NARCO-trafficking, which continues to be a sore issue for law enforcement agencies, will be brought to an end, President David Granger has said; but he noted that this would require more resources going to the relevant agencies in their fight against the illegal trade.“We [Government] are not going to take extreme measures as some countries (have done), but we are going to bring narco-trafficking to an end,” the President said on his weekly TV programme ‘The Public Interest’.

Guyana’s Head of State said narco-trafficking could be described as the “mother of all crimes”, as it usually leads to executions; the recruiting of rogues, who then become involved in crime; and ultimately the bribing of law enforcement officers.

President David Granger

He said that once illegal drugs continue to enter Guyana, it will be difficult to control crime. “We do not have the resources, the assets, and we do not have aircraft to patrol our borders. We do not have the ships to patrol our sea space. We do not have the vehicles to patrol the land space to bring these crimes to an end…,” the Head of State said.

He was keen to note that though there exists a “watchlist” in relation to narco-trafficking locally, it is “impossible to control every kilometre of Guyana’s border with our present resources.”

“To do this [address narco-trafficking], the police need better all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to go into the hinterland and rural areas. There needs to be better maritime capabilities to work along the coast. Also, we will put more horses in the Rupununi to (facilitate) patrol. We’re not relying on patrol cars and motorcycles alone. We’re responding in appropriate ways to ensure that policemen could get to where these crimes occur.” – President Granger

Cognizant of the need to address this transnational issue, President Granger pointed out that both the Government and the Guyana Police Force (GPF) have responsibility to ensure that Guyana’s landscape and borders are secure. However, he said, the Force would need to be better equipped.

“To do this [address narco-trafficking], the police need better all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to go into the hinterland and rural areas. There needs to be better maritime capabilities to work along the coast. Also, we will put more horses in the Rupununi to (facilitate) patrol. We’re not relying on patrol cars and motorcycles alone. We’re responding in appropriate ways to ensure that policemen could get to where these crimes occur,” the President said.

He disclosed that Government is currently working to acquire surveillance aircraft, while efforts are being made to place mounted police ranks in the wide open areas.

“We are doing our best in the circumstances, but this is a problem that has developed over the last 16 years,” he declared.

The President also noted that engagements are being made with international partners, including the US-based Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), to interdict narco-trafficking.

“We have set up the institutions, and just recently the national Drug Strategy Masterplan has been reissued. We are taking other measures to ensure the narco-trade is brought to an end,” he said.