Key agencies to address drug trafficking at airport
- Minister Rohee
Guyana Chronicle
April 20, 2007
(GINA)Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee will be holding a second meeting with members of major airlines operating in Guyana, International Airlines, Cargo and law enforcement agencies to address the narcotics flow at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
The aim of the meeting is to implement a cooperative approach to the fight against drug trafficking.
“It is anticipated that at this meeting we will come up with a common understanding and a memorandum of understanding so to speak...I am very concerned about the constant flow of drugs out of Guyana via commercial flights,” Minister of Home Affairs Clement Rohee said.
On March 7, the Home Affairs Minister met representatives from Travel Span, Liat, Caribbean Star Airlines and North American Airlines, Orvil Nedd of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and Khurshid Sattaur, Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), and all the participants agreed that a cooperative approach is needed in the drug fight.
They had agreed to hold one more meeting after which a report will be submitted.
Meanwhile, Minister Rohee said government is currently conducting a comparative analysis on the 2006 and 2007 United States (US) Department of State, International Narcotics Control Strategy Report.
The 2007 report which was released on March 1 said “There is no evidence that the GOG or senior GOG officials encourage or facilitate the illicit production, processing, shipment or distribution of narcotic or psychotropic drugs or other controlled substances, or the laundering of proceeds from illegal drug transactions.”
Law enforcement agencies were commended for strides made in 2006 in tackling drug trafficking.
“In 2006, the GPF Narcotics Branch and CANU (Customs Anti Narcotics Unit) arrested dozens of drug couriers at Guyana's international airport en route to the Caribbean, North America, and Europe,” the report stated.
It indicated that the Guyana Government has been working with the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to develop initiatives that will enhance counter narcotics activities.
The US State Department report has again lauded the launch of the 2005-2009 National Drug Strategy Master Plan (NDSMP) but it urged that government fast-track the implementation of several aspects of the plan.