The reigns will be tightened on drug dealers in Guyana through the coordination of various anti-narcotics agencies as the State fights against drug trafficking, Minister of State Joseph Harmon has announced.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon
The Minister made the comment at a post-Cabinet press briefing on Thursday. According to Harmon, the recent establishment of the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA) will change the fight against drug trafficking through better coordination of all other anti-narcotics agencies, including the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) and the Guyana Police Force’s Anti Narcotics Agency.
“What I can say is that the architecture of the fight against drugs will undergo some change with the establishment of our National Anti-Narcotics Agency that will see greater levels of coordination of the agencies that are involved in the fight against illegal drugs. And that is something that is going to happen soon,” Harmon explained.
The Minister of State asserted that this will ensure that drug dealers in the country are aware that government has taken a very firm stance on drug trafficking.
Harmon also highlighted that through the coordination of activities of these anti-narcotic agencies, the fight against drug trafficking is expected to intensify as per the President’s expectations.
In response to questions, which arose pertaining to President David Granger never visiting the Head of CANU, James Smith, the Minister of State defended Granger, highlighting that the visit was never necessary since the Head of State meets with Public Security Minister Khemraj Ramjattan, on a weekly basis.
NANA now functions as the main coordinating agency in the fight against drug trafficking, with CANU being the leading drug fighting agency in the country, along with the Police Narcotics Branch and the Guyana Revenue Authority, playing other key roles.
NANA is expected to manage and connect the other entities as they work along with international drug counternarcotics agencies in the drug fight.
