By Vernon Daley, Staff Reporter 
Phillips and Harding
MONEY WHICH the Government has derived from the forfeiture of ill-gotten assets from criminals is being used to assist drug addicts as well as put a dent into the island's growing drug problem.
Dr. Peter Phillips, Minister of National Security, told the House last week that so far a number of agencies had been assisted by the proceeds of forfeited property.
"What we have done is committed money to support the narcotics division of the police as well as the National Council for Drug Abuse and the Addition Alert organisation, which are trying to relieve the plight of persons who may be addicted to illegal drugs," he said.
He added that funds have been dedicated to support the Constabulary Communications Network (CCN), the public relations arm of the police. The Minister added that money was also earmarked to purchase 'counter-narcotics' equipment for the Ministry of National Security.
The Minister made the comments after tabling an affirmative resolution, which gives effect to an agreement between Jamaica and Canada to share assets which have been seized under the 1999 Forfeited Property Act. The resolution was subsequently approved by the House.
This agreement be-tween the two countries has resulted in the forfeiture of two sums of money amounting to more than $9 million, Dr. Phillips told the House. The Supreme Court of Jamaica gave approval for the seizure of the monies, which were held in local bank accounts by Jamaicans convicted of drug crimes in Canada.
On Friday the resolution was approved by the Senate after a short debate. In supporting the resolution, Leader of Opposition Business, Senator Oswald Harding said Jamaica could not go it alone in dealing with the threats posed by illegal drugs. "We need co-operation," he said, suggesting that the agreement with Canada was a step in that
direction.
