Govt denies DEA probe of PNM officials

Meanwhile, the DEA has identified Trinidad and Tobago as one of the most cooperative nations in the region in the fight against international drug traffickers.

At a public meeting in Rio Claro last Friday, Persad-Bissessar claimed she received information that the DEA was investigating three PNM officials and a report was sent to Prime Minister Patrick Manning. She subsequently told Newsday she had no hard evidence on the matter and was seeking clarification from the Prime Minister. Persad-Bissessar declined to say whether the PNM officials she referred to were Government ministers or not. On Sunday, top officers of the Organised Crime and Narcotics Unit (OCNU), which liaises with the DEA on matters, said they had no information regarding investigations being carried out by the DEA.

Government officials said there was no truth to Persad-Bissessar’s allegation because the Office of the Attorney General would have been informed of such an investigation and this is not the case.

According to a recent report from the South American/Caribbean branch of the Strategic Intelligence Section of the office of International Enforcement Support, the DEA said the Caribbean remains a major transit route for South American cocaine to the US, and TT is one of its best partners in its efforts to prevent drug traffickers from using the region for money laundering or as a trans-shipment area for illegal drugs to the US or other international markets.

The DEA noted that TT is a signatory to several major international anti-drug agreements (including the 1971 UN Convention of Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 UN Drug Convention) and has a maritime law enforcement agreement with the US. The DEA also indicated that despite its vulnerability to drug traffickers (due to its geographical proximity to Venezuela), TT law enforcement agencies have been able to seize significant quantities of cocaine and marijuana and TT has stiff penalties to prevent money laundering activities.

The DEA added that international drug traffickers do not regard TT as "an important regional or offshore financial centre" and is not a source nation for chemicals used in illicit drug production. TT law criminalises the diversion of pharmaceuticals and controlled substances for the manufacture of illegal drugs and, with the Health Ministry’s Chemistry, Food and Drug Division, has oversight responsibility in this area.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning has outlined a number of security measures, including a coastal radar network, new vessels for the Coast Guard and a new helicopter unit, which Government is implementing to curb the illegal drug trade. Last week, Attorney General John Jeremie announced new anti-crime initiatives in Parliament, including the removal of bail from offences such as kidnapping, drug trafficking and firearm-related offences.