-seeks ‘tangible’ progress on probes, extraditions

THE United States is seeking to strengthen Guyana’s counter-narcotics capabilities by enhancing interagency coordination and help gather better information on drug trafficking routes.

This was the position taken in that country’s 2017 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report on this country. The 2017 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) is an annual report by the Department of State to Congress prepared in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act. It describes the efforts of key countries to attack all aspects of the international drug trade in Calendar Year 2016.
The report said that that the United States would welcome increased levels of cooperation with the Government of Guyana to advance mutual interests against the threat of international drug trafficking.

“Guyana has shown strong interest in furthering collaboration under CBSI. The United States looks forward to tangible progress on investigations, prosecutions, extraditions, security sector capacity enhancement, the engagement of at-risk communities, and enforcement of laws against money laundering and financial crimes.”
The US said the Guyana Government cooperates closely with Washington but is limited by resource constraints and high levels of corruption in the country. The report noted that the APNU+AFC administration has expressed a strong willingness to cooperate with the United States on drug control, extradition, and mutual legal assistance, and other international crime issues.

According to the report, Guyana is a transit country for cocaine destined for the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and West Africa. Cocaine originating in Colombia is smuggled to Venezuela and onward to Guyana by sea or air. Smugglers also transit land borders with Brazil, Venezuela, and Suriname. Cocaine is often concealed in legitimate commodities and smuggled via commercial maritime vessels, air transport, human couriers, “go-fast” boats or various postal methods. The influence of narcotics trafficking is evident in the country’s criminal justice systems and other sectors. Traffickers are attracted by the country’s poorly monitored ports, remote airstrips, intricate river networks, porous land borders, and weak security sector capacity.

According to the report, Guyana has legislation in place that could enable a more-effective response to the threat of drug trafficking, noting that the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act of 2009, Interception of Communications Act of 2008, Criminal Law Procedure Act (revised in 1998), and Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances (Control) Act of 1988 were designed to enhance the investigative capabilities of law enforcement authorities and prosecutors in obtaining convictions of drug traffickers.
In September 2016, using the 1988 Narcotic Act, the Guyanese government convicted one person for trafficking cocaine. In 2016, the Government of Guyana launched a new National Drug Strategy Masterplan (2016-2020) and created a National Anti-Narcotics Agency (NANA).

“The government also amended its anti-money laundering law and drafted whistleblower and witness protection legislation. The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has the mandate to detect, prevent, and deter money laundering and financing of terrorist activities in Guyana,” the report stated.

It added that the FIU is charged with preparing suspicious transactions reports for the Special Organized Crime Unit (SOCU) to investigate, but is severely understaffed and ineffective. The report noted that in the month of June, government appointed a new director of the FIU, and the functional capacity of the unit is progressing. The Special Organized Crime Unit became operational in 2015. The report noted that despite its limited staffing capacity, in February 2016, the SOCU seized roughly $80,000 in cash from suspected drug proceeds and arrested two persons suspected of money laundering. This was the first seizure under Guyana’s updated anti-money laundering legislation.

Supply Reduction
Meanwhile, the report acknowledged that Guyana has a drug enforcement presence at its international airports, post offices, and to a lesser extent, at port and land-border entry points.
“The five major agencies involved in anti-drug efforts are the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU), the Serious Organised Crimes Unit (SOCU), and the Guyana Defense Force (GDF). The GDF supports law enforcement agencies with boats, aircraft, and personnel but has limited capacity and lacks law enforcement authority.”

The Guyana Coast Guard (GCG), a GDF sub-component and U.S. partner in maritime interdiction, patrols Guyana’s territorial waters and conducts humanitarian search and rescue missions. In 2012, with U.S. funding through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) Container Control Program (CCP) established a multi-agency CCP Port Control Unit at the John Fernandes Wharf, Guyana’s most active port. In April 2016, the CCP Unit detected and seized 48 kilograms (kg) of cocaine and in June, 579 kg of marijuana. Through the first six months of 2016, the GPF reported seizing 16 kg of cocaine, a significant decrease from the 134.2 kg of cocaine that was seized over the same period in 2015. CANU reported seizing 60 kg of cocaine over this period (down from 568.3 kg in 2015), and the GRA did not report any seizures. Guyanese authorities convicted 46 persons on drug related charges during 2016.

Demand reduction
However, the US report stated that Guyana lacks a comprehensive demand reduction strategy that adequately addresses drug rehabilitation. The report states that the United States supports a wide range of efforts designed to address crime and violence affecting Guyanese citizens, primarily through Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI). CBSI is a security partnership between the United States and Caribbean nations that seek to substantially reduce illicit trafficking, advance public safety and citizen security, and promote justice. Efforts to increase law enforcement capabilities, protect borders and ports, strengthen workforce development, and promote anti-money laundering effectiveness directly address priority concerns shared by Guyana and the United States.

According to the report the Government of Guyana cooperates closely with the United States but is limited by resource constraints and high levels of corruption in the country. CBSI-funded programs support Guyana’s maritime operations by providing interdiction assets, and relevant command and control systems, as well as associated logistical support and training. In 2016, the United States provided port and maritime training to Guyana’s Coast Guard. U.S. assistance programmes also promote law enforcement professionalization and more effective narcotics investigations.