from Colombia to discuss the role of women in conflict.”