Regional leaders push for stronger cooperation to combat rising drug trafficking

The fight against drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Guiana Shield regions took centre stage at a high-level seminar in Martinique, where judicial leaders, including Guyana’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Shalimar Ali-Hack, SC, called for unified action to address the escalating drug crisis.
Held from December 9 to 12, under the theme “Never has drugs been produced so much in the world, never has it been so distributed,” the event brought together stakeholders from across the Caribbean Basin and beyond. Discussions highlighted the increasing threat of the illicit drug trade and its devastating impact on regional security, public health, and economies.
Prosecutor General at the Court of Appeal of Cayenne, French Guiana, Joel Sollier, underscored the need for immediate and effective cooperation across borders.
“It is becoming essential for an effective fight and to protect our overseas territories, to strengthen judicial cooperation, not only at the level of the islands of the region but also with the United States (US) and nearby American states, such as Venezuela and Colombia, and those particularly affected and carrying security challenges such as Ecuador and Brazil,” Sollier stressed.

The seminar also acknowledged that the drug trade fuels violent crime and poses a significant public health crisis. “Drugs kill, and addiction can be a never-ending struggle for users,” Sollier added, emphasising the human cost of the illicit trade.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reported in 2021 that 39.5 million people globally suffer from substance abuse disorders—an alarming 45 per cent increase over the past decade.
In her presentation, DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack highlighted Guyana’s ongoing efforts to tackle drug trafficking and the importance of regional collaboration.
“We need a regional network and collaboration,” she said. “The idea is for agencies across all countries to cooperate in this fight. We have to build on the cooperation already existing in the region.”
Ali-Hack also addressed the societal consequences of addiction, noting its strain on human resources and economic development.
“There are persons suffering from addiction, and this poses a problem for our human resources and ultimately affects our economies,” she said.
Guyana’s implementation of a Drug Treatment Court was highlighted as a positive step toward addressing addiction and offering rehabilitation for affected individuals.
The seminar included judicial representatives from CARICOM nations such as Jamaica, Suriname, St Lucia, and St Kitts and Nevis, alongside non-CARICOM participants from France, Quebec (Canada), Ecuador, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, the US, St Martin, and Panama.
The meeting shed light on the need for regional and international collaboration to confront the worsening drug trafficking crisis. With the Caribbean and Guiana Shield serving as key transit hubs for drugs destined for markets in the US and Europe, leaders agreed that a collective, coordinated approach is vital to dismantling drug networks and mitigating the societal damage they cause.
As calls for action intensify, leaders emphasised that tackling drug trafficking requires both strengthened judicial systems and innovative solutions to address addiction and rehabilitation.