By Lloyd Williams, Senior Associate EditorTHE UNITED States Government says that while the Jamaican Government has taken steps to reduce drug trafficking here, it could do more to go after the really big drug smugglers.
This view is expressed in the latest issue of the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report which assesses the efforts being made by more than 140 countries to curb the trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, and money laundering.
The INCSR is published annually by the US State Department's Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. It states that Jamaica, which is a major transit point for cocaine en route to the United States and other countries, and is the largest producer and exporter of marijuana (ganja) in the Caribbean, took several steps in 2001 to strengthen its counter-narcotics law enforcement and interdiction capabilities.
"Nevertheless", it states, "the GoJ needs to undertake more intensive law enforcement action to disrupt the trafficking of large amounts of cocaine in Jamaican territory and territorial waters. Such actions include arresting and prosecuting significant drug traffickers operating in Jamaica, dismantling groups that conduct the drug trade, and increasing drug seizures and eradication.
"Although Jamaican (security) forces participated in combined operations under the Jamaica-US bilateral maritime (Shiprider) agreement during the year, the GoJ could take better advantage of the agreement in order to reduce the drug flow. US agencies note that counter-narcotics co-operation with their GoJ counterparts is generally good but could be improved. The US will continue to provide equipment, technical assistance and training to assist the GoJ strengthen its counter-narcotics capabilities."
INCSR noted though that the Jamaica Constabulary was recruiting candidates for a special investigative unit "to target significant drug traffickers."
On bilateral co-operation, INCSR said co-operation by US law enforcement agencies with their Jamaican counterparts "is generally good, but could be significantly improved." The report went on:
"The JDF Coast Guard continued to participate conservatively in US-Jamaica maritime interdiction operations under the bilateral maritime counter-narcotics agreement, but it could be more aggressive". It points out that Jamaican maritime assets were "old, slow, often under repair, and are unable to intercept 'go-fast' boats transporting drugs".
But help is coming. It said the US and Jamaica signed a letter of agreement in October for the US to procure for Jamaica, three "go-fast" interceptor boats, ionscan machines (able to detect even tiny traces of drugs and ammunition) for use at the two international airports and training equipment for the Jamaica Police Academy. Also, the US is funding an adviser for the constabulary's National Firearms and Drug Intelligence Centre.
In looking ahead, INCSR states:
"While the GoJ has taken steps to protect itself against drug trafficking and other types of organised crime, the substantial increase in drug trafficking through Jamaica indicates the need for the GoJ to intensify and focus its law enforcement efforts and enhance its international co-operation. The GoJ needs to enact and implement modern anti-crime legislation, such as court-ordered wiretaps, undercover operations, controlled deliveries, and use of ionscan technology in court proceedings, that will permit Jamaican law enforcement to investigate, arrest and successfully prosecute drug traffickers and other criminals. The GoJ also needs to revise its drug legislation to include MDMA (ecstasy) and other new drugs. The GoJ should take steps to strengthen its immigration controls to inhibit the free movements of drug traffickers and other criminals."
But the report concedes that Jamaica's efforts to curtail the activities of international cocaine traffickers is not easy. It quotes a senior Jamaican Government official as stating that "there is some evidence that drug cartels have begun to establish command and control centres in Jamaica".
INCSR states that while small groups of Jamaicans affiliated with local organised crime organisations conducted most of the drug trade in the past, "current intelligence suggests that Colombian traffickers are building closer links with local traffickers."
It cites another official who says the government estimates that 70 to 100 tons of cocaine are transhipped through Jamaica yearly, the cocaine arriving primarily from Colombia's north coast by "go-fast" boats or concealed in commercial shipments, parasitic attachments to the hulls of merchant vessels, and couriers who board airliners or cruise ships with the cocaine ingested or concealed in their luggage or on their person. It cites an 18-month investigation involving law enforcement agents from Jamaica, the US, Canada and the Bahamas which it said culminated in the arrest in the Bahamas in February 2001 of Samuel "Ninety" Knowles, and the dismantling of his cocaine trafficking ring, which is estimated to have moved at least one tonne of cocaine a month through the Caribbean. Knowles who lived in Jamaica for a time, is in the Bahamas awaiting extradition to the United States.
INCSR also cited a US Customs Service report that Jamaica is the source of the largest number of passengers arrested with drugs at US airports.
