26/06/2020
Happy International Day against Drug Abuse & Illicit Trafficking. This year's theme is "Better knowledge for Better care" #factsforsolidarity
Message from the Minister of National Security, the Honourable Stuart R. Young M.P. in recognition of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking- June 26, 2020
The Ministry of National Security joins with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in recognizing International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking today, Friday June 26th, 2020.
"Better Knowledge for Better Care” is this year’s theme and the UNODC notes that this is necessary as the drug problem, “has been 'plagued' by misinformation of many kinds”. Naturally, this poses a serious challenge to any fight against the use and mis-use of drugs as well as illicit trafficking.
The opening sentence of the Vision 2030 document of the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago “There are times in the development path of a country when extraordinary challenges demand an equally compelling response” is in alignment with the theme, as it signals the Government’s intent to manage the country’s development and to seek information to ensure that the appropriate responses are delivered.
There is the international recognition that substance use and drug trafficking are intertwined with social, economic and environmental challenges, which can only be addressed through collective responsibility. To address this Trinidad and Tobago has aligned its policies and programmes to international and hemispheric conventions and agreements and developed a robust system for management of drug control that is both multi-dimensional and multi-sectorial.
These systems have remained resolute even as the pandemic of the Corona virus has impacted our everyday lives, the agencies in the Ministry of National Security continue to fulfil their specific roles and responsibilities in the management of our borders, ensuring that the appropriate drug testing is being undertaken at the level of the Forensic Science Centre, eradication of marijuana, as well as seizures of various drugs.
During the first five (5) months of 2020 the following activities were undertaken:
• The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) recorded:
o The seizure of five hundred and forty six (546) Kilograms of Marijuana,
o One hundred and seventeen (117) kilograms of cocaine.
o Forty seven (47) eradication exercises resulting in the destruction of:
Five thousand three hundred and ninety eight (5398) fully grown trees and
One hundred and five thousand, and ninety two (105,092) seedlings.
Another area of urgent attention is the presence of ecstasy and other amphetamine type substances in our country.
Over fifteen hundred (1500) ecstasy tablets have been confiscated.
The Forensic Science Centre, the National Drug Council and the Integrated Threat Assessment Centre of the Office of the Prime Minister must be commended, as they have been at the forefront of managing the testing and data collection on this matter. They work collaboratively with a number of agencies across government ministries on the maintenance of the Early Warning System. Due to the information from this system, government amended the Dangerous Drugs Act late last year, and for the first time one person has been brought before the courts for the importation of over eleven hundred pieces of ecstasy.
The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force, through the Trinidad and Tobago Coast Guard conducted:
One thousand three hundred and sixty (1360) patrols which yielded:
o The seizure of one hundred and sixteen (116) kilograms of Marijuana,
o Five hundred and sixty five (565) Kilos of cocaine,
o Identification of two hundred and fifty six (256) illegal immigrants.
To further curb the illicit trafficking of drugs other measures include tighter control of money laundering, as well as increased management of those chemicals which can be directed to the manufacture of some illegal drugs.
Trinidad and Tobago has maintained strong relationships with key international organizations, and member states which have significantly enhanced our capacity to deliver relevant drug control policies and programmes, while also acquiring appropriate equipment, training and technology. These organizations include, the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission of the Organization of American States, The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Cooperation Programme on Drugs Phase II, funded by the European Union. Our partner countries include but are not limited to, the United States of America, The United Kingdom, Canada, Colombia and The Federal Republic of Germany.
Trinidad and Tobago has the lead role for security in the quasi Cabinet of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and support is provided to the CARICOM Secretariat, as it manages all security matters through the Council of Ministers of National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE); its Supply and Demand Reduction units; the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, (IMPACS), and the Regional Security System (RSS).
The Ministry of National Security, and its partner agencies in government and Civil Society, remain resolute in treating with the issues of substance use and drug trafficking through a coordinated and comprehensive approach.
Every day we see the negative and destructive, effects of drug use and trafficking on individuals, families, and communities. Our citizenry, especially our youth, is at risk. We therefore join the international community in recognition of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking 2020 and reaffirm our commitment and resources to ensuring the most effective and efficient responses in all areas of drug control.
