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– US Drug ReportThe Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Bill, in conjunction with the wiretapping and plea bargaining legislation,Red Schoendienst Cardinals Jersey, once implemented will collectively enhance both the investigative capability of law enforcement authorities,Trevor Rosenthal Cardinals Jersey, as well as the tools available to prosecutors in drug-related and other criminal matters.This is according to the latest United States drug report on Guyana which stated that the lack of implementing these measures has hampered Guyana’s ability to tackle drug trafficking in Guyana.Guyana was commended for the installation of new surveillance cameras installed at the international airport which has positively impacted drug interdiction efforts.The report however stated that efforts by the Guyana Police Force (GPF) Narcotics Branch and CANU have been limited to arresting low level drug couriers at the airport, who carry only small amounts of marijuana,Juan Marichal Giants Jersey, crack cocaine or powder cocaine.“U.S. and Canadian authorities have recently made major seizures of cocaine known to originate in Guyana; these seizures routinely dwarf efforts by Guyanese law enforcement.”The report pointed out the fact that Guyana’s 2005-2009 National Drug Strategy Master Plan (NDSMP) came to a close, but the Government of Guyana achieved few of the plan’s original goals.The report made mention of the fact that the elaborate plans spelled out in the 2005 document envisaged a comprehensive, country-wide counternarcotics programme yet little action was taken toward these ends.The government was commended for the 2008 overhaul of its chief counternarcotics body which it said appeared to be paying dividends in 2009 through greater intelligence sharing and more drug seizures.It did point out that Guyana remains notably absent, however,Gregor Blanco Giants Jersey, from key regional counternarcotics meetings as well as the fact that the United Kingdom-funded $5M,J.A. Happ Blue Jays Jersey, multi-year Security Sector Reform plan was terminated prior to completion.It was noted that the Guyana Government had made little progress on the plan’s key provisions after two years of talks; key sticking points were lack of agreement on government transparency and measuring success.“Implementation of key legislation, including robust laws authorizing wire tapping and plea bargaining,Chris Young Mets Jersey, passed in 2008 continues slowly.”The US Government in the report encourages Guyana to effectively follow up on recent legislation supporting counternarcotics efforts.“The U.S. also encourages the GOG to implement the new plea bargaining and wiretapping laws…We look forward to collaborating with Guyanese law enforcement to test the amended extradition law and emphasize the need for vigorous exploitation of the new money laundering legislation.”Guyana remained listed as a transit country for cocaine, and to a lesser degree marijuana.“Guyana offers ample cover for drug traffickers and smugglers with its vast expanse of unpopulated forest and savannahs.”The government counternarcotics efforts,Chris Davis Orioles Jersey, according to the report, remain hindered by inadequate resources for,Stan Musial Cardinals Jersey, and poor coordination among, law enforcement agencies; an overburdened and inefficient judiciary; and the lack of a coherent and prioritized national security strategy. “Murders, kidnappings,Manny Ramirez Indians Jersey, and other violent crimes commonly believed to be linked with narcotics trafficking are regularly reported in the Guyanese media.” |
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