1. Current Status Of the Drug Problem in the Caribbean
Esther Best
Manager
National Drug Council
Trinidad and Tobago

2. Geographical Location

3. Institutional Arrangements
National Drug Councils –
Councils are needed to drive policy and programmes
11 of the 14 Member States have National Drug Councils
Many Member States have Councils which only have responsibility for Demand Reduction
3 Countries have NDC’s which have responsibility for the drug control in its entirety – Bahamas, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago
National Drug Plans and other Policy documents
Based on information from the MEM most Member States do not have Drug Plans
Many have drafts awaiting approval from their Cabinet of Ministers or Parliament
Ascension to International Conventions –
Critical to the maintenance of a balanced approach to drug Control
Acknowledgement and recognition of shared responsibility
A number of Member States still have not signed and ratified all international and hemispheric Conventions

4. International Conventions- Signed, Ratified and Reservations
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS - SIGNED, RATIFIED AND RESERVATIONS (up to October, 2010)
Caribbean
Conventio n against Trans. Organize d Crime (Palermo)
Palermo Conventio n - Protocol to Prevent the Traffiking in Persons
Palermo Conventio n - Protocol against the Smugglin g of Migrants
Palermo Convention - Protocol against The Illicit Manufacturi ng of Firearms
Single Conventio n on Narcotic Drugs
Convention on Psychotrop ic Substances , 1971
Conv. against the Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988
Conv. against Corruptio n, 2003
Firearms (CIFTA)
Corruption
Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters
Antigua and Barbuda
S&R
The Bahamas
RES
Barbados
Belize
Dominica
Grenada
Guyana
Haiti NR
Jamaica
Dominican Rep.
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Vincent and the Gren.
Suriname
Trinidad and Tobago
Total Caribbean 13 12 10 15 14 8 11

5. Institutional Arrangements Cont’d
Money Laundering –
The Caribbean Region is extremely aware of its Money Laundering responsibilities and have been working to rectifying deficiencies in their AML/CFT frameworks.
This commitment is evidenced in their follow-up measures and the increase in attendance and involvement by Members at FATF Plenaries.
Additionally, there are currently no CFATF Members in the FATF International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) process, since the last country was removed from the process at the February Plenary of the FATF
Judicial Cooperation
Most Caribbean countries have Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties that allow for Judicial Cooperation.

6. Supply Reduction Cultivation – Eradication
Cultivation of marijuana is prevalent in many Caribbean Countries
Main countries of export – Guyana, Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Main countries of import – Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados – usually for local consumption and re-exportation
Eradication
Eradication exercises are undertaken – No up to date figures are available for the region

7. Supply Reduction Cont’d
Trafficking of Drugs
Marijuana – Inter-Regional
Cocaine – Extra Regional
Very High Prices – Australia, Europe, South Africa
New routes through Venezuela
Interdiction collaboration with foreign partners
Resulting in seizures both in Caribbean and international ports

8. Control Measures
An area of imbalance in the regions – Some countries have stringent control mechanisms for Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals – Others do not
There has been no Identification of labs for the production of synthetic drugs – However, when offered, member states continue to access training in this area
Trafficking of drugs via the Internet is an area of on-going concern and training has been received by all member states
While the use of synthetic drugs is minimal it is an area which should continue to be closely monitored
The control of firearms is of significance to all member states of the region
There are many laws, and licence systems
Difficulty controlling illegal availability
Periodic seizures; not impacting availability

9. IMPACS Security Strategy
CARICOM CRIME AND SECURITY STRATEGY: STRATEGIC GOALS
Strategic Goal 1
Take the Profit out of Crime, Target Criminal Assets and Protect the Financial System
Strategic Goal 2
Crime Prevention - Addressing the Causes of Crime and Insecurity and Increase Public Awareness of the Key Risks
Strategic Goal 3
Establish Appropriate Legal Instruments While Ratifying Existing Agreements
Strategic Goal 4
Increase Trans-border Intelligence and Information Sharing
Strategic Goal 5
Enhance Law Enforcement and Security Capabilities and Strengthen Regional Security Systems
Strategic Goal 6
Enhance Maritime and Airspace Awareness, Strengthen CARICOM Borders including Continuous Land Borders
Strategic Goal 7
Strengthen the Effectiveness of Criminal Investigation Through Modern Technologies and Scientific Techniques
Strategic Goal 12
Modernise and Enhance Correctional Services and Institutions Management

