Transcript Current Status Of the Drug problem in the Caribbean

Esther Best
Manager
National Drug Council
Trinidad and Tobago

National Drug Councils –

National Drug Plans and other Policy documents

Ascension to International Conventions –
◦ Councils are needed to drive policy and programmes
◦ 11 of the 14 Member States have National Drug Councils
◦ Many Member States have Councils which only have responsibility for
Demand Reduction
◦ 3 Countries have NDC’s which have responsibility for the drug control in
its entirety – Bahamas, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago
◦ Based on information from the MEM most Member States do not have
Drug Plans
◦ Many have drafts awaiting approval from their Cabinet of Ministers or
Parliament
◦ Critical to the maintenance of a balanced approach to drug Control
◦ Acknowledgement and recognition of shared responsibility
◦ A number of Member States still have not signed and ratified all
international and hemispheric Conventions
INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTIONS SIGNED, RATIFIED
AND RESERVATIONS
(up to October, 2010)
Conventio
n against
Trans.
Organize
d Crime
(Palermo)
Palermo
Conventio
nProtocol
to Prevent
the
Traffiking
in Persons
Palermo
Conventio
nProtocol
against
the
Smugglin
g of
Migrants
Palermo
Convention
- Protocol
against The
Illicit
Manufacturi
ng of
Firearms
Single
Conventio
n on
Narcotic
Drugs
Antigua and Barbuda
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
The Bahamas
RES
S&R
S&R
S&R
Caribbean
Barbados
Belize
S&R
S&R
S&R
Dominica
Convention
on
Psychotrop
ic
Substances
, 1971
Conv.
against the
Illicit
Trafficking
in Narcotic
Drugs and
Psychotropic
Substances,
1988
Conv.
against
Corruptio
n, 2003
Firearms
(CIFTA)
Corruption
Mutual
Assistance
in Criminal
Matters
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
RES
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
Grenada
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
Guyana
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
Haiti
NR
NR
NR
NR
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
Jamaica
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
NR
S&R
Dominican Rep.
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
NR
St Kitts and Nevis
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
St Lucia
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
St Vincent and the Gren.
NR
NR
NR
S&R
S&R
S&R
NR
S&R
Suriname
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
Trinidad and Tobago
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
S&R
13
12
12
10
15
14
15
8
15
14
11
Total Caribbean
S&R
S&R

Money Laundering –
◦ The Caribbean Region is extremely aware of its Money
Laundering responsibilities and have been working to
rectifying deficiencies in their AML/CFT frameworks.
◦ This commitment is evidenced in their follow-up
measures and the increase in attendance and
involvement by Members at FATF Plenaries.
◦ Additionally, there are currently no CFATF Members in
the FATF International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG)
process, since the last country was removed from the
process at the February Plenary of the FATF

Judicial Cooperation
◦ Most Caribbean countries have Mutual Legal Assistance
Treaties that allow for Judicial Cooperation.

Cultivation –
◦ Cultivation of marijuana is prevalent in many
Caribbean Countries
◦ Main countries of export – Guyana, Jamaica and St.
Vincent and the Grenadines
◦ Main countries of import – Trinidad and Tobago
and Barbados – usually for local consumption and
re-exportation

Eradication
◦ Eradication exercises are undertaken – No up to
date figures are available for the region

Trafficking of Drugs
◦ Marijuana – Inter-Regional
◦ Cocaine – Extra Regional
 Very High Prices – Australia, Europe, South Africa
 New routes through Venezuela

Interdiction collaboration with foreign partners
◦ Resulting in seizures both in Caribbean and
international ports


An area of imbalance in the regions – Some countries have stringent
control mechanisms for Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals – Others do not
There has been no Identification of labs for the production of synthetic
drugs – However, when offered, member states continue to access training
in this area

Trafficking of drugs via the Internet is an area of on-going concern and
training has been received by all member states

While the use of synthetic drugs is minimal it is an area which should
continue to be closely monitored

The control of firearms is of significance to all member states of the region
◦ There are many laws, and licence systems
◦ Difficulty controlling illegal availability
◦ Periodic seizures; not impacting availability
CARICOM CRIME AND SECURITY STRATEGY: 14 - STRATEGIC GOALS

Strategic Goal 1








◦ Take the Profit out of Crime, Target Criminal Assets and Protect the Financial System
Strategic Goal
2
Strategic Goal
3
Strategic Goal
4
Strategic Goal
5
Strategic Goal
6
Strategic Goal
7
◦ Crime Prevention - Addressing the Causes of Crime and Insecurity and Increase Public
Awareness of the Key Risks
◦ Establish Appropriate Legal Instruments While Ratifying Existing Agreements
◦ Increase Trans-border Intelligence and Information Sharing
◦ Enhance Law Enforcement and Security Capabilities and Strengthen Regional Security
Systems
◦ Enhance Maritime and Airspace Awareness, Strengthen CARICOM Borders including
Continuous Land Borders
◦ Strengthen the Effectiveness of Criminal Investigation Through Modern Technologies and
Scientific Techniques
Strategic Goal 12
Modernise and Enhance Correctional Services and Institutions Management

