THE United States is still unhappy about the Keith Rowley Government’s response to billion-dollar drug and gun trafficking.
The new allocation of financial and technical resources by the US authorities is aimed at forcing more action against drug transhipment and the illicit trade in guns and weapons.
Vice President Kamala Harris on June 8 announced a slew of measures to assist T&T and fellow Caricom countries deal with drug and firearm trafficking, overall security, forensics, law enforcement capacity building and associated matters.
Harris revealed that the US would assign senior officials to the tasks.
With regard to the illegal shipments of firearms and ammunition, the Department of Justice would create a top post of firearms coordinator.
The Americans are also throwing a lot of resources into the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit, which is based in T&T.
The aim is “to solve gun-related crime cases, deter gun crimes in the region and bring criminals to justice.”
The US would also provide assistance on law enforcement capacity building, aimed at strengthening the police service, its administration, and its investigative capabilities.
Harris’ broad-ranged support follows the recent rare $234 million drug bust in Chaguaramas, for which three people and a single weapon were held.
US Ambassador Candace Bond took the unusual step of detailing the support provided for the drug seizure by two high-profile US agencies.
Ms. Bond said there were six US law enforcement agencies based in T&T.
She said the arrest was “tangible evidence that the US Embassy is delivering to the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”
The US authorities have consistently pointed to T&T’s “ideal location” for drug transhipment, the porous borders, the lack of sustainable Government-funded programmes and gaps in legislation.
Certain Caricom countries and Mexico had earlier threatened legal action against US interests for gun exports.
A United Nations report three months ago said that “sophisticated weapons” were being trafficked into violence-torn Haiti.
An earlier UN report said that in T&T, “drug-trafficking and gang-related crimes continue to fuel the demand for illicit firearms, aggravating the impact of violent crimes.”
Now, the US is getting tough on the issue and is pressuring the T&T authorities to do more on illegal drugs and guns.
Harris told Caricom leaders that “too many people in all our countries are dying from gun violence.”
She voiced serious concern about illegal firearm sales.