10. Ensuring Adequate Resources
Human – There is need for adequate human resources with the appropriate training
Technical – Technology is constantly evolving and Member States need to avail themselves of the appropriate technology to drive their drug Control Programmes
Financial – Finances are a challenge in most Member States. There seeking partnership and funding from external agencies and organizations is often a mechanism to meet this need
Reports like the International Narcotic Control Strategy Report (INCSR) could be a “double edged sword”
Seeking appropriate training and technology could result in reducing costs in the medium to long term.
External Resources – Seeking out resources from partner organizations

11. Current Partnerships CICAD - The most consistent partner in the Region
Drug Treatment Courts
Assistance with development of National Drug Plans
DATA Collection –
Drug Information Networks;
Secondary School Surveys – 2001, 2005, 2013;
Standardized Data Collection Forms for Treatment centres– Pilot 2013, expansion February 2014
Prison Research – OECS Member States, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago

12. CICAD Projects Chemical and Pharmaceutical Control
Trafficking of drugs via the internet
Development of legislation
Maritime interdiction
Searching of vessels
Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism
Assessment of the status of drug control in Member States
Money Laundering
Improved money laundering programmes
Development of the Asset Management Procedures for the Caribbean ( BIDAL programme in Latin America)

13. 9th European Development Fund (9th EDF)
CARICOM implemented activities under the 9th EDF to undertake capacity building and institutional strengthening in Member States.
Projects resulted in:
Support for a body to oversee the technical operations of the project
CARICOM Technical Advisory Body (TAB) of the Regional Drug Demand Reduction Strategy Strengthened
Establishment of National Drug Councils – Belize and St.Lucia re-established
Develop National Drug Plans – Bahamas, Belize, St.Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines assisted
Strengthen participation in the MEM
Improve Monitoring and Evaluation of programmes and projects

14. 9th EDF Cont’d
Develop culturally appropriate prevention and education messages
Demand and Supply Reduction
Identifying areas where legislation is needed
Developing a model for Standards of Care in Treatment and Rehabilitation facilities
Established and Strengthened Drug Information Networks in collaboration with CICAD – Regional

15. 10th EDF
To strengthen the region’s capacity to reduce drug demand and combat illicit drug trafficking and the related transnational criminal activity and financial crime
Effective implementation of drug demand reduction strategies, policies and programmes in CARIFORUM
Effective implementation of drug supply control initiatives together with enhanced coordination and dialogue with Latin America.
Strengthening human, technical and institutional capacity of DDR institutions, systems and networks
 Development and delivery of culturally and age appropriate, gender sensitive DDR prevention education programmes in schools and communities

16. 10th EDF Cont’d
Delivery of culturally and age appropriate, gender sensitive treatment and rehabilitation services and interventions
 Research driven drug policy, interventions.
Expansion of the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) in CARIFORUM
Establishment of the Advanced Cargo Information System (ACIS) in CARIFORUM
Border security to support harmonization and standardization of practices, policies and procedures utilized by customs and immigration officials.
Capacity Building of Information and Intelligence Resources in CARIFORUM
Strengthening the capacities of law enforcement and border security personnel to address illicit trafficking in RSS Member States

17. Investment in Crime Prevention
Caribbean Basin Security Initiative
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
Spanish Government
10th EDF - Increased crime and violence prevention in CARIFORUM

18. Training Opportunities
New trends in trafficking
Jetway – Profiling of drug traffickers at the airport
Establishment of a Regional Counter Drug Intelligence Training School
Marine Interdiction Operations – French Customs
Chemical and Pharmaceutical Control – legislation, protocols and practices

19. The Marijuana Debate
Decision of the CARICOM Heads of Government to explore
Medical use of marijuana
On-going discussion
Decriminalisation
Legalisation

20. Research and Data Collection
Data Collected
Arrests
Incarceration
Seizures
Eradication
Judicial Cooperation
# of Persons in DTC
# of Persons in Treatment
# of collaborations with International Partners
# of seizures from International cooperation
# of Maritime, and Air Interdiction Exercises
Research
School Surveys
Prison Surveys
Research on the handling of Marijuana use
Evaluation of available Pharmaceuticals
Other research on Emerging trends etc
Data Analysis and GPS Mapping of the following:
Seizures – Local and in conduction with overseas partner agencies
Eradications
Interdiction exercises – Land, Maritime and Arial
Persons in prisons

21. Questions and Comments