GUYANA and Russia have agreed a “Plan of Action” that would facilitate further training and information-sharing in relation to investigations and operations.

The agreement was reached during the course of a three-day meet in Moscow for the 30th International Drug Enforcement Conference, which saw among those in attendance a three-member delegation from Guyana comprising Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee; Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law Enforcement), Mr. Seelall Persaud; and Head of the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), Mr. James Singh,
all of whom held fruitful discussions with the Colonel-General of Police,  Deputy Director of the Federal Drug Control Service and Chief Executive of the Operational-Investigative Department of Russia.
Minister Rohee also met with representatives of the Netherlands to discuss training opportunities and capacity building for law enforcement officers and intelligence sharing with law enforcement agencies in Guyana.
Bilateral discussions were also held with the delegation from India, which offered assistance in the form of training, counter-narcotics and technology.
The Guyana Police Force has previously benefited from training courses in India, and this latest offer in the area of counter-narcotics will further serve to enhance Guyana’s ability to fight the scourge of narcotics.   Both countries agreed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as a framework for formalizing  cooperation between their respective law enforcement agencies.
Guyana’s presence at the Conference was at the invitation of Russia’s Federal Drug Control Service, and the Drug Enforcement Administration of the Department of Justice of the United States.
The confab was held from June 5 to 7 at the World Trade Centre in Moscow, Russia.
An annual event, it allows for policymakers and senior law enforcement officials of countries the world over to discuss and develop additional strategies aimed at countering the illegal traffic, manufacture and use of drugs, as well as related illegal activities, such as money laundering and the unlawful use of precursor chemicals.
While there, Minister Rohee also met with Russia’s State Secretary, and Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Igor N Zubov, and together they agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries, specifically in the areas of training police ranks, including specialized training.
During the meet, they also exchanged information on the Police Reform Programmes that both countries are currently undertaking. The Russian minister also showed strong interest in Guyana’s Community and Neighbourhood Policing Programmes.
During  bilateral discussions between Guyana’s Home Affairs Minister and the  Minister responsible for the South African Police Service, Mr. Nkosinathi Mthethwa they focused on the drug trade and both sides agreed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in furtherance of their  commitment. It was also agreed that a study would be done of the Triangular Drug Route – Guyana, Brazil and South Africa – with a view to suppressing it through joint efforts.
Minister Rohee also held a meeting with the Brazilian delegation that was attending the conference.