BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – ALMOST one hundred police officers from across the Caribbean are gathered at the St. Kitts Marriott and Royal Beach Casino for the 15th annual Regional Drug Commanders Conference.
Sponsored by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the government of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Conference convened yesterday (March 16) and will run until Friday (March 20). Held under the theme “Dynamic Vision through Partnerships with Purpose”, it is being held as a precursor to the upcoming International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) in Mexico in June.
A brief opening ceremony preceded the Conference’s official commencement and featured speeches from Assistant Commissioner of Police Joseph Liburd, Attorney-General the Hon. Dennis Merchant and DEA Special Agent in charge of the Caribbean Division, Javier Pena.
National and regional drug experts will discuss issues related to law enforcement including maritime vessel searches, human trafficking, electronic devices, gangs, narcotics and financial investigations. Emphasis will also be placed on promoting initiatives of cooperation and collaboration against common regional threats.
According to Pena, the Conference will be divided into two phases; a pre-IDEC phase in which targets will be selected and drug traffickers will be identified, and training focused on the effective handling of the aforementioned issues.
Calling the endeavour “a timely one”, Merchant said the regional conference was one in a series of regional initiatives aimed at preventing crime. He noted that the Conference, and similar activities such as the upcoming Regional Summit on Gang Violence and Crime and the establishment of the Regional Integrated Ballistic Information Network, was indicative of the region’s commitment to seriously addressing the upsurge in crime and violence.
The AG challenged the delegates to be proactive in their enforcement in matters related to gangs, drugs and crime.
“The real test occurs after the conference when you are directly confronted with these issues. You must keep ahead of those committed to drug trafficking. Enhance your methods and your effectiveness on enforcement issues so these traffickers would be deterred in their illegal pursuits,” Merchant said.
