–President hails move as a deterrent to would-be narco-traffickers

TALKS with the United States of America (USA) to have the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) establish a branch here in Guyana have met with success.

And, with the blessing of the US Congress, equipped DEA personnel will be based in Georgetown at the US Embassy, Duke Street, very soon. Previous cooperation between Guyana’s law enforcement and the US was done through a DEA office based in neighbouring Trinidad.

‘The very fact that we will have people here on the ground, 24/7, will enhance the issue of information sharing, and the probability of building stronger cases against people. We can have more success’ — President Donald Ramotar

The announcement was made at a joint news conference hosted by President Donald Ramotar and outgoing US Ambassador, Brent Hardt.

TANGIBLE ACTION
In welcoming Congress’ approval of the venture, President Ramotar noted that this move will see Guyana being ably supported with increased capacity to crackdown on narco-traffickers.
“The very fact that we will have people here on the ground 24/7,” he said, “will enhance the issue of information sharing and the probability of building stronger cases against people. We can have more success.
“I hope with this close cooperation we will be able to build strong cases. I am hoping for a big improvement in this regard.”
Mr. Ramotar pointed out too that the realisation of a local DEA office is due to the “hard work” of Ambassador Hardt.

‘I want to make our country totally inhospitable to those who try to use Guyana to traffic drugs, and use our country for illicit activities…I hope this stronger cooperation will help to push this forward’ — President Donald Ramotar

“This is something we have been working on for a long time,” the President said. “A lot of this is due to the energy and the efforts of Ambassador Brent Hardt, who has done a lot of work in this regard… and he personally put a lot of effort into this… Now, hopefully, we can make our country much more immune from this type of activity.”
Noting that narco-trafficking is not unique to any one country, President Ramotar said: “All of you would know that from the beginning of my tenure, I have always expressed the view that narco-trafficking is an international problem, and that for us to successfully combat that there is definite need for international cooperation in dealing with this issue.”
He made it clear that moves like the one afoot will serve to make Guyana “inhospitable” to criminal elements. “I want to make our country totally inhospitable to those who try to use Guyana to traffic drugs, and use our country for illicit activities…I hope this stronger cooperation will help to push this forward,” he said.
Mr. Ramotar also seized the opportunity yesterday to highlight the importance of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill.
“Anyone who is against narco-trafficking and against fighting criminals who are involved in this activity should be happy to pass this Bill,” he said, adding: “Not passing this Bill will create an atmosphere that they (criminals) can do their business… The whole idea of the Bill is to block any loopholes in every country of the world, to prevent illegal and illicit gains from being laundered and to discourage this type of activity.”

ADDED CAPACITY

According to Ambassador Hardt, the DEA brings to the table the ability to build those cases against major trafficking organisations. “Once we get the units vetted to the global DEA standards,” he said, “then the information sharing element will become that much more effective smoother.”
He said the “extra capacity” will strengthen what is already a “strong partnership” as the cooperation in cracking down on narco-trafficking is taken to another level.
Noting that the DEAO has been working very closely with the Guyana Police Force (GPF) and Customs Anti-narcotics Unit (CANU) for many years, Ambassador Hardt said:
“I have always believed that a DEA office on the ground in Guyana would allow us to take our counter-narcotics cooperation to an even higher level.”
The Ambassador made it clear that the DEA does not operate on its own in any country that an office is based. “They don’t do investigations on their own,” he said. “The DEA works with their partners in the host country… They don’t go around taking people down; the local partner does that. It (the operations) has to be based on an agreement and partnership… The Government has been very supportive from the outset, and we are confident that we have a solid partner to work with here.”
Hardt said the process of moving equipment has already started, and the personnel to man the DEA local office have already been identified and are available to start work soon.
“It will be a gradual movement of personnel; it will move very quickly…This has been in the works for a long time,” the US Ambassador said.
He reiterated that the more personnel on the ground and on hand will increase the effectiveness of addressing illegal acts.
“The more you are on hand, on the ground you will be more effective…as opposed to being in Trinidad,” Hardt said.
He also lauded the Government of Guyana for its willingness to work closely with the US Embassy and the DEA to facilitate closer operational coordination with Guyanese law enforcement authorities.
“The government’s indications of its commitment to a closer law enforcement partnership, I would wish to note, has played an important role in making this decision possible…your (President Ramotar’s) vital support for a close law enforcement partnership between our countries. The United States looks forward to working even closer with Guyana in the years ahead to protect our citizens from the persistent and always evolving threat from narco-traffickers,” Hardt said.
The DEA is the US’ lead agency for domestic enforcement of federal drug laws, and for coordinating and pursuing US drug investigations abroad.

(By Vanessa Narine)