Equipment from Canada to help fight narco-trafficking
Stabroek News
March 7, 2007
The Canadian government yesterday presented to Guyana an Itemiser 111, and is hosting sessions to train Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) officers and those from other law enforcement agencies on how to use the equipment.
According to a press release from the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) the Itemiser 111 is a digital device that detects narcotic drugs, arms and explosives and is expected to assist with the local narco-trafficking fight. GRA Commissioner-General Khurshid Sattaur and Head of CANU, O. Nedd, received the equipment on the government's behalf. Assis-tant Police Commissioner Khrishna Lakeraj also attended the handing over ceremony.
The GRA said the Canadian government, through the expertise of Balbir Singh and Camille Giangi, two officers within the Canadian Border Service Agency (CBSA) has started the a one-week training session in the use of the equipment at the Customs and Trade Administration Train-ing Room at Main Street. The training targets officers from Customs, CANU and the Guyana Police Force (GPF). It consists of classroom as well as practical sessions which will be hosted, mainly, at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Time-hri.
Sattaur thanked the Canadian High Commis- sioner to Guyana Charles Court and the Canadian government for the equipment and for "providing invaluable training in the use and care of the equipment" which he said, will assist efforts to improve border security. He said the equipment will help the Customs administration in executing its duties and urged the participants to make full use of the training and to pass on their skills to their colleagues.
Nedd welcomed the initiative and invited similar proposals and donations. Lakeraj said terrorism and narco-trafficking are great challenges worldwide and law enforcement agencies have to network better to counter and suppress these challenges to world peace and stability. In this regard, he said, it is important that other enforcement agencies, such as the CANU and Customs join in expanding the network and fighting narco-trafficking. "We must see this… as a support measure and in the fight against organised crime - drugs and guns because these are all inter-related," Lakeraj said. He added "the narco-trade is alive here in Guyana and this itemizer will assist greatly in the narco-fight". Lakeraj commended the effort and the Guyana Police Force acknowledges the GRA's support in this area.
Singh said the initiative is part of a long-term relationship between the two governments which will develop in the coming years and is important for sharing intelligence and knowledge.
He said this type of training is critical in Guyana in detecting various narcotic substances, ammunition and explosive materials.