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
Human – There is need for adequate human resources with
the appropriate training
Technical – Technology is constantly evolving and Member
States need to avail themselves of the appropriate
technology to drive their drug Control Programmes
Financial – Finances are a challenge in most Member States.
There seeking partnership and funding from external
agencies and organizations is often a mechanism to meet
this need
◦ Reports like the International Narcotic Control Strategy Report
(INCSR) could be a “double edged sword”
◦ Seeking appropriate training and technology could result in reducing
costs in the medium to long term.

External Resources – Seeking out resources from partner
organizations
CICAD - The most consistent partner in the Region

Drug Treatment Courts

Assistance with development of National Drug
Plans

DATA Collection –
◦ Drug Information Networks;
◦ Secondary School Surveys – 2001, 2005, 2013;
◦ Standardized Data Collection Forms for Treatment
centres– Pilot 2013, expansion February 2014
◦ Prison Research – OECS Member States, Jamaica, and
Trinidad and Tobago

Chemical and Pharmaceutical Control
◦ Trafficking of drugs via the internet
◦ Development of legislation

Maritime interdiction
◦ Searching of vessels

Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism
◦ Assessment of the status of drug control in Member
States

Money Laundering
◦ Improved money laundering programmes
◦ Development of the Asset Management Procedures
for the Caribbean ( BIDAL programme in Latin
America)


CARICOM implemented activities under the 9th
EDF to undertake capacity building and
institutional strengthening in Member States.
Projects resulted in:
◦ Support for a body to oversee the technical operations
of the project
 CARICOM Technical Advisory Body (TAB) of the Regional
Drug Demand Reduction Strategy Strengthened
◦ Establishment of National Drug Councils – Belize and
St.Lucia re-established
◦ Develop National Drug Plans – Bahamas, Belize,
St.Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines assisted
◦ Strengthen participation in the MEM
◦ Improve Monitoring and Evaluation of programmes and
projects
◦ Develop culturally appropriate prevention and
education messages
 Demand and Supply Reduction
◦ Identifying areas where legislation is needed
◦ Developing a model for Standards of Care in
Treatment and Rehabilitation facilities
◦ Established and Strengthened Drug Information
Networks in collaboration with CICAD – Regional

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To strengthen the region’s capacity to reduce drug
demand and combat illicit drug trafficking and the
related transnational criminal activity and financial
crime
Effective implementation of drug demand reduction
strategies, policies and programmes in CARIFORUM
Effective implementation of drug supply control
initiatives together with enhanced coordination and
dialogue with Latin America.
Strengthening human, technical and institutional
capacity of DDR institutions, systems and networks
Development and delivery of culturally and age
appropriate, gender sensitive DDR prevention
education programmes in schools and communities
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Delivery of culturally and age appropriate, gender
sensitive treatment and rehabilitation services and
interventions
Research driven drug policy, interventions.
Expansion of the Advanced Passenger Information
System (APIS) in CARIFORUM
Establishment of the Advanced Cargo Information System
(ACIS) in CARIFORUM
Border security to support harmonization and
standardization of practices, policies and procedures
utilized by customs and immigration officials.
Capacity Building of Information and Intelligence
Resources in CARIFORUM
Strengthening the capacities of law enforcement and
border security personnel to address illicit trafficking in
RSS Member States

Caribbean Basin Security Initiative

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Spanish Government

10th EDF - Increased crime and violence
prevention in CARIFORUM
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New trends in trafficking
Jetway – Profiling of drug traffickers at the
airport
Establishment of a Regional Counter Drug
Intelligence Training School
Marine Interdiction Operations – French
Customs
Chemical and Pharmaceutical Control –
legislation, protocols and practices

Decision of the CARICOM Heads of
Government to explore
◦ Medical use of marijuana

On-going discussion
◦ Decriminalisation
◦ Legalisation
Data Collected
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
Arrests
Incarceration
Seizures
Eradication
Judicial Cooperation
# of Persons in DTC
# of Persons in Treatment
# of collaborations with International
Partners
# of seizures from International
cooperation
# of Maritime, and Air Interdiction Exercises
Research
School Surveys
Prison Surveys
Research on the handling of Marijuana
use
Evaluation of available Pharmaceuticals
Other research on Emerging trends etc
Data Analysis and GPS Mapping of the
following:
◦ Seizures – Local and in
conduction with overseas partner
agencies
◦ Eradications
◦ Interdiction exercises – Land,
Maritime and Arial
◦ Persons in prisons