Last
July, the Peruvian Defense Ministry and Russian state-controlled
arms exporter Rosoboronexport signed a contract for the
sale of six Mi-171Sh Hip transport and two Mi-35P Hind
E attack helicopters to the South American country. The
deal is estimated at $107.9 million.
"Three
Russian c helicopters will be delivered to Peru on May
9 and 10 and then sent to fight illegal drugs trafficking
in the Valley of the Apurimac and Ene River," Defense
Minister Jaime Thorne said.
The
minister added that Peru "hopes to fulfill the contract
with Russia by the end of the year and receive the remaining
three helicopters."
Last
month Russia delivered to Peru two Mi-35P Hind E attack
helicopters.
Peru
is one of South America's main cocaine producers along
with Bolivia and Columbia. The Valley of the Apurimac
and Ene River was declared a zone of military operations
in August 2009 as fighting between the government troops
and the Shining Path Maoist guerilla group intensified.
Shining
Path is believed to have strong ties with drug traffickers.
The group is on the U.S. and European Union lists of terrorist
organizations.
