More container scanners to be procured to tackle smuggling and drug trafficking at wharves -Benn

More container scanners to be procured to tackle smuggling and drug trafficking at wharves -Benn

A number of Government agencies have been working together in the ongoing efforts to tackle drug trafficking and gun smuggling in Guyana. That work is expected to continue and be aided by the expansion of the container scanner system at the wharves that facilitate international shipments.

Appearing on the Department of Public Information’s “Budget in Focus” television programme on Monday, Minister of Home Affairs, Robeson Benn noted the impact that transnational crime could have on the country, and the efforts being undertaken by local law enforcement to arrest the situation.

With the security sector set to receive billions in this year’s budgetary allocations, Mr. Benn said the Police will be working closer with the Customs Department to facilitate more security at the wharves and shipment facilities.

“With the GRA (Guyana Revenue Authority) and others, we are looking forward to putting in more scanning, particularly for goods which are coming into Guyana and also to maintain the effort for the export, the scanning of containers and for incoming barrels and boxes and containers too, to get on top of the question of gun smuggling and cocaine”, Minister Benn said.

The Home Affairs Minister also noted that there will be collaboration with international agencies and partners to facilitate more training for local security personnel in the area of fighting transnational crime. He said Guyana has found itself falling victim to the scourge of transnational crime.

Minister of Home Affairs – Robeson Benn

Benn said “we have had the continuing engagements at the regional level, that is with CARICOM IMPACS, and also with the Brazilian and the Surinamese and others, in respect of issues related to transnational organized crime. We have been working too with the UK Police, with INTERPOL. People may be aware that we have just extradited one person to the United States in relation to crimes committed in that country, and that overall, we keep saying that the question of transnational organized crime, we are more the victims of it, and that issues related to drug trafficking, gun smuggling, trafficking in persons, money laundering, gold smuggling, and all of these issues are not of our own making and of benefit directly to us, they are forced upon us by the usage and demand of those issues, or to protect those issues by countries in the north, North America and Europe”.

Benn admitted that local agencies are not at the level that they need to be in terms of resources to effectively tackle transnational organized crime. However, he noted that investments in training and in the procurement of equipment have been aiding the efforts.

He highlighted the recent purchase of new advanced equipment for the National Forensic Laboratory, that the Government believes will play a key role in unraveling forensic evidence.

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