– CANU, police have traffickers on the defensive, Rohee says
The Customs and Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) has reported an increase in the seizure of narcotics over the last nine months and while Home Affairs Minster Clement Rohee believes this has forced those culpable on the defensive he cautioned that there remains an ongoing battle to combat the scourge.
Rohee’s comments came during a press conference held at his office yesterday where he addressed a number of topical issues. He was flanked by CANU head James Singh and Crime Chief Seelall Persaud. Using a PowerPoint presentation Singh highlighted the increases in seizures this year as compared to the same period last year, which Rohee said was an indication that CANU has been more active this year.
For the period January to September 2008, CANU seized 3 kg 660 grammes of cocaine and 883 grammes of cannabis.
For the period January to September 2009 the seizures of cocaine by CANU increased to 53 kg and 311 grammes, while seizure of cannabis was 23 kg and 314 grammes .
Rohee revealed too that in relation to the institution of charges, CANU charged four persons from January to September 2008 while during the period January to September 2009 a total of 16 persons were charged.
The Guyana Police Force (GPF) seized 30 kg of cocaine in 2008 and charged 91 persons and between the period January to September 2009, police seized 66.6 kg of cocaine and charged 119 persons.
Meanwhile, from January to September last year, the GPF seized or eradicated 35,000 kg of cannabis and charged 303 persons. For the same period this year the GPF seized eradicated 179,000 kg of cannabis and charged 407 persons. According to Rohee, these figures indicate that the agencies have indeed stepped up their interdiction activities.
Rohee highlighted the efforts which have been made to date in terms of government’s anti-narcotic efforts but emphasized that the law enforcement agencies continue to be faced with difficulties in having trials expedited. He stated that his previously expressed concerns about the issue of bail being granted for some of the drug related offences, remain unaddressed. He said he hoped that with the full implementation of the Justice Sector Improvement programme, this situation would eventually be rectified and matters concluded in court at a faster rate.
He further stated that between January and August 2009, of the 425 persons who were granted bail in court, 109 or 24% were persons charged with possession, trafficking or cultivation of narcotics.
Rohee stated that what must be acknowledged is that while law enforcement agencies may charge persons, the final outcome of those matters rest with the courts.
As such, Rohee said, steps are being taken ensure that the preparation and presentation of cases by law enforcement agencies are improved and as such there will be an intensification of training of prosecutors and investigators.
Rohee also told reporters that conviction rates also depended in part on the ability of the ranks assigned to anti-drug units to resist temptation.
He stated that to confront this reality, law enforcement agencies are at the moment involved in capacity building and efforts are being made to ensure that the best quality staff is recruited and trained. He pointed out too that polygraph testing is being used as one of the screening tools available to the respective agencies to ensure that no undesirables are among the ranks of the anti-narcotics units. Also, stronger supervision is being employed to ensure that fewer deviants are allowed to remain in the units.
Winning the war?
Rohee addressed several of Guyana’s international obligations as regards the drug fight but in the local scheme of things he expressed the belief that there is an ongoing contest between law enforcement and those engaged in drug trafficking. Asked whether he felt Guyana was winning the war on drugs, Rohee said he believed that those engaged in the activity are surely not the winners.
“My own view is that they are more and more on the defensive. They are being forced more and more to find creative and innovative ways, unconventional ways to ply their trade…,” he said.
“The drug traffickers are not necessarily winning they are being pushed more on the defensive to get the drugs out of Guyana,” he said.
Addressing what he called “wild and unsubstantiated allegations” by sections of the media and political elements about the government’s drug fight and claims of insufficient efforts in this regard, Rohee argued that significant investments have been made in the anti-narcotic thrust.
Roger Khan
On October 16, drug trafficker Roger Khan was sentenced to 15 years for conspiracy to traffic drugs to the United States. During the trial streams of revelations were made including the fact that Khan led a narco-ring in Guyana.
To date none of his cohorts have ever been arrested and only recently has the Commissioner of Police moved to begin investigations into his activities here. Asked yesterday why no efforts have been made to reign in the friends of Khan, Rohee said that if anyone had information about who the friends were, they could pas it to him or the police.
Asked whether this was an indictment on the government’s part, Rohee said the term pointed to subjectivity and judgement. “We had to let due process in the US take its course and see what came out of that and then make our request to the US authorities,” Rohee said adding, “To go like a bull in a china shop, having two processes running at the same time,” would not have helped either side.
But he said that the evidence which came out the trial was being reproduces in this country to influence the course of events.
During her tenure Rohee’s predecessor Gail Teixeira had said government had no interest in Khan. Questioned on this yesterday, Rohee said he was not there when the minister pronounced on that but added, “I have to say that this government at this point in time has issued instructions to go after any leads that will help in investigations into this matter.
Noting that Crime Chief Seelall Persaud was leading investigations in this regard, Persaud said that the police have contacted several members of society who had made statements.
So far, he said, the information was of no help and apart from that the police were in the process of collecting information which will inform their investigative strategy.
‘Playing the fool’
Rohee then criticized the PNCR for its delay in making its information available to the police. Accusing the party of “shifting the goal post” and “playing the fool,” Rohee said it should at least present its evidence and if there was any refusal by the police to make use of it then the party would have the right to level its criticisms.
“Give the police whatever evidence you have and if they don’t use it then you will be in a better position to criticize,” he insisted.
Following Rohee’s press briefing PNCR Leader Robert Corbin submitted the party’s list of evidence to the police.
With specific reference to the Roger Khan issue the government had made it clear that the GPF is the agency that is legally responsible for investigating any allegation made against Khan or any other person or persons. Rohee said that position remains the same and he added that government is committed to pursuing anyone engaged in any criminal activity including drug trafficking and money laundering. Further he said under the OAS treaty, the US government has been asked and is committed to providing information on the allegations made against Khan.
According to Rohee, Guyana has engaged in co-operation agreements with other countries and international bodies because it recognizes that it cannot fight drugs alone.
He mentioned too that on the international level there has been an increase in the use of human smugglers, swallowers and mules; an increase in the production/trade in cannabis which amounts for four-fifths of the world’s seizures of drugs and also an increase in the use of West African countries as transshipment points for drugs.
He pointed too to the appearance of a new type of cocaine called ‘black cocaine’ and the increase in the production of ‘super cannabis’, which is more potent.
At the local level, he said, law enforcement agencies in the country find cannabis which is generally grown locally and cocaine which is smuggled into the country. He said it has discovered that a relatively small but significant quantity of 2 kg of heroin has been seized so far this year.
The minister pointed out that government has taken action by strengthening capacity of the law enforcement agencies, and a task force was established by cabinet to deal with the problem.
He revealed that a review was conducted of the National Drug Strategy Master Plan and that survey has revealed that 27 of the 36 programmes have either been completed or are in progress . He indicated that a further review is to be undertaken shortly.
Rohee emphasized too that no country is immune from drug trafficking and has its own difficulties in confronting the drug trade. He explained that Guyana has vast land and borders and a huge forested territory to monitor with limited resources.
He noted that a balanced approach to the problem was needed and that this would require an investment of vast resources in demand reduction activities. He noted too that excessive consumption of drugs by citizens could result in a reduction of the country’s productive capacity and an increase in social problems. In this regard he stated that the master plan takes cognizance of the need for demand reduction strategies to be implemented to reduce the consumption of drugs.
Rohee pointed too to cooperation with Guyana’s neighbours and support from residents living along the borders as critical elements to preventing the smuggling of drugs into the country, coupled with an increase in the capacity of law enforcement agencies .
