Jamaica
has again been slapped with the dubious title of the Caribbean's
largest source of marijuana shipments to the United States (US).
This is according to the US State Department in its 2009 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report.
While Jamaica is the biggest ganja supplier, the State Department said cocaine transit through the country remains lower than its sub-regional neighbours.
It also stated that cocaine seizure data from 2008 reflects a significant increase over both 2006 and 2007.
In 2008, cooperation between the Jamaica and US Government law enforcement agencies remained strong resulting in drug seizures, arrest of drug-traffickers, and the extradition of drug kingpin Norris "Deedo" Nembhard and his co-conspirators.
The State Department however said the Government's ambitious legislative anti-corruption and anti-crime agendas announced in 2007 and mid-2008 respectively remained stuck in Parliament.
It was also disappointed with the level of enforcement of the Proceeds of Crime Act and the Anti-trafficking law enacted in 2007, which it said was less than hoped for.
According to the Department, the Jamaican Government also fell down on enacting the initiative to permit extended data-sharing between US and Jamaican law enforcement on money laundering cases through the Financial Investigative Division (FID) Act.
Additionally, the report noted that the Government of Jamaica's national forensics laboratory has a backlog of cases due to under-staffing and lack of resources.
However on one positive note, the US State Department praises Operation Kingfish.
The Department noted that the special-ops group has been very successful in targeting high profile organized crime gangs.
It also lauded the Police Commissioner's move to combine the National Intelligence Bureau with Kingfish and Special Branch in an effort to gain efficiency.
It said this should ensure Kingfish returns to its core mandate and prioritize the targeting of high- level criminals who command and control gangs in Jamaica.
Looking ahead, the State Department encouraged the Government to ensure that the Anti-Corruption Special Prosecutor, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Anti-Corruption Branch and the FID are independent, fully resourced and backed by political will.
It is also urging the Government to support the Commissioner of Police to implement the reform recommendations of the Ministry of National Security's Strategic Review of the JCF to ensure a professional non-corrupt organization.
This is according to the US State Department in its 2009 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report.
While Jamaica is the biggest ganja supplier, the State Department said cocaine transit through the country remains lower than its sub-regional neighbours.
It also stated that cocaine seizure data from 2008 reflects a significant increase over both 2006 and 2007.
In 2008, cooperation between the Jamaica and US Government law enforcement agencies remained strong resulting in drug seizures, arrest of drug-traffickers, and the extradition of drug kingpin Norris "Deedo" Nembhard and his co-conspirators.
The State Department however said the Government's ambitious legislative anti-corruption and anti-crime agendas announced in 2007 and mid-2008 respectively remained stuck in Parliament.
It was also disappointed with the level of enforcement of the Proceeds of Crime Act and the Anti-trafficking law enacted in 2007, which it said was less than hoped for.
According to the Department, the Jamaican Government also fell down on enacting the initiative to permit extended data-sharing between US and Jamaican law enforcement on money laundering cases through the Financial Investigative Division (FID) Act.
Additionally, the report noted that the Government of Jamaica's national forensics laboratory has a backlog of cases due to under-staffing and lack of resources.
However on one positive note, the US State Department praises Operation Kingfish.
The Department noted that the special-ops group has been very successful in targeting high profile organized crime gangs.
It also lauded the Police Commissioner's move to combine the National Intelligence Bureau with Kingfish and Special Branch in an effort to gain efficiency.
It said this should ensure Kingfish returns to its core mandate and prioritize the targeting of high- level criminals who command and control gangs in Jamaica.
Looking ahead, the State Department encouraged the Government to ensure that the Anti-Corruption Special Prosecutor, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) Anti-Corruption Branch and the FID are independent, fully resourced and backed by political will.
It is also urging the Government to support the Commissioner of Police to implement the reform recommendations of the Ministry of National Security's Strategic Review of the JCF to ensure a professional non-corrupt organization.
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