Caribbean360: Cuba and Jamaica partner in fighting organised crime

Cuba and Jamaica partner in fighting organised crime
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Chris Hoyos on 07/09/2011 11:43:00
 
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Wednesday September 7, 2011 – Jamaica and Cuba are set to
sign two agreements to help them battle organised crime, in wake of a growing
number of illicit drugs and weapons trafficking groups using the countries’
maritime and airspace to move drugs and firearms in and out of Jamaica, Haiti
and the Bahamas.
Minister of National Security Senator Dwight Nelson is in Cuba for the signing
of the Operational Agreement for Maritime Cooperation and the Operational Police
Cooperation Agreement that seek to strengthen bilateral and multilateral
relationships.
Since 2006, the Jamaican and Cuban authorities have provided mutual support in
the identification, tracking and apprehension of Jamaicans involved in the
trafficking of illicit drugs and firearms.
Minister Nelson says a formal and structured relationship between the Jamaican
and Cuban law enforcement entities is likely to improve the flow of information
and intelligence.
That, he said, would improve the fight against organised crime, particularly
efforts to combat the illicit trade in small arms and drugs.
"These agreements are intended not just to streamline the flow, but to increase
information and intelligence sharing between Jamaica and Cuba on the movement of
guns and drugs and the groups involved in their movement between the two
countries,” he noted.
In November last year, an exploratory meeting was held between a delegation from
Jamaica’s Ministry of National Security and officials from the Ministry of the
Interior in Cuba in relation to maritime and police cooperation.
Arising out of that meeting, both parties agreed to pursue five agreements: an
Operational Agreement for Maritime Cooperation; Operational Police Cooperation
Agreement; Memorandum of Understanding on Counter Narcotics and Transnational
Organised Crime; Agreement on the Mutual legal Assistance in Criminal Matters;
and Agreement on the Execution of Criminal Sentences.
The Operational Maritime and Police Cooperation Agreements which Minister Nelson
will sign during this week’s visit to Cuba incorporated all but the last two
agreements. The other two will be pursued at a later date. Click here to receive
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