Venezuela: Mission Negra Hipolita Transforms Drug Trafficking Farm into Attention Centre

Barquisimeto, July 10^th 2011 (AVN) – Mission Negra Hipolita transformed a farm used for drug trafficking in the mountains of Lara state into an integral diagnostic centre for homeless people, the majority of whom have problems with drugs.

The commissioner for the National Drug Office (ONA) of the state, Kleiver Ferreiro spoke about the transformation during the inauguration of the the Integral Diagnostic Centre Argimiro Gabaldon, located in Cruz del Padre, Guarico, municipality Larense Moran.

Ferreiro said that, “this farm, once used for drug trafficking, has been handed over to the Mission Negra Hipolita to be used for the reinsertion of those people who have decided to give themselves a second chance through the rehabilitation processes”.

The farm has an area of 17 hectares and included three helicopters used for the arrival and transfer of drugs towards the central-west area and other areas of the country, Ferreiro explained.

“It’s very satisfying to know that that the land has been put towards the rehabilitation of people with drug problems,” he said.

Henry Villegas, in charge of Mission Negra Hipolita in Lara, explained that the centre was opened with the aim of continuing the rehabilitation of 60 people, the majority of whom have presented with problems with the consumption of psychotropic drugs.

The group is looked after by 45 people trained in rehabilitation, who work for the ministry of communes and social protection.

The minister of that portfolio, Isis Ocoa, who was at the inauguration of the centre, said that the farm had been conditioned for the development of productive activity, as well as for various areas of training and education.

She said that the centre will “highlight work as a dignifying and therapeutic activity, as well as part of reinsertion into daily life. That is one of the basic pillars of this space.”

Tito Sanchez, one of the people who is undergoing the process of rehabilitation and who will enjoy use of the space, highlighted the importance of the Mission Negra Hipolita, “Thanks to this mission we have come out of the darkness we were in, now a path of light has been opened up for us that we never plan to leave”.

Abraham Martinez, who is also using the space, said that, “This mission has given us tools to recover our lives and be more useful people to society.”