GOVERNMENT plans to merge the duties of the Police Narcotics Unit and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) under one agency.President David Granger says he prefers a single unit that is stronger. “I agree that the duties of the Police Anti-Narcotics Unit and the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit should be merged,” he told reporters on ‘The Public Interest’ last Thursday.
He acknowledged that while the roles of the two agencies are similar, CANU has greater responsibilities as the police unit, which is smaller, is more or less responsible for mobile and eradication exercises.
“The two functions have to be harmonised; we don’t need two, we need one strong unit,” the President emphasized.
President Granger stated that while CANU has more responsibilities than the police unit, the police unit’s involvement is critical to the narcotics fight as laboratory and forensic work have to be done to determine whether items seized are illicit.
“The police have to be involved,” the president said, while noting that the enforcement aspect which speaks to patrols, aircrafts, and vehicles will all come under one unit yet to be determined.
Asked whether CANU’s head James Singh would be replaced, President Granger said, “We are not anticipating a change in the head of CANU at this point.”