Significant progress in fight against narco- trade in Guyana – CANU deputy head

Guyana has made significant improvements in the fight against narco-trafficking and narco-trade related crimes.
This is according to Deputy Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Lesley Ramlall, who on Monday said that for 2019, efforts by the agency as well as the other counter-narcotics agencies in Guyana have been successful in stemming the flow of narcotics.
Speaking at a training session for CANU officers, Ramlall said that, “not only have we seen a reduction in the flow of narcotics but also a great reduction in the amount of persons attempting to smuggle narcotics through our airports especially during the July-August period. The decreasing number of Guyanese being arrested at the more popular airports overseas, the arrest of a well-known trafficker and two of his associates in the last quarter of 2018 through extensive collaboration with regional and international partners, and the 2019 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report commending Guyana for the efforts, are clear indications that our efforts are beginning to pay dividends.”
However, he pointed out that the use of synthetic drugs has become a prevalent issue, and that plans must be put in place to address this problem which not only affects Guyana but many other countries, regionally and internationally.
“We must be cautious of this since over the last eight years the amount of cocaine flowing through the Caribbean region has more than quadrupled increasing from thirty-five metric tons in 2010 to 184 metric tons in 2018….the use of synthetic drugs is now a new but rapidly expanding phenomena within our region and so it leaves us to ponder what should our approach to such a trend be….we also saw an increase in the use of synthetic drugs particularly ecstasy in our beautiful country.”
He explained that in light of the prevalence of synthetic drugs over the past year in Guyana, there is greater need for inter-agency collaboration to ensure that the younger generation does not suffer the ill effects of these illegal substances.
CANU, he added, will continue working to reduce the flow of narcotics through the seizure, prosecution of traffickers and the forfeiture of their assets. “We will also endeavour to work closer with all stakeholders especially agencies such as the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) to aid in money laundering investigations. We strive to improve the capacity and capabilities of the Unit especially in the areas of information gathering and significantly work towards improving our level of cooperation through intelligence sharing and operational tasking with our local, regional and international counterparts.”
CANU’s Deputy Head further stated that the Unit’s commitment will be fortified by demonstrating an aggressive and robust posture towards narco-traffickers and their associates.
He reiterated that CANU will continue to “take the fight in order to dismantle the activities of narco-trafficking and its related crimes” and focus heavily on eventually ending the profits out of the crime of narco-trafficking.
“However, it is also imperative that we be reminded that we are living in a global village; a global village where borders no longer exist, a global village where crimes are no longer confined to one country or where law enforcement activities are confined to one country. As such it is necessary that we continue to work even closer to ensure that the transnational activities of narco-trafficking and its related crimes are defeated through our efforts and the support of our Government,” he added.