Fight against the drug trade
The Government of Guyana is looking forward to continued assistance from the United States of America and
Moses Nagamootoo
other developed countries in the fight against the illicit drug trade locally.
Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo during the US Independence Day reception on Wednesday evening declared that Guyana was willing to further collaborate with the US in areas that would improve the country’s efforts in combating narco-trafficking.
“Drug trafficking is not just an American problem. It is also a danger to the integrity of the rule of law in small states. It is in Guyana’s interest to collaborate with friendly Governments like the US to rid ourselves of the stigma of being a transit point for illicit drugs,” he said as he read a prepared speech on behalf of President David Granger.
In this regard, the Prime Minister stated that Guyana would welcome further assistance in boosting the capacity of local law enforcement agencies to clamp down on the illegal drug trade.
Earlier this year, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) opened its office in Guyana with promises to destroy and dismantle local drug networks.
US Ambassador Perry Holloway had announced that its law enforcement agents have been keeping an eye on a local drug ring; however, he declined to mention specific cases for security purposes.
He had previously underscored that while there was no magic bullet to rid any society of narcotics trafficking, in the period of months and years, all of sudden there would be greater information available, adding that information was how these types of crimes are dissolved.
During a recent interview with Guyana Times, outgoing US Chargé d’Affaires Brian Hunt had noted that the DEA has been actively working with the local agencies to continue to track largely, the cocaine trade – which he claimed was the biggest problem.
“We talked about counter-narcotics. In Guyana’s case, really it’s counter-cocaine – that is the bulk of what is moving through this country,” Hunt stated.
He added that “we are making very good head-way in identifying and seizing the product as it moves through Guyana. And as we identify and seize the product, we get a clearer and clearer picture of who is involved in the cocaine trade”.
Hunt said steps were likely to be taken very soon to see the extradition of suspects from Guyana to the United States to stand trial in those cases where there was a US nexus.
