– Minister Rohee

THE Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and security personnel at the Ogle and Cheddi Jagan International airports have been working recently with a new profiling method for incoming and outgoing passengers at the two terminals.

That is responsible for the increase in the number of persons being held and busted with cocaine, according to Minister of Home Affairs, Mr. Clement Rohee.
Speaking to media at his ministry’s Brickdam, Georgetown boardroom, he said he is very pleased that the new systems employed by the relevant persons have been bearing fruit and he is particularly pleased that more and more persons are being caught.
He said the development proves that the adjustments and strategies being adopted are effective and demonstrate that the system is workable and serving the purpose of tracking those who wish to carry cocaine out of the country.
The minister told reporters that persons who are nabbed at the airports with cocaine are very well aware of what they are carrying and the possible consequences for the offence.
Great risk
He described those who carry the illegal substance as “hustlers” and explained that they are hustling for a living and doing so at a great risk and, because of that, they stand the chance of being apprehended and, once caught, they will have to face the law.
Since the adjustments, CANU and police ranks have been able to build their capacity in identifying the persons who are hustling to take drugs out of the country, Rohee said, maintaining that they are engaging in illegal activities, in fact high-risk actions and, once caught, the consequences will have to be felt by them.
He said persons who are caught with drugs on their persons or in their luggage or other belongings, while transiting the airports, are fully aware of what they are carrying since they are looking to make extra money.
He reminded that there is a risk involved in such practices and, as such, penalties will have to be felt.
Rohee said each month, the Security Committee of the CJIA would meet and discuss and review their existing position with respect to the airport and its environs.
The meeting would, usually, see various ways and means being examined and, wherever loopholes are discovered, those are immediately remedied.
“I believe that those adjustments are now bearing fruit so, together with the administration, airport management, law enforcement, cargo and commercial airlines, a solution was worked out and is now bringing success,” Minister Rohee reported.

(By Leroy Smith )